Wick or Jo-Ral Bubble Mute

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fsgazda
Posts: 219
Joined: Jun 24, 2018

by fsgazda »

Which harmon-style mute is more commonly used, the Jo-Ral bubble or the Denis Wick "extending tube mute"? I wound up with one of each and will be only keeping one, as in over 30 years I'm not sure that I have ever needed one at all.
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Vegasbound
Posts: 1328
Joined: Jul 06, 2019

by Vegasbound »

Keep the jo-ral
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Digidog
Posts: 483
Joined: Dec 13, 2018

by Digidog »

I play the Jo-Ral, and found Wick to be more difficult and not as responsive.

It's fantastic fun to use a harmon in combo playing!

...while it's much underrated as an effect for a Big Band section.
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harrisonreed
Posts: 6479
Joined: Aug 17, 2018

by harrisonreed »

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Posaunus
Posts: 5018
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by Posaunus »

I purchased a 3D-printed Tenor Trombone "Wah-Wah/Harmon-Style" Mute from Steve Trapani:

http://www.trapanimutes.com/available-mutes.html

mostly because I had hoped that I'd have an excuse to use it. It looks really cool (black body with red stem). Light weight. Easy to use. Sounds good to my uneducated ears. But I've not yet had a chance to play it in public (just pulled it out, unasked, at a few rehearsals). Still glad that I bought it though. ;)
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dukesboneman
Posts: 935
Joined: Apr 02, 2018

by dukesboneman »

I second the Trapani Harmons. I bought one for my Bass trombone. Great sound and it weighs almost nothing.

Now I use a Harmon alot on Tenor trombone, for sound effects in solos or when performing in a more "Avant Gard" situation. I have tried many of these type of mutes and the Jo Ral is by far the best I`ve tried. It has the most "color" options.

Here`s an interesting model - It`s a "plastic" harmon by Selmer. Not many of these around. Really different sound. Very dark