Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Posts: 7770 Location: Des Moines, IA area
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 12:37 pm Post subject:
If you push one of those old Bach black plastic straights they have a Harmon-type sound out front. Got to blow your brains out, but might be what you want.
Joined: 13 Oct 2013 Posts: 460 Location: Idyllwild, CA
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 12:52 pm Post subject:
There are harmon-type mutes that project much better. I have a Marcus Bonna (fibre glass, but, admittedly it's expensive...and possibly discontinued) 'harmon-style' mute which cuts great across big rooms. Also, I assume you're talking about projection issues when playing without the stem. For a period of time, I thought the 'Bruiso' mute I have by Facet was far louder than a harmon (it is much louder), but last month I had a gig with amplified instruments, and really felt the struggle - my previous experience was within solo/acoustic contexts.
The JoRal 'Bubble Mute' is a better in-tune and decently louder/more 'open blow' feel than a Harmon-brand "Harmon Mute."
So, what have you been using? What kind of musical contexts, beyond being unamplified, and what have you tried?
-DB _________________ Daniel Bassin
Conductor/Composer/Trumpeter/Improviser/Educator
I play:
Monette - CORNETTE/PranaXLT-STC Bb/MC-35/Raja A Piccolo;
Kromat C-Piccolo; Thein G-Piccolo; Various antique horns
MPCs - Monette Unity 1-7D and DM4LD
Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 2450 Location: New York City
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 12:57 pm Post subject:
1) Have your band play quieter! The Harmon is a quiet mute!
2) The Emo harmon has a very loud buzz which carries far.
3) For a slightly less traditional sound, the Trumcor Zinger is amazing. Lots of "core" for a soloist, solid pitch center, which means that the sound really reaches the back of the hall. I've had mine for only 2-3 weeks and I love it.
But in any case, overblowing a Harmon mute is a great way to sound horrible and kill your chops. If there's a Harmon, the band has to play ppp - no exceptions! _________________ Yamaha 8310Z trumpet
Yamaha 8310Z flugel
Curry 3.
Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 8911 Location: Orange County, CA
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 12:59 pm Post subject:
When I think the Harmon is getting buried I sometimes resort to installing the stem. It doesn't work in all musical settings but it is louder. _________________ "I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart
I agree. This mute is available from Humes & Berg as a "Cleartone." It's sound is similar to a Harmon with the stem in but it is louder/projects more. In my swing orchestra we have various notations in the trumpet parts for a "tin mute" and I've had the trumpets go to the Cleartone in those situations. It's a much superior alternative to the Harmon with stem in.
If you're going to play Harmon style mutes but need more projection than what is typical for Harmon style mutes I suggest the Mutec copper bubble mute, it gets a much stronger buzz than a Harmon or JoRal and projects better (although it does not produce the "classic" Miles Davis type Harmon sound). _________________ HERMOKIWI
The original Solotone should be fine, however, if you consider Humes & Berg replacement, their Cleartone mute falls out of the bell of most trumpets - it is just too wide at the insertion point (to be fair, it fits OK in a Schilke XA1 cornet).
Instead of Cleartone, I would suggest using Humes & Berg Mel-o-Wah which is quite similar in sound but has a much narrower diameter at the cork.
This clip, unfortunately, did not do justice for the Mel-o-Wah - I guess the player (who was it?) had a bad day:
Joined: 25 May 2013 Posts: 2123 Location: Atlanta GA
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 2:31 pm Post subject:
1. Play the mute that has the sound you want. Don't overblow a harmon--it wouldn't sound as good, and your chops would get frazzled. Solo tone (clear tone) mutes sound great, but don't settle if that isn't what you want. (Makes me think of the "roaring 20s," but maybe that would work for this tune.) The Trumcor Zinger sounds great and carries well, for a harmon/wah-wah.
2. Tell the band to play softly enough that you can be heard clearly. If that means just the drummer on brushes and piano playing lightly with the right hand only, Basie-style, then that's what they have to do. They must be willing and able to do whatever it takes for the soloist to be heard. _________________ Bb Yamaha Xeno 8335IIS
Cornet Getzen Custom 3850S
Flugelhorn Courtois 155R
Piccolo Stomvi
Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 8911 Location: Orange County, CA
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 3:54 pm Post subject:
The Solotone is one of my very favorite mutes but I don't consider it a reasonable alternative to a Harmon. A Harmon with stem is also quite different from a Harmon without, but it you extend the stem out a bit you can sorta' split the difference.
To my understanding, there was a period of time when Harmon assumed with stem. And If I'm playing music from that period and the Harmon trumpets are getting buried, I break out the stem. I suffered this for many years before I figured this out. Why play if you can't be heard. Obviously, if you have individual mics then you have more options. _________________ "I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart
Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 2450 Location: New York City
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 4:03 pm Post subject:
I use the Emo Solotone. It has a composite cork that stays in the bell just fine. It's fiberglass or something like that and is quite loud. Still wouldn't want to use it to power over a loud band or anything like that!
Also, I don't own one, but on the Horntrader website you can hear the little blastic "Harmon" style mute made by Emo. That sounds loud as heck.
Joined: 05 Jan 2007 Posts: 214 Location: Hamburg,NY
Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 5:31 am Post subject:
Check out a Wallace wah wah, the red one, TWC 501. It's the loudest I've heard without the stem. I have traditional Harmon brand in aluminum and copper, Joral bubble in aluminum and copper, Wick in aluminum, Humes and Berg, Emo, and Bobby Shew from Yamaha. The red Wallace is the loudest. This mute has a removable stem with cup, another stem sans cup. Don't get the blue model. It has a permanently attached stem w/cup. Here's there web site. http://www.wallacebrass.co.uk They are made in Scotland and the have US dealers.
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