Inexpensive 6/4 tuba practice mute?

[MartyNeilan]

Any ideas for an inexpensive 6/4 tuba practice mute? Yamaha SB might fit, but too expensive and my bell is too fragile to have that contraption clamped on. I really like the Dennis Wick practice mute that I have, but it works best on 4/4 tubas and is way too small for a very wide throated tuba. Perhaps wrapping the outside in a few layers of foam?
Open to ideas, but don't want to spend a lot.

[peter birch]

heres an idea that came from Roger Webster, one of the UKs best cornet players, find a used plastic water bottle that fits the bell of your instrument, discard the cap and put some holes in the bottom, and there you have your inexpensive practice mute (for a 6\4 tuba, that is likely to be a 5 litre bottle).

[bisontuba]

Hi-
Yamaha SB and remove/screw out the mike transducer so just the hole is there--works perfect.
mark

[MartyNeilan]

Hi-
Yamaha SB and remove/screw out the mike transducer so just the hole is there--works perfect.
mark

I actually used to post that same suggestion. I am afraid of clamping the large awkward SB mute to a 100 year old bell that has enough cracks and patches already.

[cjk]

Maybe ?

[MartyNeilan]

Maybe ?

Thought of it, but it is either relatively expensive to buy, or illegal/immoral to steal.

[cjk]

plastic trash can lid?

[MartyNeilan]

Reconsidering the traffic cone thing, but the 28" cones seem like the best bet, and even the affordable ones seem to have high shipping costs.

[sousaphone68]

Maybe ?

Thought of it, but it is either relatively expensive to buy, or illegal/immoral to steal.

I got my traffic cone by keeping my eye on the verge and hedges and found a broken discarded cone, was missing its base and reflective jacket had lost all of its original purpose and was now abandoned trash.
I was trying to make a straight mute for a test piece it made a good practice mute but was a failure as a straight mute.

But I personally would try the 5L empty water bottle first.

[Michael Bush]

Hi-
Yamaha SB and remove/screw out the mike transducer so just the hole is there--works perfect.
mark

I actually used to post that same suggestion. I am afraid of clamping the large awkward SB mute to a 100 year old bell that has enough cracks and patches already.

I've been using one on a 99 year old 22" bell of a 6/4 tuba for a couple of weeks with no worries.

"Clamping" seems like a pretty strong word for this. The mute just sits there, and quite gentle plastic hooks attached to elastic hook over the bell wire. I haven't had a hint of damage or any reason to think there might ever be.

As to expense, I guess that's relative. I paid around $200 for my SB. More than a traffic cone, less than full retail.

The problem with homemade mutes in my experience is getting enough interior volume *above the bell* for it to play in tune. I would say the business end of the SB is closer to five gallons than five liters. But it plays in tune.

[Tom Coffey]

Another vote for YSB. Not that it matters in the 6/4 context, but I also bought the euphonium version, and it works great on my small York Eb--like it was made for it.

[MartyNeilan]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Green-36-inch-t ... 2a1f73a235" target="_blank
Seems cheap to me...

Forty dollars shipping?