Jo Ral metal Plunger mute

[Louise Finch]

Hi

I have a community light orchestra concert last night, and we performed the Ted Ricketts arrangement of Chicago, which starts with an unaccompanied plunger mute trumpet solo.

I've always used a Denis Wick plunger. These seem to be pretty much disliked, and even people who have mostly Denis Wick mutes, have an other make plunger.

Anyway, a colleague lent me a metal Jo Ral plunger, which unlike my Denis Wick one, has a handle and hole in the end, as a possible alternative to my Denis Wick one.

i.e. https://www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Brass-Strings/JO-RAL-Trumpet-All-Aluminium-Plunger-Mute/SFA?origin=product-ads&utm_campaign=*PLA+Shop+-+All+Products&utm_medium=vertical_search&network=google&adgroup=**All+Products&merchant_id=1279443&product_id=36838d1&product_country=GB&product_partition_id=99104169065&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxN_XBRCFARIsAIufy1a-sS3weLb_vlfCI6nWszA9WtKAmOX3_wrnnwC7zmY8MvPpQvp5ffwaAjT5EALw_wcB

Firstly, having short arms, I found the handle harder than cupping the flat bottom of my Denis Wick one in my hand, and possibly owing to the much smaller volume, lack of flocked interior or hole in the bottom, I found that the Jo Ral plunger didn't make such a big difference to the sound, as my Denis Wick one.

Anyway, I used my own Denis Wick plunger, was very pleased with how it went, and had some nice compliments from my orchestra colleagues, and have decided that I'm going to keep to my Denis Wick plunger in future, however unpopular they are, as it works well for me.

Maybe it is simply having owned and used a Denis Wick plunger for over twenty years, although I can't say I use it particularly often.

All the best

Lou
_________________
Trumpets:
Yamaha 8335 Xeno II
Bach Strad 180ML/37
B&H Oxford
Kanstul F Besson C
Yamaha D and D/Eb
- James R New Custom 3Cs
Flugel:
Bach Strad 183 - Bach 3CFL
Cornets:
Yamaha Neo + Xeno
Bach Strad 184ML
B&H Imperial
- Kanstul Custom 3Cs

[trumpetchops]

I use an old-fashioned plunger. I've seen others that put a hole in the center. I never did.

Most of the time I get lazy and just use my hand.
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Joe Spitzer
Monroe Ct.

[Louise Finch]

[lakejw]

There's a sound quality to the rubber plunger that will never be replicated by the metal variants...just not even close. I'm glad your show went well but for a true plunger sound you may want to consider this:

https://www.amazon.com/Mutec-MHT160-Plunger-Mute-Trumpet/dp/B002M8HVXC/ref=pd_sim_267_11?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B002M8HVXC&pd_rd_r=7TJ1QMWFF3JA7R2AEFWE&pd_rd_w=uRBSs&pd_rd_wg=YQhBB&psc=1&refRID=7TJ1QMWFF3JA7R2AEFWE

It's got a nub that should help you get a grip, more than a regular toilet plunger, and sounds just as good. And it's pretty cheap relatively speaking.
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New Album "ensemble | in situ" on Bandcamp

johnlakejazz.com

[Louise Finch]

[HERMOKIWI]

I like the Jo-Ral aluminum plunger mute. It's lightweight, easy to manipulate and sounds great.
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HERMOKIWI

[Louise Finch]