Practice mute reviews!
PRACTICE/TRAVEL/WARM-UP MUTE GENERAL IMPRESSIONS
EQUIPMENT USED:
WILLSON 2900BS (DECEMBER 1985)
KARL HAMMOND 11L
DISCLAIMER: THESE ARE MY OPINIONS BASED ON HAVING SPENT MANY HOURS ON EACH MUTE. YOUR EXPERIENCE MAY BE DIFFERENT, AND YOU MAY DISAGREE.
1ST PLACE: BEST BRASS WARM-UP MUTE - $167 Shipped
First impression from several weeks ago: Very even response. No major tuning issues. Blows very well. Super light and compact enough!
- Fairly even response
- Thins out in low register
- Upper register is fairly resonant
- Metallic sound, but not too buzzy
- Tuning issues include slightly uneven octaves, but overall fairly even. Ab3 to D4 a little flat compared to mute sharpness, but not unbearably as in the Wick Travel
- Very light, almost in-bell compactness (200 Grams/7 Ounces), weight is well-centered on the instrument
- My Willson 2900BS still fits in a gig bag AND its hard case with the mute in. The mute sticks out about 1 inch/25MM.
- Reduces decibel level by about 15dB.
- Wrapping 2 layers of self-grip athletic tape on the neoprene creates a warmer tone, reduces sharpness by a few cents, reduces decibel levels maybe another 3dB, but does not significantly affect overall performance.
- Another method is to add something dense inside the round dimple (I used a small quarter-sized piece of wall mounting putty). This reduces the volume by 5dB, but causes Eb3 & 4 and E3 & 4 to have a very live buzzy presence. I'm going to continue working on this dampening method.
- Almost 2nd place. I like it just as much as the Silent Brass, and it is my top choice because of it's compactness and even-ness of blow.
IT IS MY OPINION THAT THIS IS THE BEST COMPACT PRACTICE MUTE FOR EUPHONIUM.
2ND PLACE: YAMAHA SILENT BRASS PM2 (DISCONTINUED MODEL) About $80 used.
First impression from years ago: a little stuffy, well muted, but I was very impressed with the evenness of the blow. Kinda heavy, and a hassle to put it in and take it out. I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE WITH THE NEW DESIGN.
- A little back pressure, but very even response throughout full range in blow and pitch center
- A little thin in the upper register.
- Hollow sounding in low register
- Generally a warm sound
- No major tuning issues aside from being sharp, slightly uneven octaves
- Very top heavy, not compact, (800 Grams/1.8lbs),
- Reduces decibel level by about 20dB
- My favorite, except for the weight, so this is 2nd place.
IT IS MY OPINION THAT THIS IS THE BEST FULL-SIZED PRACTICE MUTE FOR EUPHONIUM.
3RD PLACE: STEVEN MEAD TRAVEL MUTE - $150 Shipped
First impression from 3 months ago: a little stuffy, kinda metallic, very uneven, and pretty concerning pitch issues. Super light and compact.
- Surprisingly free-blowing, but very uneven response throughout full range in feel and pitch center
- Thin upper register above F
- Tinny lower register, a challenge to center
- Generally a metallic sound, but not buzzy.
- In-bell, compact, light weight (200 Grams/7 ounces), weight is well-centered on the instrument
- Low Bb and below, very sharp unless you reshape mouth
- Ab3, A3, Bb3, B3, C4 very flat relative to muted sharpness unless you reshape mouth
- D4 is dead and unresponsive
- Very uneven octaves
- Reduces decibel level by about 15dB
- Not my favorite, but love the compact-ness. 3rd Place!
SOLD IT AFTER 2 MONTHS. I DID NOT ENJOY PRACTICING WITH IT.
4TH PLACE: WALLACE M24C COMPACT WARM-UP MUTE - $140 Shipped
First impression from a few weeks ago: It looked like it would get swallowed up by my bell, and I was right. The neoprene rubber gasket is too small. Mute top edge nearly touches (metal to metal). I fits a little better in Yamaha 321/421 and an older Besson I was able to try, but not my Willson 2900BS bell. I was able to create just enough of a seal to give it a try, but after a few moments it wiggled loose and started vibrating against my bell. I assume I would have to add a layer or two of neoprene foam sheet, or wrap several layers of self-stick athletic tape. Too much work for a mute I dislike for other reasons.
- Okay response, fairly even blow, with a little extra resistance in the lower register. Resistance is supposed to be adjustable, but I am not sure how to do it.
- Good muting, nice warm sound.
- Pedal register responds very well due to extra resistance, but is a little sharp relative to mute sharpness.
- Mute plays a whole step sharp, as indicated on their website. Tuning is mostly even from Bb2 to F4, relative to sharpness, but unlike other mutes, I felt like all my pitches were too high (because they were) and kept second guessing my pitch slotting. Then, F#4 and above are a half step flat relative to mute sharpness. I had to go up one fingering to fix it. So after F4 on a Bb major scale I was finishing with a B major scale fingerings.
- Completely in-bell and very light (maybe a little lighter than 200 Grams/7 Ounces). Weight is well-centered on the instrument.
- Decibel reduction is very close to the Silent Brass. About 20dB.
- If it wasn’t for the poor fit, flat upper register, and the odd whole-step-higher tuning I would rank this above the Mead Travel Mute, but it is simply not useable on my Willson 2900 without modification.
Last edited by euphobone1; 03-16-2021 at 08:30 PM.
Reason: UPDATE!!!
Raul Escobar
1985 Willson 2900BS, Hammond 11L
1974 King 4BF Silver Sonorous, Hammond 12ML
1972 King Duo Gravis, Hammond 20BLL