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TrumpeT Technology
michael anderson , column ediTor
THE LATEST IN PRACTICE MUTES
BY ROBERT REDMOND
June 2010 Page 64
64 ITG Journal / June 2010
2010 International Trumpet Guild
TrumpeT Technology
michael anderson , column ediTor

hen it comes to mutes, todays trumpet player has

a lot of choices. The same can be said for warm-
up and practice mutes. The principle behind a
practice or warm-up mute is to reduce the volume of the horn
with minimal changes to the way the horn plays. Variables
such as tuning, volume, price, mute construction, and playa-
bility all factor into an individuals decision on which mute to
purchase. We put twelve practice mutes to the test and rated
them according to these variables.
Although we used a decibel meter and tuner, the testing can-
not be considered scientific. The tests were designed to make
casual comparisons between the mutes and were completed
twice in separate settings by two different trumpet players. In
each setting, the testing trumpet player was not allowed to see
the decibel meter or tuner as measurements were being taken.
Instead, the measurements were taken by a separate individual
and recorded for comparison. Since no two trumpets, trumpet
players, or practice mutes are the same, a ratings system was
devised based on the results of the tests. The higher the rating,
the better the mute performed in that category.
To measure the volume of each mute, the muted trumpet
was positioned four feet from a decibel meter and then played
nearly as loud as possible. To measure the tuning, the mute was
tested beginning on low G ascending up to low C, then G, C
and finally high G. The majority of the mutes registered
between five and twenty cents sharp. As a result, a second tun-
ing test was conducted with the trumpet adjusted to be in tune
on middle G and C with the mute inserted. Then, an ascend-
ing two and a half octave G major scale was played to measure
how evenly tuned the mute played in all registers.
The table also has a column rating each mutes playability.
Since each mute is designed differently, they also play differ-
ently. Some mutes are very soft but have a fair amount of
resistance and require a good bit of adjustment by the player
to use. Other mutes are a bit louder but very open, requiring
minimal adjustment. For the purpose of this review, each mute
was rated based on volume, resistance, and the evenness of
tuning throughout the registers.
It is also important to note that three of the mutes tested
have adjustable cores. This allows the user to customize the
mute to their tastes. Both Wallace Collection mutes and the
Don Maslet mute come equipped with this option. By adjust-
ing the core, the user changes the timbre, volume, and tuning
of each mute. As a result, some trumpet players are even using
the Wallace Collection practice mutes as Harmon or straight
mutes in performance situations. Adjusting the cores of these
mutes is not easy. The Wallace Collection mutes are difficult to
move but they do stay in position very well. The Don Maslet
mutes core is much easier to move, but the core has a rubber
cap that is very difficult to place back on the core once it has
been removed. The idea that these mutes can be adjusted
makes them more attractive to those who are more concerned
THE LATEST IN PRACTICE MUTES
BY ROBERT REDMOND
Trumpet Technology is an expansion and refinement of ITGs previous column titled Web Site Reviews. This column will contin-
ue to examine Internet locations of interest to trumpet players. It will expand to examine developments in the technology asso-
ciated with trumpet. Ideas and suggestions should be directed to: Michael Anderson, Wanda L. Bass School of Music, Oklaho-
ma City University, 2501 North Blackwelder, Oklahoma City, OK 73106 USA; website@trumpetguild.org
2010 International Trumpet Guild
June 2010 / ITG Journal 65
about the tuning, volume, and resistance a practice mute
offers. For the purpose of this review, each mute was calibrat-
ed with the core at its furthest and quietest position.
[Items marked with asterisks are authors picks]
*Best Brass
http://www.bestbrass.jp/en/stf/warm-up.html
This mute is the quietest of the mutes we tested. It is also a
very sturdy mute with its simple
aluminum construction and will
likely be very durable, lasting a
very long time. As with most of
the mutes we tested, this mute is
a bit stuffy, requiring the player
to do some minor adjusting.
Likewise, this mute measured
about 1 cents sharp in the mid-
dle register. It is, however, fairly
even throughout the middle reg-
ister but a bit sharp in the low
register and flat high register. As far as practice mutes go, this
mute is expensive. It retails for about 118.
e-Brass
http://www.bestbrass.jp/en/stf/e-brass.html
Designed by the designer of the Yamaha Silent Brass and
built by Best Brass, this mute has a built-in metronome, three
reverb settings, an auxiliary input, a line-out, and a headphone
jack. While its built-in metronome is limited in function and
the reverb settings are a bit much, the line-out and aux-in
options give this mute a great advantage as a practice tool. Not
only can you plug your
headphones into this
mute, but you can plug
in an iPod, xi player,
or computer to record
and pl ay al ong wi th
you. The downside to
this mute is that it is
the most expensive of
the mutes we tested
and retails for approxi-
mately ::o. Like the Best Brass mute, it is a bit stuffy and
requires some adjustment. It also plays about :o cents sharp
when compared to an un-muted trumpet and is slightly less
evenly tuned than the Best Brass mute.
