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Dave Taylor buzzer mute
Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 6:34 pm
by bubblelord
I'm playing in a contemporary ensemble and a part calls for "buzz mute". According to a friend who consulted with the composer on the piece, the mute choice was based on the sound of Dave Taylor's buzzer mute that he's used for pieces like Houdini's Lament, the Buzz/B Quirky stuff and others. Anybody know more about what it is and how to make one? Can't seem to find anything about it.
Thanks
Re: Dave Taylor buzzer mute
Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 8:51 pm
by mbarbier
There used to be an old Humes and Berg mute (long out of productiom) that had Kazoo membranes in it. Generally that marking is referring to those.
It would be pretty easy to make as you'd just need to drill holes in the bottom and glue them in (if you search for a H&B Buzz Wow you can find a picture). The made ones have big bolts, but if you take one apart, it's just a kazoo membrane inside.
Re: Dave Taylor buzzer mute
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2022 5:36 am
by Posaunus
A few years ago, I used a gift certificate from Dillon's Music to order a Humes & Berg
Mel-O-Wah mute (thair version of a "Wah-Wah" mute). They were back-ordered, but I was patient, since I only wanted it as a novelty, with no urgent need. After 6 months, Dillon's contacted H&B to learn that they would only make these rare mutes if they had orders for at least 10 of them - so they probably would never make them again!
I instead ordered a Denis Wick 50th Anniversary gold-anodized tenor straight mute. I use it and love it!
Re: Dave Taylor buzzer mute
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2022 8:54 am
by mbarbier
Posaunus wrote: ↑Mon Jan 24, 2022 5:36 am
A few years ago, I used a gift certificate from Dillon's Music to order a Humes & Berg
Mel-O-Wah mute (thair version of a "Wah-Wah" mute). They were back-ordered, but I was patient, since I only wanted it as a novelty, with no urgent need. After 6 months, Dillon's contacted H&B to learn that they would only make these rare mutes if they had orders for at least 10 of them - so they probably would never make them again!
I instead ordered a Denis Wick 50th Anniversary gold-anodized tenor straight mute. I use it and love it!
The mel-o-wah is my favorite mute- such a great sound! We went through that same song and dance with H&B a few years ago when some were needed for a project. Think we got up 5, so missed the threshold
. But figured out that the Mannie Klein is almost identical to them, so you can turn one into a Mel-O-Wah pretty quickly.
It's a shame that so many of their great and quirky mute are unofficially discontinued
Re: Dave Taylor buzzer mute
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2022 9:15 am
by baileyman
Making a good buzz mute is hard. I have a NOS H&B model, and it doesn't work very well. I think maybe if I shaved the corks way down it might work better. I've tried a number of ideas, and DJ has, too. the problem is to get enough buzz sound out without getting too much trombone sound out. Alan Kaplan makes what he calls "the pie plate mute", which is exactly that. Hold a somewhat crinkled aluminum pie plate up to the bell pretty tight and blow! With that idea in mind DJ made a custom one for me out of titanium sheet (?!?!?!), and it's pretty good as the buzz is more of a slap on the bell. I have no idea how Frank got such a great buzz sound. It must've taken a lot of trial and error, or maybe he just got lucky.
Re: Dave Taylor buzzer mute
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2022 9:48 am
by bubblelord
Thanks!
Re: Dave Taylor buzzer mute
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 7:21 am
by jacobgarchik
https://www.hirschmanmutes.com/#tbn_stinger
https://www.hirschmanmutes.com/#prettyPhoto/51/
poor man's version: take standard plunger, drill or cut hole in the middle, insert standard kazoo
Re: Dave Taylor buzzer mute
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 10:40 am
by baileyman
Still, the balance between horn sound and buzz...
Re: Dave Taylor buzzer mute
Posted: Mon May 16, 2022 12:11 am
by heldenbone
baileyman wrote: ↑Mon Jan 24, 2022 9:15 am
Making a good buzz mute is hard. I have a NOS H&B model, and it doesn't work very well. I think maybe if I shaved the corks way down it might work better. I've tried a number of ideas, and DJ has, too. the problem is to get enough buzz sound out without getting too much trombone sound out. Alan Kaplan makes what he calls "the pie plate mute", which is exactly that. Hold a somewhat crinkled aluminum pie plate up to the bell pretty tight and blow! With that idea in mind DJ made a custom one for me out of titanium sheet (?!?!?!), and it's pretty good as the buzz is more of a slap on the bell. I have no idea how Frank got such a great buzz sound. It must've taken a lot of trial and error, or maybe he just got lucky.
Much like tuning a fine vintage kazoo, I imagine. If the bolts on the bottom of the mute are tighter than just barely touching the membrane, they will greatly damp the sympathetic vibration of the sounding membranes. My kazoo behaves the same way. If it is too tight, there is no buzz.
