Two practice mutes that I like...

gerardo1000 · Regular Member Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 70

Because I live in a condo and I am still a beginner, a practice mute is vital if I want to practice at night.
I tried several practice mutes, and returned a few that I didn't like. There are two that are my favorites and, because I guess that they are not very well known, I'd like to signal them. They cost little and in my opinion they perform very well.
The first is the FAXX compact aluminum practice mute. It looks like a clone of the famous (and expensive) Best Brass mute.
But in my humble opinion it is better because it has less back pressure. Actually it is the mute with the least back pressure that I have ever tried.
It is also, as a consequence, the "loudest" practice mute that I tried, but still very silent to the point that nobody will hear me from the other side of the wall. It is a bit "buzzy", like a harmon mute played without the stem, but quieter. I paid $ 35.00 for it. Very good mute, in my opinion.
The other favorite is another "clone" of the Best Brass, it is the Pro Tec Liberty compact aluminum mute.
This is quieter than the FAXX, and it has a tiny bit more back pressure. Very well built, I paid only $27.00. (Pro Tec Liberty mutes, by the way, are in my opinion an excellent value for the money, I also have their $ 29.00 wah wah mute and it is excellent).
Which are the other mutes that I tried and didn't like as much as these two ? Best Brass (returned,very quiet but too much back pressure and too expensive), Dillon (identical to the Best Brass, although much less expensive) Tom Crown (didn't fit the bell of my trumpet, lots of back pressure, personally didn't like the sound), Mutec (good mute), Humes & Berg (good mute). Mutec and Humes & Berg are good mutes, they reduce the volume very well, but I feel tired after playing them for a while.
A mute that I never had or tried is the popular Bremner "Shhhhhh" mte. I am planning to get one one day, if my FAXX and Pro Tec Liberty mutes get lost or damaged. Thanks for the attention.

delano · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2014 2:26 am Post subject:

Don't forget the best of all, the Wallace.

gerardo1000 · Regular Member Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 70

I do not forget the Wallace Studio. Everybody says it is great. But the lowest price I found is $85.00 !!!

delano · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2014 4:07 am Post subject:

http://www.brookmays.com/i--TWCM17--Wallace--Studio-Trumpet-Practice-Mute.aspx

It's from Europe (Scotland) so indeed it may be a little bit more expensive in the US,
but anyway it's very good, if you don't overblow it you can improvise for hours on it with some nice harmon sound and feeling.

BTW, I just received my Charlie Davis straight mute with copper bottom and it's GREAT!

Rapier232 · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2014 4:17 am Post subject:

Surely if you want quiet you should consider the Yamaha Silent Brass? Very, very quiet to everyone else but as loud as you want it to be for you. Yes it's expensive but you can take and use it anywhere.
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zaferis · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2014 5:34 am Post subject:

I like the Yamaha practice mute .. using a good set of headphones you get to hear yourself from the bell end of the trumpet and you can run a line in (great for play along stuff - Aebersold, etc).. Some players think theses feel stuffy, but I find with the headphones on I don't push as hard and has been an effective solution for me.

The other one that I like is the sshh mute... easier to travel with and I don't think feels as stuffy as others.

But then again - one of my favorites from touring was a standard stone lined cup mute that I'd stuff the cup with tissue (hotel rooms always have plenty of that).. not tightly but enough to dampen the sound without making it hard to play.. this way I wasn't carrying another mute on the road-I already had a cup mute in my bag.
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VetPsychWars · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2014 6:01 am Post subject:

Inexpensive, quiet, good quality.

Humes and Berg Practice Mute

Tom
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furcifer · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 2:34 am Post subject:

I made mine out of a Renuzit air freshener. I popped the top completely out and used some thin stick-on weather strip that was left over from a window AC unit I had recently installed. I put a second strip around the middle so it would also work with my valve trombone - although it's not quite as effective with the v-bone, LOL. It's not perfect. A little stuffy; a little sharp, but these are for imperfect practice conditions and just keeping the horn on your face regularly. I made it, like, 12 years ago I think? It still works just fine. Lots of mods you can try with it for what works best for your particular situation, so you don't need 3 or 4 different expensive practice mutes for different situations. Cheap enough to build a few of them, so you can always toss one and grab your spare later if it becomes inconvenient to carry.
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Troy Sargent · Veteran Member Joined: 13 May 2012 Posts: 205

trumpet2012fhl · Veteran Member Joined: 30 Jan 2011 Posts: 268

I currently use a Dillon's music practice mute. It is a clone of the best brass. A friend of mine had a best brass practice mute and couldn't tell the difference. I really like it, but it still has too much back pressure for my taste.

Are there any more suggestions of compact (in bell) practice mutes?

deatea · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2014 5:28 pm Post subject:

I am currently working with my second generation of the Yamaha Silent Brass Mutes (I loved the first one as well). It is a great way to play while not disturbing others around you. I find the input jack very nice as I can add accompanying parts that are audible only to myself.
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musicman0097 · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2014 5:38 pm Post subject:

I hear good things about the Silent Brass, but too much money for me. I picked up a Denis Wick for cheap. Love it.

Matthew
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SatchmoGillespie · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2014 7:05 pm Post subject:

I bought the Ssshhh mute recently and I have been quite impressed with it. I had to take it on a vacation last week so I wouldn't disturb my family and it seemed to be quite successful. Great for a warm up before gigs where you don't want to disturb anyone.
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trumpet2012fhl · Veteran Member Joined: 30 Jan 2011 Posts: 268