The Peacemaker
Manufactured by Peacemaker Music Products,
this mute is only a few decibels louder than the e-
Brass and Best Brass warm-up mutes. This hard
plastic mute comes with stethoscope-type head-
phones, but in our tests this mute was used with-
out them. At about , the Peacemaker is the
least expensive mute we tested. It is only slightly
louder than the Best Brass and e-Brass mutes and
is more evenly tuned throughout the low and
middle registers. It is also a bit stuffy and will
require some adjustment. At 7 inches long, the
Peacemaker is the second longest mute we tested.
*Don Maslet
http://www.masletmutes.com
As the name suggests, this mute is designed by Don Maslet
(formerly of the Wallace Collection). Like the Wallace Collec-
tion mutes we tested, this mute has an adjustable core which
allows players to customize the mute to
their own personal tastes. Adjusting the
core on this mute can be tricky. It in -
volves a vented rubber top that caps the
plastic core. The cap can be removed or
rotated to cover the vent holes. Inside the
core is another adjustable plastic tube
that can be removed, raised, or lowered.
Each adjustment affects the tuning, play -
ability, and volume of the mute. For the
purposes of this article, it was tested with
the rubber cap on, vents open, and the
core at its furthest and quietest position. This is a very easy
playing mute that is even across all registers and is only slight-
ly louder than the Best Brass, e-Brass, and Peacemaker mutes.
Its wood fiber construction isnt as durable as the plastic or alu-
minum mutes, but the 8 price tag and adjustable core make
this mute a great bargain.
*Sshh by Bremner
http://www.sshhmute.com
This ans plastic mute is one of the best mutes
tested in terms of tuning. The sturdy ans plastic
and lightweight design complement the :
price tag. It is only slightly louder than the Don
Maslet mute but is just as easy to play.
Silent Brass (mute only)
http://tinyurl.com/itgmutes1
Designed by the same person who designed the newer e-
Brass mute, the Silent Brass
mute has been a mainstay for
many brass musicians. Tested
without the personal studio or
headphone module, this mute is
in the middle of the pack in
terms of volume reduction. It is
also remarkably in tune but does
require some adjusting to the
resistance. Its sturdy plastic con-
struction and personal studio
option have made it a popular
practice tool. The mute by itself
is about oo. Add the personal studio or headphone module
and expect to pay much more.
Windy City
http://tinyurl.com/itgmutes2
This sturdy al uminum mute is
among the most in tune mutes we test-
ed. The downside is that it is the most
resistant mute we tested. In terms of
volume, this mute is in the middle of
the pack with the Silent Brass, Trum-
Cor Lyric Stealth, and Wallace Collec-
tion x1;. It sells for about oo.
66 ITG Journal / June 2010
2010 International Trumpet Guild
*Wallace Collection M17
http://www.wallacebrass.co.uk/TrumpetCornet.htm
This mute, also designed by Don
Maslet, is another adjustable core
mute. Like the other adjustable core
mutes, this one was tested with the
core at its furthest, most quiet posi-
tion. At this position, the mute is
dramatically sharp but plays evenly
in tune throughout the registers once
the main slide is adjusted. Its bub-
ble-shaped aluminum construction
is very sturdy and should last a very
long time. This is the easiest mute to play out of the twelve we
tested and its price tag of $58 makes it a pretty attractive mute.
Mute Manufacturer Price Material Volume Tuning Playability Notes
*Best Brass Best Brass approx Aluminum 9 5 7
$118.00
e-Brass Best Brass approx ABS 9 3 6 built-in
$222.00 metronome,
headphone jack,
aux input, 3
reverb settings
The Peacemaker Peacemaker approx Hard Plastic 8 4 6
Music Products $35.00
*Don Maslet Don Maslet approx Wood Fiber 7 7 8 adjustable core
$58.00
*Sshh Bremner approx ABS 7 9 8
$42.00
Silent Brass PM7 Yamaha approx Plastic 6 8 6
$60.00
(mute only)
Windy City Windy City approx Aluminum 6 9 4
Practice Mute Mutes $60.00
*Wallace Wallace Brass approx Aluminum 5 4 9 adjustable core
Collection M17 $58.00
TrumCor Tom Crown approx Wood fiber 5 8 6
Lyric Stealth $40.00
*Tom Crown Tom Crown approx Aluminum 4 4 8
Practice Mute $40.00
Faxx FTM163 Faxx approx Aluminum 4 9 5
$45.00
Wallace Wallace Brass approx Aluminum 3 4 8 adjustable core
V1PR $45.00
comparison Table (asTerisK denoTes auThors picK)
1 10 Rating The higher the number, the better the
mute performed in that category.
