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STRAIGHT MUTES
Straight mutes are used in many styles of music, and transforms the timbre of the trumpet’s sound. These mutes come in a wide range of designs as well as materials, contributing to the sound that is produced.
DENIS WICK DW5504 STRAIGHT MUTE
An extremely popular metal straight mute in the trumpet community, The Denis Wick DW5504 Aluminum Straight Mute can be used in multiple musical settings. These mutes are constructed from aluminum and feature a felt ring to prevent scratching the inside of the instrument’s bell. The sound produced by these mutes is full, and not as this or nasally as other straight mutes. These mutes have enough “edge” to the sound to cut through a large ensemble, and can be played delicately for solo or small ensemble work.
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TOM CROWN ALUMINUM STRAIGHT MUTE
Developed by Orchestral trumpet player Tom Crown, these trumpet mutes have been used for decades in multiple genres. These mutes produce a clear edge to the sound, helping to cut through the ensemble when needed. The corks supplied on these mutes are quite large, due to the fact that they are meant to be filed or sanded to fit the bell flare of each instrument and to adjust the appropriate gap from the mute to the bell. Available in multiple materials such as aluminum, aluminum with a copper bottom, aluminum with a brass bottom, all copper, or all brass.
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SOULO ALUMINUM STRAIGHT MUTE
Soulo has become a favorite for musicians who need to make quick mute changes due to the little adjustment that must be made in tuning when using these mutes. The Soulo Straight Mute played extremely well in tune and does not alter the back pressure like other mutes tend to do. These are available in aluminum, or aluminum with a copper bottom.
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TRUMCOR LYRIC STRAIGHT MUTE
Just as its name would suggest, the Trumcor Lyric Straight mute is perfect for soft and lyrical passages. As described by Trumcor: “This mute is designed for soft, delicate, lyrical passages found so often in symphonic, wind ensemble and solo literature. Its velvet sound blends well with all instruments. Articulation is responsive and clear, even at the softest dynamic levels.” This mute would also work well in musical theater applications, where the volume and timbre of the trumpet cannot conflict with the vocalists on stage.
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HUMES & BERG STRAIGHT MUTE
While these mutes are often viewed as a cheap option for the student, they are extremely useful for a performing professional as well. The Humes & Berg mutes are a “stonelined” design, constructed from a fiberboard material with a tin stone lining. These are relatively inexpensive, but can prove to be very useful. Due to the material these mutes do not produce the same “edge” or bright sound created by metal mutes. This mute works perfectly when a more mellow straight mute sound is needed, such as a lyrical solo or when playing behind a vocalist.
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