Best Mute for Eb (981 style) Tuba?

Tubas, euphoniums, mouthpieces, and anything music-related.
Forum rules
This section is for posts that are directly related to performance, performers, or equipment. Social issues are allowed, as long as they are directly related to those categories. If you see a post that you cannot respond to with respect and courtesy, we ask that you do not respond at all.
Post Reply
User avatar
Doc
Posts: 2472
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:48 am
Location: Downtown Browntown
Has thanked: 846 times
Been thanked: 767 times
Contact:

Best Mute for Eb (981 style) Tuba?

Post by Doc »

Ok, TFFJ...

I have the large Humes and Berg (208?) for my 496. Will the smaller 206 fit my JP377 Eb (Besson 981 copy)?

What other mutes should I consider for my Eb? Trumcor, Dennis Wick, etc...?

Thanks for your assistance!


Welcome to Browntown!
Home of the Brown Note!
User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 19293
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 3844 times
Been thanked: 4088 times

Re: Best Mute for Eb (981 style) Tuba?

Post by bloke »

Doc wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 2:34 pm Ok, TFFJ...

I have the large Humes and Berg (208?) for my 496. Will the smaller 206 fit my JP377 Eb (Besson 981 copy)?

What other mutes should I consider for my Eb? Trumcor, Dennis Wick, etc...?

Thanks for your assistance!
I believe I would go for the 206...also for the 186, as well as the "Symphonie".
If a tuba's bell is lucky enough to properly fit it, the 206 is THE BEST DAMN TUBA MUTE IN EXISTENCE.
User avatar
Doc
Posts: 2472
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:48 am
Location: Downtown Browntown
Has thanked: 846 times
Been thanked: 767 times
Contact:

Re: Best Mute for Eb (981 style) Tuba?

Post by Doc »

bloke wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 2:52 pm
Doc wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 2:34 pm Ok, TFFJ...

I have the large Humes and Berg (208?) for my 496. Will the smaller 206 fit my JP377 Eb (Besson 981 copy)?

What other mutes should I consider for my Eb? Trumcor, Dennis Wick, etc...?

Thanks for your assistance!
I believe I would go for the 206...also for the 186, as well as the "Symphonie".
If a tuba's bell is lucky enough to properly fit it, the 206 is THE BEST DAMN TUBA MUTE IN EXISTENCE.
I agree. But, of course, it has to fit. :thumbsup:
Welcome to Browntown!
Home of the Brown Note!
User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 19293
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 3844 times
Been thanked: 4088 times

Re: Best Mute for Eb (981 style) Tuba?

Post by bloke »

The 19" E-flat bell THROATS are the same size as the old-times 15" bells' THROATS, yes?
User avatar
LeMark
Site Admin
Posts: 2836
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:03 am
Location: Arlington TX
Has thanked: 77 times
Been thanked: 819 times

Re: Best Mute for Eb (981 style) Tuba?

Post by LeMark »

I own both of the H&B aluminum mutes. If you ever want to come up to Dallas to try them out, and enjoy the "Finley Hilton" you are welcome anytime.
Yep, I'm Mark
User avatar
Doc
Posts: 2472
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:48 am
Location: Downtown Browntown
Has thanked: 846 times
Been thanked: 767 times
Contact:

Re: Best Mute for Eb (981 style) Tuba?

Post by Doc »

bloke wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 3:10 pm The 19" E-flat bell THROATS are the same size as the old-times 15" bells' THROATS, yes?
That’s a fair comparison.
Welcome to Browntown!
Home of the Brown Note!
User avatar
Doc
Posts: 2472
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:48 am
Location: Downtown Browntown
Has thanked: 846 times
Been thanked: 767 times
Contact:

Re: Best Mute for Eb (981 style) Tuba?

Post by Doc »

LeMark wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 5:15 pm I own both of the H&B aluminum mutes. If you ever want to come up to Dallas to try them out, and enjoy the "Finley Hilton" you are welcome anytime.
Thank you. I’d love to visit sometime!
Welcome to Browntown!
Home of the Brown Note!
User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 19293
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 3844 times
Been thanked: 4088 times

Re: Best Mute for Eb (981 style) Tuba?

Post by bloke »

I grew weary of the 208, bought a new-condition Wick (cheap) off of eBay, and sold the 208.
The Wick requires more cork for the tubas with which I use it.

That having been said there's this:
> The mute looks like it should really work well.
(the 208 - many applications - many of which disappoint me)

vs.

> The mute DOES work well.
(the Wick)

for 186 and smaller: 206...superb

bloke "very opinionated, but also: 13"

HEY...
I ALSO own an "It will do" mute, for when I must have a mute, but don't have any space (or an extra arm) to tote one.
It's small, and fits down in the bell of several tubas. It DOES suck, but it's not the worst.

I'm also known to play some passages (marked "MUTE") with NO mute, either because the mute change is too frantic (my tuba is worth more than their shitty piece of music) or because muting a passage sounds too stupid...but I've ALSO ADDED a mute (when it wasn't marked) because EVERYONE ELSE was marked "straight mute", and the composer-person (or composer-personette) didn't realize that tuba players sometimes own mutes.
These users thanked the author bloke for the post:
Doc (Thu Jun 23, 2022 6:23 pm)
eeflattuba
Posts: 40
Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:36 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 9 times

Re: Best Mute for Eb (981 style) Tuba?

Post by eeflattuba »

For my almost 30 year old besson 981 ee flat i will use either my denis wick aluminum or denis wick wooden mute.
These users thanked the author eeflattuba for the post:
Doc (Thu Jun 23, 2022 8:54 pm)
User avatar
Snake Charmer
Posts: 152
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2020 8:49 am
Location: Schifferstadt, Germany
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 69 times

Re: Best Mute for Eb (981 style) Tuba?

Post by Snake Charmer »

With my Besson the Schlipf Tour Mute www.tuba-mute.com worked great. It plays in tune and the level of dampening is adjustable. And it can used also as a practice mute and fits completely into the bell for transport.
:tuba: ...with a song in my heart!
User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 19293
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 3844 times
Been thanked: 4088 times

Re: Best Mute for Eb (981 style) Tuba?

Post by bloke »

I suspect that Humes & Berg 206 are not particularly available in Europe.
Fivevalves
Posts: 29
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:30 am
Location: Salisbury, England
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: Best Mute for Eb (981 style) Tuba?

Post by Fivevalves »

These work well with most Besson type instruments;

https://peterganemutes.com/
Willson 3400 EEb
Meinl Weston Spezial 2040/5 "Mr Tuba"
Wessex Dolce Euphonium
More mouthpieces than I care to count....
Post Reply