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Tpt_Guy
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Location: Sacramento, Ca
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 Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 1:38 pm Post subject: Vacchiano Mutes |
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Recently, someone mentioned Vintage Vacchiano straight mutes in the "MUTE Comparisons" thread.
As they are still being made, how would one go about recognizing one of the vintage vs. modern versions of these mutes?
And, is there any real difference between the modern and vintage versions?
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RandyTX
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Joined: 25 Mar 2010
Posts: 5299
Location: Central Texas
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 3:27 pm Post subject: Re: Vacchiano Mutes |
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| Tpt_Guy wrote: | Recently, someone mentioned Vintage Vacchiano straight mutes in the "MUTE Comparisons" thread.
As they are still being made, how would one go about recognizing one of the vintage vs. modern versions of these mutes?
And, is there any real difference between the modern and vintage versions? |
I don't think so, they're pretty much all pretty bad. 
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a.kemp
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Location: NYC
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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The older LeBlanc Vacchiano Mutes are what you’re talking about.
The newer Alessi Vacchiano are similar in shape. But, fairly terrible.
The old ones differ by the corks being held in place by notches in the metal. And are not glued. I believe the height is also slightly different. They play much better. Still, not the intonation of a Trumcor. But, eons better than the Alessi Vacchiano 3000 mute.
They are a great sounding mute. Not for loud playing. But, just for a different color. I had 2 and just sold my extra one.
Josh Landress often has a few of them.
Many orchestras still use the old ones. |
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RandyTX
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 9:35 am Post subject: |
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| a.kemp wrote: | The older LeBlanc Vacchiano Mutes are what you’re talking about.
The newer Alessi Vacchiano are similar in shape. But, fairly terrible. |
I have one that was bought sometime in the 70s, that says both LeBlanc Corporation (in the middle of the bottom) and Alessi Vacchiano (top and bottom of the bottom) on it. It does not have the metal tabs, but I have seen those mutes before.
I've also heard (second-hand or more) that it was originally intended to not have the rolled over aluminum lip on the bell end near the corks, but a straight edge (like on the Trumcor) and some people cut off that roll with a metal saw to improve it. I never tried that myself.
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Ed Kennedy
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Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 3187
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 9:48 am Post subject: |
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| RandyTX wrote: | | a.kemp wrote: | The older LeBlanc Vacchiano Mutes are what you’re talking about.
The newer Alessi Vacchiano are similar in shape. But, fairly terrible. |
I have one that was bought sometime in the 70s, that says both LeBlanc Corporation (in the middle of the bottom) and Alessi Vacchiano (top and bottom of the bottom) on it. It does not have the metal tabs, but I have seen those mutes before.
I've also heard (second-hand or more) that it was originally intended to not have the rolled over aluminum lip on the bell end near the corks, but a straight edge (like on the Trumcor) and some people cut off that roll with a metal saw to improve it. I never tried that myself. |
The Joral straight mute is very much like that. (designed by Joe Alessi). |
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a.kemp
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Joined: 28 Aug 2008
Posts: 678
Location: NYC
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 10:15 am Post subject: |
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| RandyTX wrote: | | a.kemp wrote: | The older LeBlanc Vacchiano Mutes are what you’re talking about.
The newer Alessi Vacchiano are similar in shape. But, fairly terrible. |
I have one that was bought sometime in the 70s, that says both LeBlanc Corporation (in the middle of the bottom) and Alessi Vacchiano (top and bottom of the bottom) on it. It does not have the metal tabs, but I have seen those mutes before.
I've also heard (second-hand or more) that it was originally intended to not have the rolled over aluminum lip on the bell end near the corks, but a straight edge (like on the Trumcor) and some people cut off that roll with a metal saw to improve it. I never tried that myself. |
Yep, I’ve heard the same thing, cutting off the rolled lip improves it. Haven’t tried it either |
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Tpt_Guy
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Joined: 16 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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Wow, thanks for all the info guys!
Now I know what to look for. 
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JoeLoeffler
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Joined: 20 Sep 2004
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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| They changed the shape of the mutes some time in the late 90s. The one I bought in high school (maybe in 1990?) is the old shape (and plays fantastically) and has glued-on corks, but by the time I finished school and started teaching private lessons a lot in about 2000 they had changed the mute design. The mute got bigger on the bottom end and had more room inside -- maybe to compete with the bigger orchestral sound that the (at that time, very popular) Dennis Wick straight muted offered. The original mute shape is a very nice mute for most situations. |
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trombino
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Posts: 366
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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| I don’t think that even Mr. Vacchiano liked those mutes. |
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Crazy Finn
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Joined: 27 Dec 2001
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Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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I got one in the early 90's. It does not have the metal tabs discussed. I used it for about a dozen years or slightly more. It was a good mute for me. I've got a Wick straight that I use now, which seems to blow easier, but my Vacchiano worked well enough for me.
There's lots of choices out there, now. Back then it was the Vacchiano and the Tom Crown mutes, for the most part. The Tom Crowns never played well in my Yamaha.
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