midwestchops

so ive been given a couple of mutes as gifts. i got a tom crown straight mute, and a harmon triple play mute. i cant decide if i should keep the triple play or not. im a little hesitant because im kind of clumsy and i can see me going to put the mute in and having the end of it roll across the floor after dropping it. i also dont see how people are using it for a plunger, its all aluminum and i think it would scratch the end of the bell. anyone have experience with this mute? thought of selling it and just getting a regular aluminum cup. input is appreciated. thanks.

Tootsall

I'd agree... never could get the cup part to stay on the straight bit and the intonation was always kind of weird with it too. I'm using an H&B stonelined for cup mute (to match section) and have a Dennis Wick "adjustable" cup mute for when I want something different. A small plunger (4-1/2" size) from the plumbing department works great for a plunger mute too (and being of rubber, doesn't mark the bell).

Dale Proctor

I bought a triple play mute to use with my cornet, because the case is so small a normal cup won't fit (I hate carrying a separate mute bag). I had no intonation problems with using it as a cup or a straight mute, but the cup would always come off the straight part when I pulled it from the bell. Also not handy for quick mute changes and going from cup to straight and back. I never had a "mute incident" during a concert with it, but came close. I ended up cramming an old Humes & Berg cup in the case with along the straight part of the triple play. The cup section went into the case that holds my big band trumpet. It won't scratch the bell if you're careful with it, and it gives a different, metallic plunger sound that's fun to use on certain songs.

tutin_trumpeta

If the price is right, I may have it off you...

Don Christensen

I'm not a fan of the triple play mute. I bought one in High school and it was always falling apart in the cup mute configuration. the separate components on their own are not really that great either. get a dedicated straight and cup instead. Those red and white Humes & Berg are nice and cheap. Visit your local dollar store for a plunger mute.

gglassmeyer

I got one to save on space in my case. I had the same issues with others trying to keep the cup mute portion on. I didn't like the sound of the straight mute by itself and the metal was very thin and you could easily dent it while trying to get the cup twist the cup portion on. The other issue was if you had to pull it out quickly you might pop the cup portion off leaving the straight mute in the horn. Great idea, poor execution.

Blazing Asian

The triple mute has the first mute I got because I thought it was cool to have all three like that...it is not. It is really fragile and when in cup mute mode, it will fall out very easily. Best bet is to return to and get something better.

bagmangood

H&B cup mutes are pretty cheap (around $17 if i remember right) and i have never heard anyone complain about 'em.
For a plunger, just visit your local hardware store/CVS/other phamarcy and buy a 4 to 5 inch traditional plunger. Remove the wooden handle and you have a 3 dollar plunger mute

flugelgirl

I've never had any problems with my triple play, but it is a little difficult for extremely quick mute changes. I love the sound of the cup, though, and use it for combos, and the straight is a good sound for classic dance band. I much prefer the sound of a rubber plunger, though. The other cup that I use and love is a Dennis Wick adjustable - can't go wrong with that one.

wilcox96

Honestly, the best sounding cup (imho) is the Stoneline. For plunger...like has already been said...the hardware store model..ha. No worries. No offense to the triple play... but for what you could re-sell that...you could get the Stoneline and the hardware plunger and still buy lunch, I guess. Regardless...there are better sounding mutes.

Nice that you got the gift though! Here's another thought... perhaps you just "keep" the triple play...and get another cup/and or plunger...to just have an extra (since you didn't pay for it anyway!). There are many times where an extra mute is handy - or, perhaps you might find an occasion where that metal sound actually fits a situation???

Now you are back in a quandry...hahaha..

Good luck...

b