The New MuteMeister Mutes

Warburton USA - Mims, Florida

Terry Warburton and I officially launched the new MuteMeister line at the 2016 Midwest Clinic in Chicago.

After play-testing countless prototypes, I finally settled upon two mute designs that just knocked me out. I field-tested the prototypes in the studio and in live situations. In the recording studio, I couldn't believe how well each model printed. The playbacks were revealing in a very positive way. In the live situations, the range of overtones these mutes produced were extremely well balanced and projected beautifully in every venue.

The MuteMeister Cup Mute and the ShowTone mute are both made from a Polylactic Acid (or PLA) compound. PLA is a thermoplastic polyester derived from renewable resources like corn starch and sugar cane. This material resonates more readily than the early fiberboard and primitive plastics used by Louis Shastock and Guy Humes in the 1930s.

With our cup mute, we line the cup with a solid piece of felt, as was done with the original Ray Robinson mute. However, like the Shastock Tonalcolor and unlike the Ray Robinson Cup Mute, there are no rivets used in the manufacture of the cone or cup; this enhances resonance. After extensive testing, we settled upon the most responsive thickness for the cup mute's wooden resonator.

I feel the best adjectives to describe the tonal qualities of our new MuteMeister Cup Mute are the following: clear, focused, warm, full and projecting.

With the ShowTone mute, we optimize resonance by maintaining the same material throughout its construction. With the exception of the cork, the entire mute is made from Polylactic Acid. The intonation, slotting and tonal qualities of the ShowTone far exceed the original 1920s Shasock Solotone mute. Unlike the original Solotone, the new ShowTone does not incorporate brass ferrules on each end. This adds to its resonance and increases its range of overtones.

If you enjoy enhancing music with the many expressive colors that muting can offer, then do it with the new MuteMeister line of mutes.