What is the best 5/4 - 6/4 tuba mute ?

[ginnboonmiller]

No problem with Humes & Berg, once you glue tons of cork to it. It's shaped just fine, the tuning pipe can be a cool add-on, but really it's got a serious need to poke out of most large bells by a good extra 8 inches or so, which amounts to about an extra inch thickness of cork.

[cambrook]

I agree with your comments about the larger H&B, yes you can add corks and tuning pipes to improve it in some ways, but it doesn't make much of a muted sound. It's sort of OK for soft muted stuff, but not that good when pushed

The Schlipf mute is great! I never thought I'd use that description of any mute, but it's true. The Firebird Infernal Dance is now really fun to play - the handle makes it easy to do the quick insertions and removals, and there is proper bite when needed. It is also genuinely in tune, and consistent in response throughout both the dynamic range and register.

The only downside is the cost, which is considerable.

BTW, Schlipf also makes a cup for it, which I've never used and probably never will

Cheers

Cam

[Pete Link]

Joe,

The large Faxx aluminum mute is hands down the best mute I've had in my bell(Nirschl). For me it is much easier to tune and move around on than the H&B(my orchestra owns a couple) and several others I've tried. It has excellent response throughout the usable range of the horn and has nice bite. I brought a couple over here with me and I'm glad I did.
I was on tour in Vienna a few years ago and Mr. Schlipf kindly brought some of his stuff to the hall to try. He actually preferred the Faxx upon hearing them... ; )

I will say, I own a couple Balu mutes as well and really like the response and pitch on them too. However, they have a very different sound when playing with a trombone section. And I also agree that they don't exactly get soft enough.

Cheers

[bisontuba]

Hi-
Never knew FAXX made a tuba mute-who carries them?
Mark

[tubacorbin]

I have to agree with the previous poster and say that Schlipf mutes are fantastic! I don't know if they necessarily get the "snarly" sound you are talking about, but in terms of response, intonation, and color I think they are the best that I have played on. I currently use a No. 4 mute on my Gronitz FZ-126 and a No. 6 mute on the Thor and they both fit great.

[Alex C]

Ron Apperson's mutes cannot be beat. I have had one for decades and has worked in almost every circumstance without fail. It fits! I used the same on my Hirsbrunner and my Nirschl 4/4 and it fit both and produced an unaltered pitch on both. Response is really good in the low register too.

I saw Ron at an ITEC about seven years ago and told him my mute was about worn out, corks cracking, coating wearing off; I thought I'd buy a new one. He sold me corks and told me how to fix the rubberized coating. The mute was good as new after that.

It has an aluminum body and a wooden big end. A nice balance between an all metal and an all wooded mute. You can make the sound snap or lay back in a mellow sound. Great mute.

[bisontuba]

Hi-
Just looked it up- the FAXX aluminum tuba mute is model# FTUM 401.
Mark

[tclements]

I like the big H&B aluminum mutes. You can add more cork if needed.

[Rick Denney]

Are Ron's similar to Tennessee Tech mutes?

Yes. Sheet aluminum (as intended for the bottom panel of a cheap screen door) bent around a mandrel, glued to a redwood end, riveted and sealed on the seam. With a cheap brass tool-box handle on it.

The only music I've tried on the Apperson mute in my Holton was playing the excerpts from Pictures... and Carmina Burana. It does fit and rests on the corks a good couple of inches before they run out, and it projects from the bell four or five inches. I don't think I have either the evaluation skills or the experience with alternatives to answer your question. Based on that experience, though, it removes all power from the low register for me, killing the resonance necessary to produce much sound. Near the top of the staff, though, it seems plenty snarly for me. I just tried it again, and intonation does not seem unmanageable at all.

It was fine on my 4/4 Cerveny for the Schuman orchestral work I played years ago that required a mute. Beyond that event, it has never left the practice room, however.

Rick "who bought his mute from Ron in 1985 or so" Denney

[Mark]

1/ How good is the (expensive) Denis Wick straight mute?

2/ Is it large enough to NOT bottom out in a 5/4 - 6/4 ?

I like my Denis Wick mute. The biggest bell I've put it in is a Miraphone 191 and it fits well without any extra cork. Intonation is good for a mute and it has a nice tone that blends well with muted trombones; and when you step on the gas it does have a bite to it.

[Mark]

1/ How good is the (expensive) Denis Wick straight mute?

2/ Is it large enough to NOT bottom out in a 5/4 - 6/4 ?

I like my Denis Wick mute. The biggest bell I've put it in is a Miraphone 191 and it fits well without any extra cork. Intonation is good for a mute and it has a nice tone that blends well with muted trombones; and when you step on the gas it does have a bite to it.

Sell it to me for $100, Mark. (Would you mind overnighting it for free? I need it for this weekend.)

I can sell it to you for $100 and I will ship it for free. However, processing and handling is $400. If you act now, you can get two mutes for $100. Just pay separate processing and handling.

[Douglas]

Ron Apperson's mutes cannot be beat. I have had one for decades and has worked in almost every circumstance without fail. It fits!

I'd have to agree. I've used my Appersons on everything. MIra 186, Conn 56J, B&S Neptune, and my PT 6-P and I couldn't be happier with it. You get the muted sound and it's so much lighter than the aluminum mutes(very nice when you have a quick mute change).


Doug

[Jonathan Baker]

I used a Ron Apperson mute and a Humes & Berg for almost 20 years but got a Schlipf mute a couple of years ago (originally for my Deck but now use it on my Nirschl York). It is amazing - intonation is excellent and response completely even throughout the range. I had the orchestra buy it for me so not too sure how much it cost. It matches the wooden trombone mutes very well so isn't overly bright but you can get it to brighten a little if you give it enough stick. I liked the big mute so much I also bought a smaller one for the F tuba when I was in Germany last year and it is also just as good. He makes many different sizes of mute so they are all the exact diameter and length for each tuba. You can tell he is also a tuba player by the ergonomics of the mute - the little feet that stop it from rolling when it is lying on the ground and the handle positioning. Also the extra rubber around the end and on the side of the mute that is closest to the bell when it is being put in or taken out of the tuba to prevent damage to the instrument. I cannot recommend these mutes more highly!
http://www.tuba-mute.com
Best wishes
Jonathan

[bisontuba]

Joe-
Lee Stofer is a Schlipf dealer, I believe.
Mark

[bisontuba]

Hi-
A mute I use that I like very much is made by MUTEC-very nice for big horns!
Mark

[bisontuba]

Hi-
A mute I use that I like very much is made by MUTEC-very nice for big horns!
Mark

Mutec=Faxx, btw...

Ah hah, thanks! BTW, I bought my Mutec in the classic WWBW/Music123/Musicians Friend different pricing--Musicians Friend had it for $149 & free shipping and the other two had it over $200 plus shipping.
Mark

[bisontuba]

Dale-
So when are you getting your Chinese clones.....

Mark

[Mark]

Send in the Clones.

Send in the Cones.