Trombone Salt Shaker

This is the trombone version of our popular Salt Shaker mute.  This mute produces a nice velvety soft quasi-bucket sound and includes several user-configurable felt pads to further customize the tone color to your needs.  The mute weighs approximately 65-70 grams depending on felt configuration. 

The basic package includes 3 cork sizes/thicknesses customized for either small/large bore tenor.  Bass trombone see here.   These differing cork thicknesses allow you to adjust the mute for various bell sizes, and/or adjust the opening size between the mute and bell.   The bundle includes an additional end cap with no holes (adds some reflective quality to the sound) and all 10 cork sizes, 0.5-5. 

Mutes in black ship immediately.  Metallic Blue, Metallic Copper, and Metallic Red are typically made to order and ship in 3-5 days.  

These mutes are frequently out of stock due to popularity.  If you find them out of stock you can place a pre-order for the next batch by emailing sales (at) s-mute.com 

Felt Configuration Guide: Click Here 

Reviews and Endorsements:

Endorsements:

Dr. Brad Edwards, Professor of Trombone, Arizona State University

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Dr. Russ Zokaites, Professor of Trombone, CSU Fresno 

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Dr. Isrea Butler, Count Basie Orchestra Lead Trombonist and Director, UNLV School of Music

“I think this mute is great! Super compact and useful  in many different situations, can sound like a cup, pixie, or bucket. Lots of color that you can add by changing the insets and bottoms."

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Phil Keen, Orchestral Trombonist and Recording Artist

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Raymond James Mason- Multi Instrumentalist and Recording Artist

I'm experimenting with dampening my horn sound while using a pedalboard for live and studio. Other methods involve extra mics and mix tweaks, but this small mute is quick and easy. The S-Mute keeps intonation steady, so pitch-based effects stay in tune, even though the original sound being processed is much quieter than the open horn.  The original use is solid too. Bucket mute with better intonation and resistance than old one. Makes muted practice way more fun! I like how the different felts, end caps, and cork adjustments work for the horns in my collection.

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Dr. Brad Snyder- Instructor of Low Brass, South Dakota State University

Wow! This mute is absolutely incredible. I used it last evening during a big band concert with Michael Feinstein and I was simply amazed at how well the mute blends with traditional bucket mutes. It was such a sigh of relief to be able to get the bucket mute sound without having to deal with the labor-intensive nature of a traditional bucket mute. I will recommend this mute to anyone who is in search of a new bucket mute. 

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Sam Wamhoff, Freelance Trombonist 

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Erik Konertz, Multi Genre/Jazz Trombonist 

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Bruce Chrisp, San Francisco Bay Area Freelance Trombonist and Recording Artist

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Reviews:

Alex Iles, Los Angeles Trombonist/Recording Artist

I just received mine in the mail this week...wow! My eyes don't believe my ears! With a little experimenting with the numerous thicknesses of felt and cork, I have dialed in a warm bucket sound from such a tiny package! Congratulations on coming with such a beautiful and convenient product!!

Matt Bilyk, New York Trombonist and Clinician- 

These are great mutes. Just ordered my second one to configure for Bass Bone. Very easy blowing, super light weight and intonation is great. The ability to customize is also a huge bonus. Highly recommend!

Terry Baber, Freelance Trombonist- 

As a professional commercial trombonist for over 40 years, I have often wondered if anybody could create a more practical bucket mute. After seeing Brad Edwards recommendation on this mute I decided to pick one up. I am blown away by how easy this is to play. I pulled my original bucket mute, soft mute and played them one by one along with the Salt Shaker mute. I felt the Salt Shaker mute gave me the same warmth as the original bucket. I also love the ease of getting it in and out of the horn. When you purchase one, and you will want to, try it with both end caps along with the different cork sizes which are provided with the bundle. Always take time to practice with your mutes to achieve the sound you want. Nathan has provided this capability with the caps and corks. This is a mute that everybody should have in their mute arsenal. 

Jacob Herring, Freelance Trombonist- 

I’ve been working as a house band musician on cruise ships for close to a decade, and this is the perfect mute to travel. It’s built well, light, and is versatile for all musical settings I play in.

Jason Trimble Los Angeles Area Bass Trombonist 

I’ve been playing bass trombone since I was 8 years old and this mute is the best I’ve bought since my first bucket in 1999. Going from a giant JoRal bucket that I had to pull material out of because it muffled my sound too much to zero weight and a sound that was louder and blended perfectly with the section. It’s definitely durable, tested with a 1 bar rest “open” and dropped it off the stage. Also if you do drop it it’s quiet! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve dropped my big JoRal and it sounded like a bomb went off. I played with the felt disks and it’s nice having options to play with a sound you like and not having to stick to what the mute comes with. I might have to buy another to get it in blue since it was out of stock when I bought the copper one and keep it in the bell of my other bass to warm up with.

Linda Landis, Freelance Jazz and Classical Trombonist and Teacher

I got it yesterday and it fits my bell just fine. It has a great sound too! I have a ‘53 MV Bach 6 with a 7” bell and this fits it perfectly. The ones that clip on or hang off the bell are just too big. I either have to find vintage Mutes that were used back in the days when this horn was used or a mute like this. And it’s easy to put in a mute bag. And changeable corks. What a great idea.