Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:49 am Post subject: Best Brass aluminum Wah-Wah quick review.
Hi folks!
I would like to share my experience about a long waited order I placed.
I have purchased a Best Brass aluminum wah wah mute. It has arrived about one hour ago.
I already had a Jo-Ral all copper bubble mute, and I would like to make this quick review (considering my first 20 minutes fooling around with my new Best Brass) comparing it against the Jo-Ral all copper bubble mute.
I think the Best Brass aluminum wah wah mute is another kind of gear. Most of the wah wah mutes I played sounded similar in certain aspects of tone and playability. But the Best Brass seems like another kind of beast.
It buzzes different from the Jo-Ral copper. It is funny to say it but it is an aluminum mute that sounds and feels warmer than the Jo-Ral copper. It seems the Best Brass has a much more centered buzz-spectrum (if this makes any sense to you guys). It seems like specific buzz tone and frequency were mastered as if they were balanced by an electronic equalizer. The thing is this is not an electronic mute. It’s a piece of aluminum. And this gives me the creeps!!!
The main difference I have experienced so far was when I tried to play very soft and also when I tried to play low notes. Boy, the pianissimo is completely there and you can have full control of your airflow! The low notes produce a beautiful humming that’s not even close to what I could squeeze out of the Jo-Ral copper mute.
The Jo-Ral copper is crispier but the Best Brass can be pushed to buzz as well. It seems like the Best Brass gives it’s best if used with an instrument that produces a lot of harmonics and projects well. I tried the Best Brass with my Benge trumpet (L.A. 3x - very light), with my Jupiter cornet and with my Weril pocket trumpet. The Benge was OK. The pocket was better with the Jo-Ral. But the Jupiter cornet sounded so cool! Doing things the Jo-Ral did not allow it to do.
All that being said, I would like to emphasize that it almost responds different form what we are used to call a Wah Wah, or Harmon mute. Those well known mutes enhance notes that already tend to shine. The Best Brass could easily be used as a jazzy mute but also as a practice mute, since it gives the player a wonderful feedback from lower to high ends of the trumpet range.
It still feels kind of funny to play it. But I am sure I’m falling for this eccentric sexy gadget.
What does it sound like close-mic'd? Can you post any sound samples?
I do not own any recording device that could accurately capture the sound.
I can try to do something using my computer, but I'm sure the built in mic in no good.
Built-in mic may work pretty well for playing muted and pp.
I gave it a shot and recorded a small part of a Brazilian song.
I have to warn you it was played by heart and the sound is not fair to both of the mutes. It specially missed a lot of the "humming" from the Best Brass.
Follow the "Best Brass Aluminum" link for the Best Brass sample and the "Jo-Ral Copper" link for the Jo-Ral sample.
I'm not judging which mute is better. Just what I notice as being different in the Best Brass when compared to the Jo-Ral.
I think the main characteristic of the Best Brass is that it narrows the gap between the low notes buzz and the higher notes buzz. It enhances the lower notes and makes the upper notes more subtle.
Anyway... This is what I could conclude after hearing both samples.
Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 2450 Location: New York City
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:27 pm Post subject:
Thanks for the sound samples! Both mutes seem to have their advantages- the Best Brass sounds more even across all registers, while the Jo-Ral seems to have a bit more "flavor," in that different notes speak a bit differently. Good thing to have both! _________________ Yamaha 8310Z trumpet
Yamaha 8310Z flugel
Curry 3.
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 2:18 pm Post subject: Re: Best Brass aluminum Wah-Wah quick review.
abundrefo wrote:
Hi folks!
I would like to share my experience about a long waited order I placed.
I have purchased a Best Brass aluminum wah wah mute. It has arrived about one hour ago.
I already had a Jo-Ral all copper bubble mute, and I would like to make this quick review (considering my first 20 minutes fooling around with my new Best Brass) comparing it against the Jo-Ral all copper bubble mute.
I think the Best Brass aluminum wah wah mute is another kind of gear. Most of the wah wah mutes I played sounded similar in certain aspects of tone and playability. But the Best Brass seems like another kind of beast.
It buzzes different from the Jo-Ral copper. It is funny to say it but it is an aluminum mute that sounds and feels warmer than the Jo-Ral copper. It seems the Best Brass has a much more centered buzz-spectrum (if this makes any sense to you guys). It seems like specific buzz tone and frequency were mastered as if they were balanced by an electronic equalizer. The thing is this is not an electronic mute. It’s a piece of aluminum. And this gives me the creeps!!!
The main difference I have experienced so far was when I tried to play very soft and also when I tried to play low notes. Boy, the pianissimo is completely there and you can have full control of your airflow! The low notes produce a beautiful humming that’s not even close to what I could squeeze out of the Jo-Ral copper mute.
