trumpet_man

My High School band director mentioned that he hates stonlined mutes and that I should get a better one (I found out that stonlined mutes are actually made out of cardboard). I had a solo using a mute and when we went to a festival the judge also said that I should use a metal mute and not a stonelined mute.
I was wondering what kind of brands are really good quality brands for straight mutes. I heard that Jo-Ral, Dennis Wick, and Tom Crown make really good straight mutes. I heard that the Tom Crown mutes are really good ones. I'm looking for a metal mute (I think) since I want something that would project (I play in band), and the wooden ones might not project as well and would be better for something like orchestra (I could be wrong). I was wondering what would be the best mute for me to get.

Also, I found a bunch of old mutes that my great grandfather had used. One of which I found was a Buzz-Wow Mute, which are really hard to find. However, one of the bolts was missing. I went to Ace Hardware and they didn't have one with those dimensions. I was wondering if you guys could give me a link where I could order a replacement bolt, since it takes 2, with the same dimensions and same size as well as with the other parts (the metal screen and the plastic ring). Also I was wondering whether the plastic ring went on top of the metal screen in the bolt or if the metal (looks like it was cut out of a screen from a window, that piece) goes on top goes on top of the plastic ring in the bolt. Thanks.

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