sincere thanks to the TubeNet Freak Jury

[bloke]

Thank-you so much for hooking me up, today, with this
nutty thing that I've been seeking for several years,
and that Humes & Berg is currently unwilling to manufacture.

(Stonelined Bb [recording] Bass Horn Mute)

[Mark Finley]

Now you have to make a recording of it in action!

[bloke]

Dan Schultz actually shipped me some BRASS bits and pieces that
I could possibly have used to make one of these, but -
though the stuff he sent (plus what I have here) probably would have done it -
I decided to hold out for the genuine p.o.s.
I believe I should contact Dan and offer to return his items...
Dan...??

[bloke]

off to this place, now..??

http://joshuawagnermusic.com/mute-restorations.html

(actually, a pretty interesting webpage!)

[The Big Ben]

Don't you need a special license from the DEA, ATF, FBI and the CIA to own something like that? It looks dangerous.

[tofu]

off to this place, now..??

http://joshuawagnermusic.com/mute-restorations.html

(actually, a pretty interesting webpage!)

Wow - a guy who restores mutes - that's great - and it is an interesting web page.

A recording bass mute - I've never seen one before - I'd really like to see it in action - where you have to do a quick in and out and back in! Please post the video when you do that and the TNFJ will judge your efforts on style, speed, fluidity, level of audience distraction and comedic effect.

[pete edwards]

i'm not sure how they could call that a straight mute

now you need the cup, bucket, harmon, buzz-wow, solotone, whispa, and mega mutes to complete the set!

[humBell]

i'm not sure how they could call that a straight mute

now you need the cup, bucket, harmon, buzz-wow, solotone, whispa, and mega mutes to complete the set!

7 other mutes?

But that would make this one mute eight...

(Darwin would be proud)

Thanks for sharing the successful conclusion of the quest!

I too look forward to seeing/hearing it in action.

[WC8KCY]

Don't you need a special license from the DEA, ATF, FBI and the CIA to own something like that? It looks dangerous.

I think some kind of waiver from the TSA would be required in order to bring it aboard a commercial aircraft...

[hrender]

Saw this when it came up for auction. Glad someone got it who could really use it!

[bloke]

I'll start playing the ancient Besson compensating Eb (on the boat) with it's RECORDING bell once again, and use that thing as (mostly) a sight-gag (if nothing else). i.e. Folks will come up to the bandstand while we're packing up, and ask, "...so what is that big red-and-white thing you stuck in your bell a couple of times...??"

Sonically, I'll probably use it (again, with the cruise ship jazz band) when someone in the "front line" decides to play a solo chorus with their straight mute. The drummer (rather than a typical beat) can choke his cymbal on 2-and-4, and I can offer very brittle (Stonelined-muted) bass notes on 1-and-3. #MoreVariety
"More variety" = "more of the passengers paying attention to us, instead of chatting", and "paying more attention to us" = "higher ratings of us on passengers' review cards at the ends of their cruises", and "higher ratings for us" = "more job security"...
...The job only pays a few thousand a year...but (well...) it's a good little gig, it beats working, and (as my friend, a fine trombonist, Ken Spain, is often quoted as saying,

Even a bad gig is better than a good job.

Guys-driving-golf-carts take us from our parked cars down that spiral steel ramp to the River-stage-adjustable boat dock...but this mute won't be any extra trouble to schlep down there...I'll just stick it into the bell of the tuba.