Matching piccolo trumpets with mutes

hvand

The bad news is I lost my piccolo mute ... the good news I get to up grade

After reading through several threads, it seems the consensus mute is either a TrumCor or Tom Crown. Proponents of these mutes offer insight and enthusiasm. However, they don't mention the kind of horn they play.

Does it make a difference? Are certain mutes better for certain horns? Perhaps not.

I play a Selmer. Would you recommend a different mute for this instrument compared to a Schilke or other make?

Thanks, Hank

AnselNorris · Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 12:37 pm Post subject:

I have a Jo-Ral copper bottom mute that works great with my Kanstul 1520. Tried a Tom Crown but it was quite squirrely compared to the Jo-Ral! Definitely between those two I'd take the TrumCor; I have their Brass Bottom Straight and Cup Mutes and they work great! However, the Jo Ral is the best picc mute I've found.

My 2c.
Ansel Norris

Maarten van Weverwijk · Heavyweight Member Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 3377

I don't think the piccolo brand makes a big difference when looking for a mute, but anyway:

I mainly use a Tom Crown all-copper on an old Selmer piccolo.
It has a nice and lively sound, not unnatural like most other piccolo mutes; ideal for "Pictures".
Tom Crown also has really nice wah-wah and cup mutes for piccolo that are great fun using if you can find a purpose...

If it has to be extremely loud I use a D.Wick piccolo straight.
Personally I don't like my aluminium Jo-Ral piccolo mute too much, although its tuning is spot on.

MvW.

AnselNorris · Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 10:10 pm Post subject:

the wa-wa mute is great fun! Still, anyone want to write a piece where it is used? That'd be a blast!

Maarten van Weverwijk · Heavyweight Member Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 3377

one_trumpet · Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 10:42 pm Post subject:

Trumcor copper bottom. Hands down.

For picc I own a Wick, Jo-Ral copper bottom, a regular Tom Crown, and The Trumcor and it is WAAAAAAY better than the rest of them... It actually makes it sound like a muted trumpet instead of a disgusting noisy toy.

hvand · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:06 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the replies. I suspect most people believe the mutes and horns are interchangeable.

However, I have to go with the recommendation from the Dutchman who plays a Selmer.

Hank van Deventer

trpthrld · Heavyweight Member Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 4825

Whenever I play the Clarke Voluntary with my Tom Crown Harmon & "wah" on the 3 low C's...the looks it gets makes a lot of silly gigs worthwhile.

_________________
Tim Wendt

www.trumpetherald.com/marketplace.php?task=detail&id=148173&s=The-Best-Trumpet-Lead-Pipe-Swab-EVER-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPWAJqghk24&feature=youtu.be

bagmangood · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:46 pm Post subject:

Maarten van Weverwijk · Heavyweight Member Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 3377

trumpetmike · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:57 am Post subject:

There are a few pieces out there already that use piccolo harmon mutes, especially in the brass ensemble world. The only problem I have with these is that the sound you get from them is not the same as that produced by harmon'd Bb instruments, sadly - it is not an easy thing to balance.

trpthrld · Heavyweight Member Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 4825

All kidding aside, I have often used the Tom Crown Harmon in recording sessions, when the composer was looking for a specific and uncommon sound.

If the guy who writes the check wants those sounds, I'm very happy to oblige!
_________________
Tim Wendt

www.trumpetherald.com/marketplace.php?task=detail&id=148173&s=The-Best-Trumpet-Lead-Pipe-Swab-EVER-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPWAJqghk24&feature=youtu.be

giakara · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:47 am Post subject:

Nonsense Eliminator · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:51 am Post subject:

Dutchmen with Selmers notwithstanding, you really should check out the TrumCor piccolo mute. It's in a class by itself.
_________________
Richard Sandals
NBO

trumpetmike · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 11:39 am Post subject:

I am the only person I know who turns up to gigs with a bag of piccolo mutes (5 straights, I think, 3 cups and a harmon) - they all have their place.
I love the Tom Crown all copper and have just got a Trumcor Copper Bottom, which is impressive so far, but for something that needs to be very thin and shrill, the Wick is fantastic.

Still looking for a piccolo harmon sound that blends though.

Tromba1030 · Regular Member Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 38

I only know from straight mutes for piccolo trumpet and I have tried a few. I bought a Dennis Wick aluminum straight a few years back for its loud and biting sound but it was quite out of tune. I have played a brass bottom Jo-ral straight mute and felt that it was a bit stuffy. The solution that I found was the Marcus Bonna Fiberglass straight mute. This mute does not have the same bite or buzz that the other mutes do but it plays with very little resistance and with near perfect intonation on my Schilke P5-4. I agree with previous posters that it really depends on the sound you are looking for in the mute although it is good to remind yourself that intonation is very important and shouldn't be sacrificed for a sound that has a bit more character.

johntpt · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:45 pm Post subject:

I've had quite a few picc mutes over the years - Wick, Crown, several JoRals, MB, and I agree with NE - the TrumCor is better than all the others, much better IMHO than the regular trumpet st mute.

I also like the MB when I don't need it quite so loud and piercing - I know, most times when a picc mute is needed it probably needs to be rather loud, but the MB does have its uses from time to time.

The MB is also a bit wider in the throat for piccs with larger bells, also for the Schilke no. 7 G trumpet bell.

JU