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!

A Former User

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

A Former User

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

A Former User

@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.

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

@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