Umyoguy

I'd like to ask about what mute setup everyone uses for Mvt. 2 of the Gershwin Piano Concerto. I've been using a felt bag that's slightly lighter than a Crown Royal bag and have not been happy with the sound.

Thanks in advance.

Jon

Manny Laureano

None of the above, my friend!

I think the way to go is the crown part of a felt hat (the brim cut off) hung over the bell. It's, to my ears, the most beautiful sound for the Gershwin solos that call for it. Yup, I think ol' George got it right.

ML

Alex Yates

I have to agree with Manny. Felt is the correct material to use, but it must be supported with room between it and the bell for that wonderful, smokey sound. When you hang a bag over the bell, it suffocates the soundwaves. If you cannot find a felt hat, you can go to a craft store, buy some lightweight, high quality felt material in the sewing section, cut it into a circle and make a felt dome using some kind of crafting wire to form and support the shape of the RIM, not the entire dome. Hang it on the bell and voila!

Umyoguy

Thank you both for your suggestions so far. Any suggestions on where to go about buying a suitable felt hat?

I have a hobby store right near where I live. I'll go and check it out in case I can't find the right kind of hat.

Jon

Tootsall

You might try Goodwill, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, etc. They are the most likely to have old, used hats that could be suitable ... and the price won't be outrageous (they'll appreciate the donation)! Then, once you've checked there and not found what you want, go to the craft store!

Umyoguy

Well, I went to a specialty hat store here in kalamazoo (if there's one here, there's one where you live too) and bought what is actually a felt fedora.

The store owners were kind enough to let me play in a ton of different felt derby hats, fedoras - some of them were EXTREMELY expensive...$300 dollar hats sounded the best, believe it or not - Probably as a result of the better-quality felt.

It was a blast. I ended up buying a $45 felt fedora that sounded the smokiest - I'm a little concerned that it won't sound exactly how I think it does, as the store owner could only give me her lay-person's opinion. But playing it was pretty obvious that the firmer felts were not quite as good as felt that had a bit (JUST a bit) more fuzz. It seemed to warm the sound more.

Thanks for all your advice. I'll try this out for a while and see how it goes.

Jon

Tootsall

Now THAT boggles the mind. Imagine someone going into a hat store with a trumpet and wondering if he could "try on" some hats!!!


You didn't happen to get a photo, did you!?

Umyoguy

Hah!

No, no photo, but you should see this store. Felt hats as far as the eye can see. Quite an experience.

Jon

Alex Yates

Congrats Umy. I hope it works out for you. It was pretty handy you had a store like that nearby. I bet it will sound great.

Paul Randall

I just played the piece recently and tried something new. I used a Crown Royal bag but cut a hole in the end to let a bit of sound out so it's not so muffled. You can adjust the bag/hole on the bell till you get the response you like. I got many more compliments than usual afterwards, so I think it worked well.

Paul Randall