Volume: A 2 in volume means that the mute is
very loud when compared to a mute
that is rated at 9
Tuning: A 2 in tuning means that the mute is
inconsistent throughout the registers
while a 9 means that the mute is much
more even.
Playability: A 2 in playability means the mute is
very resistant while a 9 means that the
mute is easy to play.
Table Key
2010 International Trumpet Guild
June 2010 / ITG Journal 67
TrumCor Lyric Stealth
http://tinyurl.com/itgmutes3
This wood fiber mute is also
among the best-tuned mutes
we tested. It is only moderately
resistant, but a little on the
loud side compared to the rest
of the tested mutes. The wood
fiber construction makes it one
of the more fragile mutes we
tested. For those who arent too
concerned with volume and
want a mute that plays in tune,
this mute would be a good
choice.
*Tom Crown Practice Mute
http://www.tomcrownmutes.com/mutes_practice.html
This mute is among the easiest-play-
ing mutes we tested. Its aluminum con-
struction may not be as durable as the
aluminum Wallace mutes, but at about
o the price is attractive. There will be
some adjustment needed to play with
this mute in tune, but once that is
accomplished it plays evenly throughout
the registers until the extreme upper reg-
ister.
Faxx
This little aluminum mute is very simi-
lar to the Best Brass mute in terms of
design. The inner stem is much longer
than that of the Best Brass mute, resulting
in completely different playability, tuning,
and volume. It is one of the best in tune
and least resistant mutes we tested, but is
also one of the loudest. At about ;: it is
also considerably less expensive than the
Best Brass mute, but higher priced than
several others tested.
Wallace Collection V1PR
http://www.wallacebrass.co.uk/TrumpetCornet.htm
Like the other Wallace Collection mutes,
this mute has an adjustable core. Unlike the
x1;, this mute is V-shaped and is consider-
ably louder than its bubble-shaped counter-
part. In fact, this was the loudest mute we
tested. It tested near the bottom of the
mutes we tested in terms of tuning but it
was near the top of the group in playability.
Keep in mind, we only tested this mute with
the core at its furthest position. Tuning, vol-
ume, and playability change according to the
position of the core. At a price of about , this mute might
be worth experimenting with to use at optimum advantage.
Since each of these mutes has a unique design, it is difficult
to decide which one will work best in different situations. For
those situations where it is necessary to warm up on stage or to
play a note or two during a performance or wedding, only the
softest mutes like the Best Brass will do. Likewise, if volume is
still a concern but you dont want to make as much sacrifice in
tuning and playability, then the Don Maslet and Sshh mutes
may be a more appropriate choice. They are slightly louder
than the Best Brass but still offer great volume control with
better tuning and a little less resistance. The Tom Crown and
Wallace x1; are perhaps the easiest mutes to play, but they
require some adjusting in terms of tuning and they are meas-
urably louder than the aforementioned mutes. These mutes
would be best for trumpet players who just want to cut down
on the volume but still be able to play without having to do
too much adjusting to the resistance of the mute.
Another factor to consider is the size and construction of the
mute. The Silent Brass and Peacemaker mutes are the largest
mutes we tested. The solid plastic construction makes them
durable but good luck fitting them in your trumpet case with
the rest of your mutes, oil, and mouthpieces. The Best Brass
and Faxx mutes are by far the smallest and can be stored in the
bell of the trumpet. They are also quite sturdy little aluminum
mutes that would stand up to some hefty abuse. Mutes like the
TrumCor and Don Maslet will require a bit of care but are
only the size of a regular straight mute.
We also tested piccolo trumpet practice mutes by TrumCor,
Best Brass, and Tom Crown. Although they are not included
in the chart, they compared similarly to their big brother ver-
sions. A piccolo trumpet practice mute is very handy for wed-
dings and performances of pieces such as the Messiah when it
is advantageous to play a note or two after sitting and resting
for a long time.
In the final analysis, there are many practice and warm-up
mutes on the market. There are
incredibly soft mutes, easy to play
mutes, evenly tuned mutes, and
even mutes with built-in met ro -
nomes. Some are very sturdy and
will last forever, while others will
require a bit more care. Regard-
less, there is a mute out there built to fit your needs. Tuning,
volume, price, mute construction, and playability concern us
all. Choose the one that suits you best.
About the author: Robert Redmond holds a Bachelor of
Music Education degree from Southeast Missouri State Uni-
versity (sixo) and is in the process of completing his Master
of Music degree in Trumpet Performance at Oklahoma City
University (ocu). A native to St. Louis, Missouri, Robert has
performed with the St. Louis Wind Symphony, Clayton Sym-
phony, Meremac Lab Jazz Band, and his own jazz combo. He
has also appeared in masterclasses for Clark Terry, Mike Vax,
Ryan Anthony, and Jeff Luke. His teachers include Robert
Souza, Marc Fulgham (sixo), and Michael Anderson (ocu).
there is a mute
out there built to
fit your needs.