TromboneChat

Any experience with Yupon Mutes out there? Does anyone have a comparison of the cup and straight to other brands or sth like that. You can't really find much about those anywhere but I've heard they are quite frequently used in LA studios.

I’ve got a tenor cup, tenor solotone, and bass solotone incoming within the next week. If someone here reminds me I can write a comparison (been using a wick & H&B mute for most of my cup needs)

I love the Yupon practice/warmup mute I have. Super lightweight and not too much backpressure to worry about. (....something about the Best Brass warmup mute I still love better, though!)

Seeing the other mute post, reminded me that I wanted to update in here:

I got a Cup and a Solotone for tenor a few weeks ago. They have quickly become my favorite mutes. Great sound, perfectly in tune and easy to play. I can see why players in LA use them. Super reliable mutes. For sure expensive but absolutely worth it. Got myself a straight and a practice mute which should arrive in about 2 weeks and will update again.

They are very far from universal here in LA - AFAIK only a couple of the top studio guys have them, but they do love them. I think part of it is that Bob Reeves in Santa Clarita stocks them, so it's probably the nicest mute line you can buy locally (in addition to one of the nicest anywhere).

I'd love to pick up the bass solotone at the very least, but maybe a day trip to the Reeves shop will convince me that I need more.

Finetales wrote: Wed Jul 23, 2025 2:19 am They are very far from universal here in LA - AFAIK only a couple of the top studio guys have them, but they do love them. I think part of it is that Bob Reeves in Santa Clarita stocks them, so it's probably the nicest mute line you can buy locally (in addition to one of the nicest anywhere).

I'd love to pick up the bass solotone at the very least, but maybe a day trip to the Reeves shop will convince me that I need more.

Very well possible. I saw some images of Alan Kaplan and Wayne Bergeron using them. But those might be outdated already. Anyway, still great stuff!

Finetales wrote: Wed Jul 23, 2025 2:19 am I'd love to pick up the bass solotone at the very least, but maybe a day trip to the Reeves shop will convince me that I need more.

I got the tenor solotone when they first popped up on the American market I'd say about 10 or so years ago. This was long before they offered a bass version.

Surely the bass-specific version is better all around, but in my opinion, the tenor version has always worked surprisingly well in a couple of my bass trombones with tighter more Conn-like flares. About the same change in blow, pitch alteration and has enough of the elements of sound one looks for from a solotone mute.

If I had a call for solotone for bass on a paying job, or was an elite level multi-instrumentalist who produces the best multi-track videos on all of YouTube, I'm sure I'd pick up the bass version though!

EriKon wrote: Wed Jul 23, 2025 2:25 am Very well possible. I saw some images of Alan Kaplan and Wayne Bergeron using them. But those might be outdated already. Anyway, still great stuff!

Wayne seems to show up with different mutes every gig! Last time I saw him he had a Merf harmon in addition to the Soulo copper bottom harmon all the LA trumpeters have. A lot of them use Soulo adjustable cup mutes as well.

bassclef wrote: Wed Jul 23, 2025 12:43 pm Surely the bass-specific version is better all around, but in my opinion, the tenor version has always worked surprisingly well in a couple of my bass trombones with tighter more Conn-like flares. About the same change in blow, pitch alteration and has enough of the elements of sound one looks for from a solotone mute.

Funny you mention that - I've always just used my standard H&B Cleartone in my 72H and it works just as well as it does on tenor!

I'm still using my Yupon Cup mutes for tenor and bass. I only have the tenor solotone but I use it. The trombone straights play great but they do have the fiber sound. I've been required to use metal straights a lot so I keep both in the bag. Their practice mutes are still my favorite. When I was representing them they also sent me Euphonium, Contrabass Trombone, and Tuba practice mutes. I don't know if they still make them but they are great.

alankaplan wrote: Wed Aug 06, 2025 4:02 pm I'm still using my Yupon Cup mutes for tenor and bass. I only have the tenor solotone but I use it. The trombone straights play great but they do have the fiber sound. I've been required to use metal straights a lot so I keep both in the bag. Their practice mutes are still my favorite. When I was representing them they also sent me Euphonium, Contrabass Trombone, and Tuba practice mutes. I don't know if they still make them but they are great.

That's great to hear! Those really are excellent mutes. I enjoy playing all of them a lot. Out of curiosity: which metal straight do you use when it's called on?