I hate tuba mutes....

Tubas, euphoniums, mouthpieces, and anything music-related.
Forum rules
This section is for posts that are directly related to performance, performers, or equipment. Social issues are allowed, as long as they are directly related to those categories. If you see a post that you cannot respond to with respect and courtesy, we ask that you do not respond at all.
Post Reply
User avatar
LeMark
Site Admin
Posts: 2837
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:03 am
Location: Arlington TX
Has thanked: 77 times
Been thanked: 819 times

I hate tuba mutes....

Post by LeMark »

... Taking up space on the floor so I decided to do something about it
Attachments
20240312_152406_r9qWYCR72q.jpeg
20240312_152406_r9qWYCR72q.jpeg (146.55 KiB) Viewed 831 times
These users thanked the author LeMark for the post (total 2):
graybach (Tue Mar 12, 2024 3:50 pm) • bloke (Tue Mar 12, 2024 7:30 pm)


Yep, I'm Mark
User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 19306
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 3846 times
Been thanked: 4098 times

Re: I hate tuba mutes....

Post by bloke »

sidebar:

Does anyone have any tubas with which they really don't think there are mutes that really work with them?
I think the tubas with bells as large as Holton 345 bells - even with the largest available mutes - end up playing goofy if the mute is put in far enough to actually mute the instrument, and really don't sound muted if pulled out far enough to not play goofy.
User avatar
LeMark
Site Admin
Posts: 2837
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:03 am
Location: Arlington TX
Has thanked: 77 times
Been thanked: 819 times

Re: I hate tuba mutes....

Post by LeMark »

If I have a muted part coming up, I will NOT play it on my 601. I hated using the mute with the CC version I owned for a decade, and the BBb isn't any better.

With any of my 4/4 tubas I dont mind using a mute at all. I'll decide between the big mute or the small mute depending on what kind of tone I'm looking for. The large mute in a medium tuba has a smooth metallic sound, and the small mute is more edgy

like the beginning of this song (smaller mute)

These users thanked the author LeMark for the post:
bloke (Tue Mar 12, 2024 8:12 pm)
Yep, I'm Mark
User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 19306
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 3846 times
Been thanked: 4098 times

Re: I hate tuba mutes....

Post by bloke »

Nice...
That smaller Humes and Berg aluminum is magical, when there's a tuba in which it fits. The bigger one is a dud in my view. The Denis Wick thing (which I also own) is a semi dud for big tubas, though it's pretty amazing for things right in the middle of the five quarter range, so is limited to being successful with "fairly" big tubas, but not "really" big tubas.

I'm thinking about doing what you did with my mutes. I think that's a good idea and mine are on the floor and even though behind a couch are still very clutterish.
These users thanked the author bloke for the post:
smitwil1 (Wed Mar 13, 2024 3:10 pm)
JC2
Posts: 40
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2021 11:44 pm
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 17 times

Re: I hate tuba mutes....

Post by JC2 »

The Schlipf mutes are really good and they have many sizes for optimal fit. I find the intonation is decent and there aren’t any dead notes.

Mutes range from completely useless to almost good. They’re never going to work perfectly.
Schlitzz
Posts: 428
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 11:36 am
Has thanked: 55 times
Been thanked: 59 times

Re: I hate tuba mutes....

Post by Schlitzz »

Dude, I don't see the banjo, or the viola.
These users thanked the author Schlitzz for the post:
bloke (Wed Mar 13, 2024 12:43 am)
Yamaha 641
Hirsbrunner Euph

I hate broccoli.
User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 19306
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 3846 times
Been thanked: 4098 times

Re: I hate tuba mutes....

Post by bloke »

I never understood why the Humes and Berg large mute is a totally different shape from the small one, because the small one works so very well with the four quarter instruments into which it fits well.

The big one: not so much.
smitwil1
Posts: 15
Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2020 10:50 am
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: I hate tuba mutes....

Post by smitwil1 »

I whole-heartedly agree, but has anyone devised (...I dunno--velcro-on corks in different sizes?) a simple and quick way to fit your small H&B into horns of different bell sizes? Does it work? Does it affect the muted sound in any way? (FWIW, I think that a good muted tuba sound should be sort of metalic and "buzzy", not just covered).
User avatar
LeMark
Site Admin
Posts: 2837
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:03 am
Location: Arlington TX
Has thanked: 77 times
Been thanked: 819 times

Re: I hate tuba mutes....

Post by LeMark »

I do have velcro strips on my mutes. It helps them not buzz
Yep, I'm Mark
User avatar
LeMark
Site Admin
Posts: 2837
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:03 am
Location: Arlington TX
Has thanked: 77 times
Been thanked: 819 times

Re: I hate tuba mutes....

Post by LeMark »

Schlitzz wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 12:06 am Dude, I don't see the banjo, or the viola.

Want the whole view? (not shown...my York tuba, 2 alto horns, another French horn, a mandolin, a flugelhorn, 2 keyboards, another euphonium , and a trumpet
Attachments
20240312_171159_clnTgyHL32.jpeg
20240312_171159_clnTgyHL32.jpeg (175.9 KiB) Viewed 695 times
These users thanked the author LeMark for the post (total 3):
Schlitzz (Wed Mar 13, 2024 4:10 pm) • graybach (Wed Mar 13, 2024 4:56 pm) • prairieboy1 (Wed Mar 13, 2024 6:22 pm)
Yep, I'm Mark
Schlitzz
Posts: 428
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 11:36 am
Has thanked: 55 times
Been thanked: 59 times

Re: I hate tuba mutes....

Post by Schlitzz »

I have a late ‘60’s Rambler out here in Kitsapalacchia. I’m in the middle of getting rid of the carpet for hardwood floors.
While I like the idea of wall mounting horns, I think my Contra will stay in the case. But that is a nice layout, sir!!
Yamaha 641
Hirsbrunner Euph

I hate broccoli.
Post Reply