Harmon Mute Showdown!

ACB

I thought some of you might enjoy this demo I did at the shop today comparing eight different Harmon Mutes. Let me know your thoughts!

Hi ABC,
The mute that is part aluminum and part copper sounded the best to me.

ACB

@Dr-Mark who's ABC?

ACB

Here's a followup video with better quality audio

OOPS!
I mean ACB. Sorry.

Dr GO

Nothing, I mean nothing sounds better than the 1970 vintage Harmons. What made them so different?

flugelgirl

I loved my bubble until I got my Trumcor zinger - thatbthing has been perfect in every setting for me

J. Jericho

@ACB said in Harmon Mute Showdown!:
Let me know your thoughts!

Thank you for taking the time to demonstrate these mutes!

What I heard:

Tom Crown aluminum - Nice bite to the sound
Tom Crown copper - A bit more muted (no pun intended)
Tom Crown brass - Velvety
Soulo - A hollow, but intimate sound. Worst intonation of the group.
Faxx copper - Very nasal
Trumcor Zinger - Full, less "Harmon" sound, more open
Best Brass aluminum - Dry, smooth sound
Best Brass copper - Full, resonant*, almost like a cup mute*
Best Brass brass - Airy, mellow*. Like a straight mute*
Jo Ral Bubble aluminum - Wooden sound

I realize that you do not stock original Harmon mutes nor Humes & Berg, but I would like to have had these in the mix for comparison.

Yes, I realize that the terms "resonant" and "mellow" normally apply to straight mutes and cup mutes respectively, but this was a comparison of Harmon mutes, and the terms I used help describe the cup and straight mute timbres I heard with these examples.

tmd

@J-Jericho said in Harmon Mute Showdown!:

I realize that you do not stock original Harmon mutes nor Humes & Berg, but I would like to have had these in the mix for comparison.

Agreed. It's hard to have a Harmon mute comparison without an actual Harmon mute. That aside, it's a very good comparison of the alternatives, and a great video. Thanks to Trent for sharing. If I ever wanted a Harmon mute with a warmer tone, I might consider the copper Tom Crown. (I might order one from Trent today.)

But for me personally, I'll stick with my Harmon Type B mute. For me, it has the classic sound, and good intonation from low F# on up. My aluminium Jo Ral is pretty good, too. I still have my Harmon Type A from the 1970s, but the intonation is bit more squirrely, especially in the low register.

Mike

Dr GO

But for me personally, I'll stick with my Harmon Type B mute. For me, it has the classic sound, and good intonation from low F# on up. My aluminium Jo Ral is pretty good, too. I still have my Harmon Type A from the 1970s, but the intonation is bit more squirrely, especially in the low register.

Mike

So that explains it why I love my 1970 vintage Harmon. I always thought I had a Type A personality!

TrumpetMD with the accurate diagnosis once again! That's why we love you here Dr. Mike!

tmd

@Dr-GO said in Harmon Mute Showdown!:

But for me personally, I'll stick with my Harmon Type B mute. For me, it has the classic sound, and good intonation from low F# on up. My aluminium Jo Ral is pretty good, too. I still have my Harmon Type A from the 1970s, but the intonation is bit more squirrely, especially in the low register.

Mike

So that explains it why I love my 1970 vintage Harmon. I always thought I had a Type A personality!

Better to have a "Type A" personality than a "Cluster B" personality disorder.

Mike

tmd

@Dr-GO said in Harmon Mute Showdown!:

So that explains it why I love my 1970 vintage Harmon. I always thought I had a Type A personality!

Is your vintage Harmon in tune? Mine is pretty beat up, with worn down corks. Maybe that's why mine is out of tune?

Mike

@Dr-GO The Harmons made after the late 80's were totally different due to design changes to make them "more in tune" but they company ruined how they sounded. I've found a few old ones on eBay, including one from the late 50's.

@tmd They older ones are in tune once you pull out the slide a bit. I'm happy to do that in order to keep the classic tone.

Dr GO

@Bay-Area-Brass said in Harmon Mute Showdown!:

@tmd They older ones are in tune once you pull out the slide a bit. I'm happy to do that in order to keep the classic tone.

Yes. The general rule was:

Harmon in, slide out. I too perform this task with honor.

tmd

@Bay-Area-Brass said in Harmon Mute Showdown!:

@tmd They older ones are in tune once you pull out the slide a bit. I'm happy to do that in order to keep the classic tone.

Thanks Bill. Just to clarify, low notes on my original Harmon mute are very sharp (especially low G and low F#). Back in the day, it took a lot of effort to get those notes out. With my Harmon Type B, those notes are very much in tune.

Mike