Customer Reviews

Humes & Berg 134 French Horn Tunable Straight Mute

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A simple fiberboard cone atop a plywood base, this mute is approximately 9-5/8 inches high, varying from 4-7/8 inches in diameter at the base to 15/16" at the top opening. It weighs about 5 oz.

This is a non-transposing mute. It has an inner cylinder that extends the air column into the mute, so the pitch of the muted horn will match its unmuted pitch, provided the player uses a consistent hand position without the mute. The cylinder appears to be made from two cardboard tubes telescoped together. A tab attached to one of them enables the mute to be tuned to the horn by inserting a finger into the top and sliding the tab in or out. Sliding it toward the base of the mute lowers the pitch. Since it is friction fit, this should be done infrequently.

Intonation is good and timbre consistent from the octave below middle C to two octaves above. Sound and performance match that of mutes costing more than 3 times as much. Fit and finish do not.

Before using it the first time, I suggest a close inspection for glue that could scratch the finish of the horn. It's brittle and easy to remove with a utility knife. I'd also advise gently sanding the corks with fine (320 +) sandpaper. Not to change their size or shape, just enough to remove dirt, or any contaminants that could scratch the horn. This makes them noticeably softer.

As you very gently insert the mute in the horn the first time, you may find the corks need additional sanding to fit, as recommended by the manufacturer.

This is undoubtedly the best value in a tunable horn mute. But it's sad to see the carelessness evidenced by drips in the paint, the feathery line between the colors, paint and glue blobs on the sides of the corks, and the crooked label. H&B mutes used to be made with much more pride.