TromboneChat

Hi all!

Lately in my youtube reviews I've been checking out mutes that are made through 3D printing technology. Between the Rejano Practice Mutes, Nate's Salt Shaker, and the new merf mutes from Kyle Gordon and Drew Frender, some really great options have been made.

merf just release their mixed material mutes - 3D printed "gumby" tops and metal bottom, and I have bought both of them to compare to the gumby mutes I owed previously, as well as my old primary mutes, a copper bottom Jo-Ral for tenor and an aluminum Wick for bass. I have to say I'm really impressed with the merf line up overall, and they would be my easy picks for future work.

Please feel free to check out and decide for yourself if you like the sound!
https://youtu.be/MNjeYdnTJb0

My experience with 3D printed objects is limited to the one thing I printed at my local library. So I assume all printed objects are flimsy and fall apart. How sturdy are these (surely more carefully printed) mutes?

they're very sturdy - i use the gumby mute for touring because i both like the sound and also got tired of my metal mutes starting to buzz from travel damage.

AtomicClock wrote: Tue Nov 04, 2025 12:42 pm My experience with 3D printed objects is limited to the one thing I printed at my local library. So I assume all printed objects are flimsy and fall apart.

There are numerous YouTubers with channels devoted to getting-your-3D-prints-to-work. And somehow they have more followers than any trombone player's channel.

At the consumer level it is challenging to get environmental factors like temp and humidity just right every time. At the manufacturer level they arrange to do that.

Nice! My tenor gumby and metal gumby straight mutes just arrived today, and they are fantastic. I'll be picking up the bass set as well, and really looking forward to future releases of trombone cup mutes, and anything else they put out.

3D printing is here to stay, that is for certain.

I have a few 3D-printed mutes. 2 Morningstar bass trombone mutes (one with wood bottom), a Morningstar bass trumpet mute, several merf trumpet mutes including 3 hybrid ones (2 metal bottoms, 1 wood bottom), a couple S-Mute trumpet mutes, and a 3D-printed Facet trumpet mute. They are all fantastic! I will be adding some merf trombone mutes at some point.

AtomicClock wrote: Tue Nov 04, 2025 12:42 pm My experience with 3D printed objects is limited to the one thing I printed at my local library. So I assume all printed objects are flimsy and fall apart. How sturdy are these (surely more carefully printed) mutes?

No Merfs here, but the 3-D printed mutes I own (Salt Shaker, Trapani) are very solid / sturdy.
Robust. Light. Effective.

Yes of course different than metal / plastic / fiber - but still quite useful.

I have yet to try Merf mutes. But I can attest the 3d printed Morningstar mutes are great. So - yes. 3d printing is here to stay.

Whenever we have the bandwidth to get you some SwissTBone I’d love to get you some.

I switched my entire mute bag over to 3D printed mutes last year. (Morningstar, Trapani, Rejano, SaltShaker) No regrets.

I love my Morningstar straight, and the Trapani harmon plays better than any other harmon I've tried. I'm going to use my Salt Shaker as a bucket on a Pops show tomorrow that has some fast changes.

No bad notes on any of these mutes, and the pitch is very good.

Jim Scott

The jello gumby mutes are 3D printed too??

I love my Merf mutes. I have the original Gumby and the new metal (aluminum) bottomed Gumby. You won’t get a more consistent sound from top to bottom, in all dynamics. Go buy one. You won’t regret it.