Pixie vs. straight mutes

[Brassnose]

I have never played a pixie mute, they don’t show up often over here. So, how does a pixie compare to a regular straight mute in terms of sound and playability? Could I substitute a pixie for a straight or vice versa?
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2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier

[Tpt_Guy]

While there are some more recent makers that produce good pixies, pixies generally tend to be horrible below about bottom line E (sharp, stuffy, not slotting - like trying to play Low F# on a Harmon brand Wow-Wow with no stem). I would not advise using a pixie as a substitute for a straight mute.

The typical use I've seen for a pixie is in conjunction with a plunger.
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[jazzjezz]

The KR Indigo plunger can be used with a standard straight mute - so no need for a specific pixie mute...

[Mike Prestage]

I don't have any experience with purpose-made pixies other than Humes & Berg. Used as a regular straight mute, these are every bit as hopeless as Tpt_Guy described. (The H&B fibre pixie might have a slightly better low register than the usual metal one - the only thing I really remember from when I tried one was that it was a truly terrible pixie!)

The Denis Wick Eb straight mute works well as a pixie as long as you have a relatively big plunger (certainly easier to play than the metal H&B) and works OK in a Bb horn as a straight mute. It's never going to sound great but IMO it's playable enough to get through the odd straight mute passage on big band gigs.

I doubt it would be worth trying to go the other way and just use a straight mute as a pixie because it would be hard to find a combination of plunger and mute that would allow the bell to close up fully. I can't imagine any combination being very effective but if you want to try, the Denis Wick aluminium plunger would probably be the way to go.

Mike

[Brassnose]

Thanks so far. In fact I am not really looking for a plunger/pixie combo but rather for a small version of a straight. I need a straight about once in a gig and am looking for a small one that fits in my case while not sounding like crap.

So maybe the Best Brass Straight Mini

http://www.bestbrass.com/stf/straight_mini.html

may be an option - I just thought a pixie may also do the trick.
_________________
2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier

[Mike Prestage]

[Mike Prestage]

[zaferis]

Pixie mutes by themselves really don't sound like a good straght mute, probably not a good substitute..

The KR Indigo Plunger is an awesome plunger and is deep enough to work with a straight mute i.e. a Denis Wick or Jo-Ral.

Huber Music is making a pretty nice pixie mute
https://www.fhubermusic.com
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[Richard III]

Wasn't the original pixie sold with the cornet as a practice mute?

I have a modern one and thought about the same thing. But it doesn't sound like a straight mute. I have it to sound like Muggsy Spanier. However, in a pinch I also have a metal plunger mute that does almost the same thing without the pixie. What a great sound.
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Richard

King 1130 Flugabone
King 12C mouthpiece

[Brassnose]

As I said in my initial post I have never played a pixie. So all information is highly appreciated - I do however get the impression that my original plan of using a pixie for a straight may not be the way to go.

Those Huber mutes look interesting …
_________________
2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier

[HERMOKIWI]

Pixie mutes are horrible substitutes for straight mutes for the reasons stated by the other people posting. They are completely unworkable as straight mutes. They are barely workable as pixie mutes. I think the Eb mute suggested is probably the mute most consistent with what the pixie mute is supposed to be and do.

As for straight mutes, the Best Brass mini looks promising.
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HERMOKIWI

[trpthrld]

For years I advocated using a Denis Wick Eb straight mute as a pixie mute, as it was the closest (IMO) to the sound from my vintage Pixie / "Nipple" mute.

But a few months ago I did an A/B test with my vintage Pixie and the new Huber "Kellso Pixie" (round) and found it to be as close as anything to the vintage Pixie.

There is actually one thing better about the Huber - it's plastic, and when you insert the mute you won't scrape the inside of your bell like you most likely will using a vintage.

The "Kellso" is because jazz great Jon-Erik Kellso is now endorsing Huber mutes.

Josh Landress has them for sale, altho as of today they're out of stock.

www.jlandressbrass.com/shop/Accessories/Mutes/p/Huber-Music---Mutes-x51475354.htm
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[Brassnose]

OK folks, I am almost convinced I should go for the Best Brass and post a quick review here in due time
_________________
2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier