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Tell me about the Tourte mute
The Tourte mute is a round rubber mute. It is the
choice of many professional bassists because it offers the player
a great number of advantages over other products on the market.
These include:
- Ease of use: Two
slits in the surface of the rubber allow the mute to be slotted
onto the tail ends (the lower part of the string in-between the
bridge and tailpiece) of the D and A strings. When not in use
the mute rests happily, hanging over the top of the tailpiece.
When the mute is required (con sordini) the mute is slid up the
strings and placed over the top of the bridge. To remove the mute
(senza sordini) one just lifts it away from the top of the bridge
from where it is guided (Some players delight in allowing the
mute to drop down the strings from this point. A somewhat rubbery
- "thunk" - can be heard when it hits the tailpiece - which is
fun - but not exactly what a composer would have wanted at the
end of his atmospheric muted passage.) back down to it's place
of rest above the tailpiece. Its as simple as that.
- Extremely fast time to
fit or remove: The time taken to raise the mute up and
place it onto the top of the bridge is literally one to two seconds.
It can be removed even quicker. While your non-Tourte-mute colleagues
are still grovelling on the floor or fishing about in their pockets
for their wooden or metal mutes you will already be reading the
music ahead of you and be perfectly poised - ready to play.
- Silent action:
Because the mute is made from rubber the action of fitting and
removing the mute is totally silent. While your non-Tourte playing
colleagues are accidentally dropping (At the start or end of a
con sordino passage this can be an acutely embarrassing moment.)
their ebony or aluminium mutes - you'll be perfectly relaxed in
the knowledge that your Tourte mute has such stealth-like qualities.
- Safe storage when not
in use: Even if you are playing every day, there can be
long periods of time when you are not required to use a mute.
With the Tourte mute - that's perfectly OK because it can rest
safely and securely above the tailpiece until it is next required.
On those "unexpected" days that a mute is required just watch
your non-Tourte playing colleagues fumble about in their bass
cases for ages trying to remember where they last left their detachable
wood or aluminium mutes. Oh what fun it is to own a Tourte mute.
- Muting qualities:
We boffins at The Contrabass Shoppe recon that the muting qualities
of the Tourte mute are the most effective of all the mutes that
we've tested.
- Longevity: Being
made of rubber the Tourte mute is virtually indestructible. I've
used the term -virtually - because fire would certainly melt the
rubber - but I reasoned that if this was the cause of damage then
you'd most probably be looking to replace your instrument as well.
- Price: A round
of drinks in the bar after the show will probably cost you more
than one of these little beauties.
- Tactility: If you
find that you become board easily during rehearsals - you'll be
pleased to know that Tourte mutes are also very tactile.
Conclusion:
Should you require any more than the above eight
very good reasons to buy a Tourte mute - then you'll need to wine
and dine me before I reveal any more. This really is an essential
piece of kit for every orchestral player. Remember - you only ever
need buy a Tourte mute once.
Stats:
Circumference: 5.3cm
Max Depth: 1.8cm
Weight: 30.5gm
Price: UK£ 14-00
Shipping costs - UK, EU
and USA - UK£8-00
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Tourte
Mute
