Posted by Klaus on March 30, 2002 at 19:14:07:
In Reply to: mute conversion posted by Charles Jackson on March 30, 2002 at 18:44:40:
The 3 side strips of cork have to be removed.
You have to create an airtight seal between the mute and the inside bell. As close to the narrow end of the mute as possible.
The pros use cork sheets for that. Solid cork is preferable, but more expensive and less available than sheets of glued cork grains.
The slower and less durable way is to make the seal out of duct tape strips. It might be cheaper, and even more available, if you are not close to the pros.
You will have to drill one or two holes in the cone close to the wide end. Starting with one small hole, 3/8", and testing from there might be the way to go.
The original Humes&Berg practise mutes have some soft cotton wool attached to the wooden end plate of the cone. It is covered with some lightly woven cheesecloth.
Klaus