Soulo Harmon Mute and Olds Recording producing Weird Sounds

llangston1

I recently bought a new Soulo Harmon Mute (via Amazon) for use with my Olds Recording in my community band. I selected it after listening to the sounds it made with several youtube trumpet videos and its half copper half aluminum look. I liked its sound and its look. However after receiving it and playing it I wonder if I got the right one for my horn or if it's just me not playing it right. When I use it in my horn I only hear the typical Harmon buzz sound with the plastic stem inserted but almost all the way out. When I remove the stem I hear a very deep strange sound with a lot of air flow sound like hi pressure air rushing through a pipe. I asked our section lead to play with it and he sounded fine with the stem out but he did say it played with a lot of resistance. He liked the looks and sound as well but commented on the resistance. He plays a Bach Strad I believe. I have not tried to record myself from in front to see if that makes a difference in what is actually occurring. So my question is have others experienced any sound issues with this brand of mute. Makes me wonder if I got a real Soulo mute or a knockoff. Do they really have a black plastic stem?

LittleRusty · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2019 10:07 pm Post subject:

The picture on the Soulo website has what looks like a black plastic stem.

djpearlman · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2019 12:40 pm Post subject:

In what register is it making that sound?
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Crazy Finn · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2019 1:59 pm Post subject:

Yes, they have a plastic stem.
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Dayton · Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 3:22 pm Post subject:

The Soulo Harmon mute is a really nice mute. It does have a black plastic stem. Mine sounds fine with the stem in or out. If you can get a good sound on other Harmon-style mutes but not the Soulo I'd suggest that you contact Soulo and see if yours is defective. Good luck!

zaferis · Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2019 6:19 am Post subject:

Yes a plactic stem. I find this mute an excellent choice for Harmon work.

The sound(s) I find to be very similar to a Jo-Ral Bubble mute, so if you're getting something else there's most likely a problem. Some defect in manufacturing or damaged in shipping??? Is there something stuck inside the mute?

If so, I'd definitely follow up with Soulo or where you purchased this mute.

good luck
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llangston1 · Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2019 4:57 am Post subject:

I have been out of town and unable to respond but to clarify, when our section lead played the mute in his horn it sounded normal to me. Its only when I play it that I hear the "weird" sounds like air rushing through my horn. I don't know if I should hear that or just the normal harmon sound since I am behind the bell and not in front of it. I don't hear the air rush sound with any of my other mutes.