Brian H. Smout

Hi All,

Any ideas how to improve the sound and buzz of a standard issue Harmon mute. Some recommend using an old mouthpiece to add dents to the mute. Any ideas exactly where? End, sides, trial and error?

Thanks,

Brian

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"Swift Current - where we're neither swift nor current"

gchun

See if you can find an article that Bobby Shew wrote for the NAJE (now IAJE) Journal back in the late '70s. If I recall correctly, the idea was to dent areas that would help the mute "grip" the air better. In other words, it sounded like his point was to purposely "disturb" the air stream as to get a better sound.

He also talked about loosen the top from the bottom so they the two parts could spin. Then he suggested clamping two parts together at spaced intervals with a pliers, still allowing the parts to "buzz."

I tested both suggestions out on an old mute. I liked the dent thing. I didn't care for the "buzz" thing.

Try it, it might be what you're looking for. Just try it with a cheap mute first. (and avoid denting the corked area!!)

Garry

Brian H. Smout

Thanks Garry,

Brian

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"Swift Current - where we're neither swift nor current"

Adam Smith

now I can say all the dents on my harmon are there on purpose. :)

krossum

my advice here is not to worry about dents (one way or the other) in your mutes. just play 'em - trust me, they'll end up w/ a few dents and dings. no need to do it on purpose.

i used to alter harmon mutes to 'change' or experiment w/ the sound. any severe alteration ended up sounding awful; the sound was way out of the 'normal' range of tone for a harmon. when it came right down to it - 99% of the best sound comes from how you play (blow) it combined with mic technique. dents are pretty far down the list.

peace.
-Kelly

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“This art is acquired only by laborious studies, for the rebellious nature of the instrument demands a great aptitude coupled with a persevering willingness to become a master of it.” – F.G.A. Dauverné (1857)

krossum

p.s. bobby was the one who got me thinking about trashing the harmon mutes in the first place ;)

-Kelly

__________________
“This art is acquired only by laborious studies, for the rebellious nature of the instrument demands a great aptitude coupled with a persevering willingness to become a master of it.” – F.G.A. Dauverné (1857)