Harmon Mute Recommendations Wanted
JHarryCook
I'm in need of a new Harmon mute (or perphaps I should say "Harmon style"
mute), and would like to solicit some recommendations. While we're on the
subject, does anyone know what make of Harmon Miles Davis played on?
Jamie Cook
JFDonaldsn
>I'm in need of a new Harmon mute...and would like to
>solicit some recommendations.
I recently traded to get a Joral Copper Bubble mute after honking on an old
Alessi-Vacchiano harmon for 30 years.
What a difference. One can play the lower notes on the horn and get a much
better "buzzzy" sound and intonation with the Joral Bubble. I haven't tried the
Joral aluminum bubble, but the copper sounds and plays great. It is a bit
heavy, but it is worth it for the sound--much better than any I've every played
or heard. I would certainly recommend you trying one of these before buying
anything.
Jim Donaldson
Denver, Colorado
JFDon...@aol.com
Albert L. Lilly III
In article <199805120447...@ladder03.news.aol.com>,
jharr...@aol.com (JHarryCook) wrote:
Jamie,
A "harmon style" mute is a highly personal thing. Some people want more
buzz, some want more sound, and some would just like Dominic Spera not to
dent our new one up every time we get one!! ;-)))
If money is not object, the best one for me has been a Charlie Davis
polished copper, which plays well and is beautiful in looks and sound.
The Jo-Ral Copper bubble is a good choice, and seems to have a very nice
sound for the price. The aluminum ones tend to have a little more buzz to
my ear, and I prefer ones with a solid, substantive tone.
There is a mute called an Emu or Emo that is now distributed by
Giardinelli which also seems quite good. The benefit of this mute is a
great sealing pad instead of cork, which has a tendency to wear.
The stonelined harmon is great for when you have a certain sound you're
looking for, like that '40's big band harmon sound with the stem in. In
this application, it is great.
The Harmon, of course, is another choice, but it does not work great for
me (it is too light-YMMV)
The Tom Crown and Denis Wick harmon style mutes are well made and sound
good. They were not my choice because they were not the "sound" that I
look for in a harmon mute. Again, YMMV.
My best advice would to be go into a store that has as many as possible to
try. Bach dealers should carry the Jo-Ral, and many others are readily
available. The Davis mute may be the one that is hard to get.
Good luck with your purchase. It might also help to get an idea of the
prices that these things are supposed to run in your head, and know what
your price should be. That way, you know what to pay. But, mutes are
like horns and mouthpieces: no two are exactly alike, and no two will
ever respond the same!
AL
Al Lilly Trumpeter, Brass Clinician, Arranger and Composer
E-Mail Address is available at <http://www.scican.net/~alilly/address.html>
Pursuant to US Code Title 47, Cht. 5, Subchapter II, A7227, all non solicited
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MHackHFran
An inside joke but very funny!!
>some would just like Dominic Spera not to
>dent our new one up every time we get one!! ;-)))
as for the mutes:
>If money is not object, the best one for me has been a Charlie Davis
>polished copper, which plays well and is beautiful in looks and sound.
My present choice and a damn fine mute.
>The Jo-Ral Copper bubble is a good choice, and seems to have a very nice
>sound for the price.
have one and it is also very good. I prefer the Davis
mute.
>There is a mute called an Emu or Emo that is now distributed by
>Giardinelli which also seems quite good.
I used an EMO mute for 15 years until the pad disintigrated. Much better than
what was commonly available at the time. I now play on a complete set of
Charlie Davis mutes and find them to be superior in every way (except for their
weight!!).
Michael Hackett
Washington DC
mhack...@aol.com
dennis
> >I'm in need of a new Harmon mute...and would like to
> >solicit some recommendations.
i was hoping to give a review to the bobby shew soloist harmon
i ordered some over a week ago. there is no phone number to call
and check on it. but as soon as it gets here, and flip reworks
it to fit my big wildthing bell, i will post my impression here.
it was $95, so i hope it is great.
--
remove NOSPAM from address to reply to me by e-mail
Bruce Richardson
You guys are INTO it. Hell, I still play my 20 year old HARMON harmon, with
the hole ever-so-scientifically reamed out with a drumstick, and it sounds
like a harmon mute to me. <g>
As with all my "harmon" mutes...the first thing I did was take out the stem
and throw it away. Haha.
--
Bruce A. Richardson
Purple Iguana Productions
purple...@compuserve.com
bandm...@sprynet.com
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/purpleiguana
dennis wrote in message <35585C77...@NOSPAMhome.com>...
dpea...@ago.state.nm.us
In article <199805120447...@ladder03.news.aol.com>,
jharr...@aol.com (JHarryCook) wrote:
>
> I'm in need of a new Harmon mute (or perphaps I should say "Harmon style"
> mute), and would like to solicit some recommendations. While we're on the
> subject, does anyone know what make of Harmon Miles Davis played on?