The Jo-Ral copper is crispier but the Best Brass can be pushed to buzz as well. It seems like the Best Brass gives it’s best if used with an instrument that produces a lot of harmonics and projects well. I tried the Best Brass with my Benge trumpet (L.A. 3x - very light), with my Jupiter cornet and with my Weril pocket trumpet. The Benge was OK. The pocket was better with the Jo-Ral. But the Jupiter cornet sounded so cool! Doing things the Jo-Ral did not allow it to do.
All that being said, I would like to emphasize that it almost responds different form what we are used to call a Wah Wah, or Harmon mute. Those well known mutes enhance notes that already tend to shine. The Best Brass could easily be used as a jazzy mute but also as a practice mute, since it gives the player a wonderful feedback from lower to high ends of the trumpet range.
It still feels kind of funny to play it. But I am sure I’m falling for this eccentric sexy gadget.
Quote:
Hi Andre, I am very interested in your Harmon mute search and have done a lot of experementing on this subject. I am also one of the very fortunate people to have met Chris Botti and had some descussion obout trumpets with him and have actually played his Martin trumpet and mouthpiece.
Unfortunately I did not see or use his harmon mute but I am almost certain how it works. I would like to talk to you about harmon mutes and you can contact me at richard.autenzio@bigpond.com I would like that. Richard.
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: Best Brass aluminum Wah-Wah quick review.
Pockettrumpet wrote:
abundrefo wrote:
Hi folks!
I would like to share my experience about a long waited order I placed.
I have purchased a Best Brass aluminum wah wah mute. It has arrived about one hour ago.
I already had a Jo-Ral all copper bubble mute, and I would like to make this quick review (considering my first 20 minutes fooling around with my new Best Brass) comparing it against the Jo-Ral all copper bubble mute.
I think the Best Brass aluminum wah wah mute is another kind of gear. Most of the wah wah mutes I played sounded similar in certain aspects of tone and playability. But the Best Brass seems like another kind of beast.
It buzzes different from the Jo-Ral copper. It is funny to say it but it is an aluminum mute that sounds and feels warmer than the Jo-Ral copper. It seems the Best Brass has a much more centered buzz-spectrum (if this makes any sense to you guys). It seems like specific buzz tone and frequency were mastered as if they were balanced by an electronic equalizer. The thing is this is not an electronic mute. It’s a piece of aluminum. And this gives me the creeps!!!
The main difference I have experienced so far was when I tried to play very soft and also when I tried to play low notes. Boy, the pianissimo is completely there and you can have full control of your airflow! The low notes produce a beautiful humming that’s not even close to what I could squeeze out of the Jo-Ral copper mute.
The Jo-Ral copper is crispier but the Best Brass can be pushed to buzz as well. It seems like the Best Brass gives it’s best if used with an instrument that produces a lot of harmonics and projects well. I tried the Best Brass with my Benge trumpet (L.A. 3x - very light), with my Jupiter cornet and with my Weril pocket trumpet. The Benge was OK. The pocket was better with the Jo-Ral. But the Jupiter cornet sounded so cool! Doing things the Jo-Ral did not allow it to do.
All that being said, I would like to emphasize that it almost responds different form what we are used to call a Wah Wah, or Harmon mute. Those well known mutes enhance notes that already tend to shine. The Best Brass could easily be used as a jazzy mute but also as a practice mute, since it gives the player a wonderful feedback from lower to high ends of the trumpet range.
It still feels kind of funny to play it. But I am sure I’m falling for this eccentric sexy gadget.
Quote:
Hi Andre, I am very interested in your Harmon mute search and have done a lot of experementing on this subject. I am also one of the very fortunate people to have met Chris Botti and had some descussion obout trumpets with him and have actually played his Martin trumpet and mouthpiece.
Unfortunately I did not see or use his harmon mute but I am almost certain how it works. I would like to talk to you about harmon mutes and you can contact me at richard.autenzio@bigpond.com I would like that. Richard.
Hi Richard, I will contact you soon. I'm not at home. I'm traveling overseas.
I actually have an aluminum Ullven coming to me from Germany right now.
I will soon A-B-C-D-F compare (LoL) the Ullven, the Best Brass (aluminum), the JoRal (copper), the Charlie Davis (aluminum) and the Vintage Harmon (Harmon brand) in about 12-15 days.
Joined: 01 Mar 2017 Posts: 146 Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2017 9:40 pm Post subject:
razeontherock wrote:
Just wondering if you ever compared this to the Emo aluminum harmon?
Raze, I happen to have both, except the Best Brass is brass not aluminum. Although each has its place, the Emo is pretty hard to beat in getting that sizzle and also because it's easier to take in and out: so it's the combination I am accustomed to. Stem out or in, Emo has more sizzle. But the Best Brass sure has a nicely sealed and aligned fit. It may project better to an audience, with better volume. Slightly more focused sound and sizzle, probably with more volume, when you need it. I like having the contrasting harmon mutes. Something to do. I'll find a way make a way to use both _________________ Jon J
Principal trumpet - Symphony Orchestra
Soloist
Brass Quintet
Brass choir
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