USEABLE mute for 6/4 tuba...Does one exist ?

Cameron Gates · Post by **Cameron Gates** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 4:54 pm

Bloke, the Marine Band bought a great mute that fits a Nirschl 6/4. I believe it is a Griffith? Got it from Fedderly. Low cost and it works.

HTH

Cameron Gates

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:26 pm

Ron Apperson makes what he calls the "J Model Special" for 6/4 sized tubas.

My understanding is that the original was made for Arnold Jacobs' York and that the "J Model" is made using that same pattern and works well with tubas of that general type.

Perhaps it'd be worth a try on the Gronitz.

You might want to check out a Trumcor, too. I've found them to provide a pretty good muted sound, workable intonation tendencies, and an even feel. They offer them in a variety of sizes, the largest of which would likely work well with your Gronitz.

Alex C · Post by **Alex C** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 6:44 pm

Joe Hebert, former tubist with the American Symphony Orchestra under Stokowski, had a mute that Leopold loved.

It was a cardboard cone with a cardboard top. The "corks" were 6" of lightweight foam which mainly functioned to keep the cardboard from falling down the bell.

When placed in the horn, it had absolutely no affect on the pitch, response or sound. Joe said Stokowski thought it was the best sounding tuba mute he'd ever heard.

You can probabaly get the plans from Joe... forget it, you don't need plans just get some cardboard.

Cameron Gates · Post by **Cameron Gates** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:09 pm

Cameron Gates wrote:Bloke, the Marine Band bought a great mute that fits a Nirschl 6/4. I believe it is a Griffith? Got it from Fedderly. Low cost and it works.

HTH

Cameron Gates

An edit on my own post. It IS an Apperson that the Marine Band bought. Good plug.

Cameron Gates · Post by **Cameron Gates** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:12 pm

harold wrote:Joe,

I spoke to Nate Griffith yesterday. He told me he has been sick and out of the shop, but he is buying a new building soon and expects to have the shop nearly right next door to his house.

He told me that he would be in the shop this weekend and was really looking forward to getting back to building some mutes - as well as other tuba stuff.

You should give him a ring.

Harold

Next time you talk with him ask him what happened to that wonderful 4/4 CC he built and was going to try to market. That was one fiiiiiine horn.

Travelman · Post by **Travelman** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 10:53 pm

Trumcor.

Bove · Post by **Bove** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 11:34 pm

Tom wrote:Ron Apperson makes what he calls the "J Model Special" for 6/4 sized tubas.

The Apperson J model has a nice even sound, with some metal bite to it... my favorite big tuba mute. Low soft stuff is not so good, I think the trouble starts on low G... loud is ok.

Mark E. Chachich · Post by **Mark E. Chachich** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:32 am

Bloke,

Contact the Baltimore Brass Company and see what mute David Fedderly uses in his 6/4 Hirshburnner with the Baltimore Symphony.

good luck and good hunting,
Mark

MikeMason · Post by **MikeMason** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:26 pm

Bloke,what muted big tuba stuff is in your hopper?...the only thing i've needed a mute for post-college was Rite last April.used a regular ole' stonelined borrowed from the store I work for in my f...

sc_curtis · Post by **sc_curtis** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:35 pm

I don't know about Bloke, but I've used my mute THREE times in about 5 months time down here.

Although, once didn't really count, since I used it to play the contrabassoon part to Sorcerer's Apprentice. (BTW, which is not easy to play the low exposed part with a mute in.) The principal clarinet player did seem impressed how contrabassoon-like it made me sound, which I dunno if is a good or a bad thing!

A children's piece written by a mexican composer needed one (a bad attempt to mirror Peter and the Wolf), and Alborada del Gracioso (Ravel) needed one as well.

TubeNet

USEABLE mute for 6/4 tuba...Does one exist ?

Useable mute