>
> Jamie Cook
>
Miles used the Harmon brand aluminum mute. It doesn't play as well in tune as
the more recent brands, especially in the low register, but it is the one
with the Miles Sound.>
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dennis
Bruce Richardson wrote:
>
> You guys are INTO it. Hell, I still play my 20 year old HARMON harmon, with
> the hole ever-so-scientifically reamed out with a drumstick, and it sounds
> like a harmon mute to me. <g>
maybe there is hope for my harmon harmon yet. i haven't tried the
drumstick thing.
i did ever-so-scientifically hit it with a hammer all the way around
the seam to loosen the seal, and it sounded better, so i transferred
it to my cornet-in-the-car setup, for when i am playing along with the
local cool (banal yuppie blather) jazz station.
keith hedger
You should be aware that Miles' sound with the Harmon was more a
function of his own sound and his exploitation of his horns' proximity
to the microphone than a particular brand of Harmon mute. Also note
that he (and most modern players) pulled the stem out and tossed
it....
keith
Jzztpt
i use one of the jo ral aluminum bubble mutes
it's got a really nice easy buzz but a little i don't know how to describe
it....more focused in the high mid range of the sound
it's got this sound....kind of like saying the word "claire"
almost nasal
but i dig......my old allessi vach is a little brighter but i like the
intonation and everall sound of the joral
chris
RHAAPANEN
I have played recently on five different Harmon-style mutes, including Tom
Crown, Vacchiano, Harmon, Stomvi (use this one as a paper weight only!), JoRal
copper and aluminum. The JoRal copper gives the best sound, but is too heavy
in my opinion, and the JoRal aluminum takes second place easily. RHH
Mitch Collinsworth
"Bruce Richardson" writes:
>You guys are INTO it. Hell, I still play my 20 year old HARMON harmon, with
>the hole ever-so-scientifically reamed out with a drumstick, and it sounds
>like a harmon mute to me. <g>
Hmm... I'm still using the old Harmon harmon that my high school
director found in a cabinet and gave to me 22 years ago when he was
hired to replace the previous band director. It doesn't appear to
have had the PHA (precision harmon alignment) yet though. What number
drum stick do you recommend? Should I mount it in my hand drill and
do it myself or get it done by a professional?
-Mitch
--
"Families can't trust Disney"
--
"Families can't trust Disney"
David Miller
I was going to stay out of this, but here I go anyway.
First let me say I have many wow wow type mutes. Solid copper Harmon,
Jo Ral Bubble to the standard Harmon brand and couple of other brands.
For up close mic work, the Jo Ral is quite nice, though it does cause a
major "WOW" in the low register while within close proximity of the mic.
I almost killed a house's sound system once by playing low G (no
kidding).
The solid copper Harmon produces a very nice tone, but was a bit hard
for me to be heard when playing in muted section passages. For solo
work, the copper mutes are excellent choices. Seems I own another
copper wow wow but can't recall the brand.
I haven't tried the Charlie Davis mute, which has a fine reputation.
Will proabably be my next mute purchase.
What I settled on for the most of my playing is the good ol' tried and
true aluminum Harmon brand.
I really suggest you buy a Harmon brand first. You can experiment
later, and you'll always have the lighter, brighter sounding mute when
you need it. Heck, they are only $16.95 at Woodwind/Brasswind.
FWIW, Miles played on the aluminum Harmon brand.
Dave M
John
JHarryCook wrote:
> I'm in need of a new Harmon mute (or perphaps I should say "Harmon style"
> mute), and would like to solicit some recommendations. While we're on the
> subject, does anyone know what make of Harmon Miles Davis played on?
>
> Jamie Cook
I strongly suggest investing your money in a good Charley Davis mute. I have
a complete set of his mutes and can safely say that they perform consistantly
better in intonation, quality of sound in all registers, and in intensity of
sound. Even his fiberglass mutes play better than most mutes I've tried from
other companies.
Charley uses his mutes almost every day in studio sessions, big bands, etc...
I don't know of any other mute that is designed and manufactured by someone
who is actually out there playing.
That's my two cents worth...
John
vkb...@gmail.com
> I'm in need of a new Harmon mute (or perphaps I should say "Harmon style"
> mute), and would like to solicit some recommendations. While we're on the
> subject, does anyone know what make of Harmon Miles Davis played on?
>
> Jamie