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    Harmon Mute Showdown!

    Mouthpieces & Accessories
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    • ACB
      ACB Trusted Seller last edited by

      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!

      undefined J. Jericho 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 2
      • undefined
        @ACB last edited by

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

        ACB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • ACB
          ACB Trusted Seller @Guest last edited by

          @Dr-Mark who's ABC?

          undefined 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • ACB
            ACB Trusted Seller last edited by

            Here's a followup video with better quality audio

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • undefined
              @ACB last edited by

              OOPS!
              I mean ACB. Sorry.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • Dr GO
                Dr GO last edited by

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

                ? 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • flugelgirl
                  flugelgirl Qualified Repair Techs last edited by

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

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • J. Jericho
                    J. Jericho @ACB last edited by 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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • tmd
                      tmd @J. Jericho last edited by 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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • Dr GO
                        Dr GO @tmd last edited by

                        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 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • tmd
                          tmd @Dr GO last edited by

                          @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

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • tmd
                            tmd @Dr GO last edited by 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

                            ? 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • ?
                              A Former User @Dr GO last edited by

                              @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.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • ?
                                A Former User @tmd last edited by A Former User

                                @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 tmd 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • Dr GO
                                  Dr GO @Guest last edited by

                                  @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.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • tmd
                                    tmd @Guest last edited by

                                    @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

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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