Jo Ral Straight Mute; The Strongest Straight You’ll Find

Like most trumpet players I started with a Dennis Wick straight mute, which I used all the way up to the Conservatoire.

It was there I met serious trumpet players in and out of college. This gave me the chance to try a whole range of mutes and find what suited me with experience rather than luck and the critique of others.

I play on a Jo Ral copper-based straight. As with the harmon that I reviewed previously, the straight mute stays in-tune whilst retaining its strong tone. It blows easily with very little resistance even in the upper register. The tone blends well with other straights, so it isn’t an overspecialized mute.

Mute Base

The difference between the full aluminum mute and the copper-based mute its tone.  The copper base gives the mute a heavier and more penetrating sound. Perhaps this is a little more suited for the harder blowing of big band (yet still isn’t out of place in an orchestra).

I would recommend that if you consider yourself a classical trumpet player you might find yourself more at home with the softer blending and less edgy aluminum straight.

For rounded trumpet player who spans both the Jazz and Classical genres like myself I would recommend the strong copper-base straight mute.

Don’t forget to email me with anything you’d like Dave and I to talk about on our up and coming Podcast.
Send your emails to me: matt@mattrobertsmusic.com