Trumpet Mutes

I currently have denis wick harmon, practise and interchangable cup/straight mute and i want to get another permenant straight or cup for my trumpet.

What makes do you use/like the most??

At Rayburn's in Boston last spring, I tried every straight mute in the store and decided on the JoRal aluminum & brass model. I liked it better than all aluminum. I liked the Trumcor mutes, too, but not enough at 2x the price of the JoRal. Keep in mind that your straight mute choice will depend on the music. Orchestra? Small ensemble? Solo classical? Big band jazz?

I use that same Denis Wick adjustable cup mute and haven't wanted anything more. It's great. I've only used it as a straight mute when too lazy to bring one.

BTW, if you have a chance to try a copper harmon, do so. I have a Charles Davis copper harmon and it is definite the best in class.

I like the Denis Wick, too. It's my first choice for cup mute. I also have the Denis Wick aluminum straight mute, which I like a lot.

MarkZ makes an important point about context. If you can, try to find out what players use who are playing inthe same genre as you. I mostly do non-legit stuff - pop. R&B, jazz...

After hearing a JoRal straight, I actually found I liked the sound of a Tom Crown aluminum straight mute more. My current one is aluminum/brass.

I've also just ordered a cherry wood mute from www.hornlinemusic.com. Should be a VERY different sound!

My harmon of choice is a Windy City Bubble Mute, copper. It really isn't anything different from the copper JoRal, just a different name. Love it.

If you're playing in any section (jazz, pop, or classical), the section should play the same type straight mute if possible to achieve blending. A metal straight mute could cut through a section of student standard Humes and Berg red & white straight mutes like a hot knife through butter. YMMV.

BTW, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra uses Humes & Berg bucket mutes. It just looks odd seeing one of those red and white mutes on the end of Ryan Kisor's Monette Prana.

What Markz said

My next bucket will be the Wick bucket - I love the sound of that one!

With something like straight mutes, some orchestral players will have several to use for different sounds as well. Some are more nasally, some more open, etc.

And yes, those cardboard ones DO have a place!

How about a cardboard harmon?

straight: Tom Crown copper

cup: Denis Wick adjustable

harmon: Jo-Ral copper

practice: Shastock

pixie: this old as {censored} (1950's?) tin(?) jobbie that weighs as much as my harmon

BTW, my plunger mute? From the plumbing section of my dad's hardware store. If an ordinary red rubber plunger is good enough for Wynton, it's good enough for me.

What kind of plunger mute does NOT come from the hardware store?

Also, make sure it's "trumpet sized". Nothing more annoying than a trombone-sized plunger mute on trumpet.

And cut out the middle (where the stick is). Helps with intonation (as if that matters at all).

What kind of plunger mute does NOT come from the hardware store?

These kinds: http://www.musician.com/product/Windy-City-Trumpet-Plunger-Mute?sku=463575&src=GWFRWXX

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Denis-Wick-DW5510-Trumpet-Plunger-Mute?sku=360103&src=3SOSWXXA

My plunger is vintage from the mid '70s, dad's hardware store was only around 45 min. drive from Mt Vernon, the rubber has darkened with a nice patina, and there are no significant scratches/dents/repairs, so I wonder if I can get $50+ for it on eBay.

INdofunk, whats a pixie mute?

Yeah, well mine has a pair of wolves' eyes drawn on it by this chick who saw me at a gig and was trying desperately to get into my pants. I finally allowed her to draw the eyes on it to distract her then ran off and hid behind my girlfriend.

Now that story's worth at least $50

It's a little tiny straight mute that is usually used in conjunction with a plunger. (You can't use an actual straight mute cuz the plunger won't fit around it.) Much more common on trombone than trumpet. The resulting sound is pretty much what you'd expect from a combination of a straight mute sound that you then plunger.

(I have one of those, too, but the extra weight from that ancient tin pixie mute helps with the sound and the ease of blowing).

I'll try to find a U-toob too...

I really like the sound of the pixie-plunger combo. I don't have a pixie (yet). My plunger is from Home Depot. If you get the sink size, it's a little smaller the the toilet ones, and to me is a better fit over the bell of the horn. On the down side, mine's a sickly pink color - I'd much prefer red or black.

Can't find one real quick. Should I record a clip and post my very first utoob? Can someone hold my hand through the process?

Can't find one real quick. Should I record a clip and post my very first utoob? Can someone hold my hand through the process?

Step 1: Record video

Step 2: Reduce to no more than 10 minutes and 100 MB.

Step 3: Go to your Tube account (free if you don't have one, or I can upload it for you), and there will be a button for uploading videos.

Step 4: Choose the video, and wait. It isn't a fast process.

Done!

Ok, I recorded a video with my digicam, and the audio onto Nuendo cuz the camera's mic sucks. Imported the video into Nuendo, edited, and ....

{censored}! Nuendo can't export video

Any decent free video editing software out there?

I'd rather spend 7 bucks on a small plunger and pull the handle out.

Thats what I did for our jazz band trumpets last semester, I used my job's discount and got em for 4.50 a pop.

I really like the Denis Wick and JoRal. Bass bone: DW straight, DW Harmon, JoRal Bucket, & JoRal Cup. Tuba straight Denis Wick (eventurally I'll get a cup), and a euphonium straight DW. For my band students at the school I use Humes & Berg carboard for the cost and the unison sound for my trumpet and trombone sections and JoRal for my horns.