How do you tune an adjustable cup mute?

[Andy Cooper]

I use fixed cup - cup mutes - and am used to filing the corks to get the response I want. Two things happen when you file the corks on a fixed cup - the cup gets closer to the bell and the cone of the mute inserts farther into the bell.

My question is about adjustable cup mutes.

I noticed a friend struggling with intonation problems using their Denis Wick cup. Sliding the cup did not seem to resolve the problem. I handed them my fixed cup Tom Crown that happened to insert properly into their bell - no problems.

Do you need to file the corks on an adjustable mute by tuning the "straight mute" first, then add the cup or do you keep moving the cup back to a fixed distance as you file the corks?

No one on YouTube seems to cover this question.

[Rhondo]

I’ve been wondering this as well since I plan on getting a Huber adjustable cup mute.

Had a different question for Frank there but haven’t gotten a response this week…

I don’t know if it means anything but he’s got ‘File corks if necessary’ printed on his fixed cup mute but not on the body of the adjustable cup mutes.

[Nathan.Sobieralski]

This depends somewhat on the mute, some mutes will be slightly flatter in cup configuration compared to just the middle section as a straight. These issues are more are what I endeavored to solve with my mute designs:

www.s-mute.com

Very simple to adjust the depth of the mute one way or the other with my patented removable cork system. I sell conversion adapters for other mutes as well, worth a look I think.
_________________
Dr. Nathan Sobieralski
www.s-mute.com
Principal Trumpet, Sequoia Symphony
Department of Music (Trumpet)
California State University, Fresno

[Andy Cooper]

[Andy Cooper]

[zaferis]

The same as you might adjust/file the corks on a straight mute: take the cup part off, and put the mute in and test if you can play down to a low F# without the note burbling. If you can't get the low notes to speak well, then carefully file the corks (evenly) until those notes speak.
Then replace the cup and this should help. How close to the bell the cup is will change the sound and playability drastically - the benefit of the adjustable design. Generally, I find the best to be around 1/4" from the bell.

And all mutes affect pitch and tuning, some more than others. Some mutes, especially cups, counterintuitively drive the tuning down (flat). Get out the tuner.
The other aspect that affects tuning and pitch discrepancies is the shape of the bottom of the mute - some are flat, others with convex or concave shapes.-makes a difference.
_________________
Freelance Performer/Educator
Adjunct Professor
Bach Trumpet Endorsing Artist
Retired Air Force Bandsman

[Andy Cooper]

I'm betting that a lot of non-pro trumpet players buy an adjustable cup mute, set the distance close to the bell, and assume that - that's as good as it gets.

I'm sure if I had purchased one, I would have done the same. I'm a traditional sort of guy more interested in maximizing fixed equipment, but I'm surrounded by high quality adjustables.

[Rhondo]

[Nathan.Sobieralski]

For those who may be interested, here are some images of the adapter I developed that allows you to selectively install corks of varying thickness. It does require some skill with epoxy!

Here is a paper I wrote detailing the utility of such a device, as well as some experimentation demonstrating its effect (with a straight mute).

https://s-mute.com/pages/research




_________________
Dr. Nathan Sobieralski
www.s-mute.com
Principal Trumpet, Sequoia Symphony
Department of Music (Trumpet)
California State University, Fresno

[Dayton]