[Trombone-l] DePolis/TrumCor Cup Mutes

[t.stone@att.net]

The TrumCor line of mutes are based on the design of Frank DePolis and his fiber (cardboard-like) mutes that date back at least to the early 1950s. DePolis mutes were used by Ted Griffith as models for his line of Ted Griffith  Mutes. Remember the early Henry Mancini recordings (More Music From Peter Gunn, The Blues and the Beat, Uniquely Mancini, etc.) that featured Karl DeKarske on bass trombone? Remember those wonderful cup muted trombone lines in octaves, and the way that every note Karl played, even and especially the pedal notes, were absolutely perfect? Boy, I do! And when I met Karl at a rehearsal of my teacher's (Frank ""Ace Lane) summer "rehearsal band" in 1964 I, found out his secret -- he used a genuine Frank DePolis cup mute. The mute was big and kind of ugly looking, and was an unusual shade of light beige -- kind of like like coffee with cream in it. But when he demonstrated it against the H&B I could really hear the difference -- every note, all the way down to peda
l E, was absolutely perfect regardless of dynamic level. I was totally awed by this man and by that mute. As I was only 14 at the time, and DePolis mutes were a lot more expensive than my H&B, I had no choice but to make due with what I had. When I was finally able to afford one, I found out that DePolis had died and the mutes, which were hand made by him, could no longer be obtained. Even the Ted Griffith mutes were no longer available. Today, I have the same H&B cup mute that I had then, including the holes I drilled in the bottom. We've been through a lot together and will always have a place in my mute bag. In 2004 I met another bass trombone player named Joe Davorak. I was subbing on 3rd trombone in the LA Valley College Jazz Band directed by Dr. Woody James that day, and when the time came for cups, Joe pulls out his original DePolis bass trombone cup mute. All those notes I ever heard Karl play instantly flew into my head as I watched Joe slip the DePolis in. We came in a fe
w bars later in octaves and Joe sounded great! I'm glad that a version of this fine cup mute is being produced today. $90 doesn't seem too much to pay if it can help you sound that good. It's on my "must have" list -- right after my new double valve bass trombone.

Enjoy

Tim Stone
t.stone at att.net
Northridge, CA

PS -- Regarding the Mute Bag Disclosure topic: I've got basically the same stuff in my bag as everyone else does, but have decided not spend vast sums of money on mute bags anymore. This money can better used on other trombone-related stuff. Instead, I use those really neat designer shopping bags my wife and teenage daughter bring home from a store at Northridge Mall called Hollister, named presumably after the small town of Hollister a number of miles up PCH where we have a few long, lost realatives I remember from childhood trips. Well, maybe not. Whenever I go play, everyone notices and makes comments about my "cool" mute bags (I have several for each horn). I got this idea about 12 years ago at an earlierValley College Jazz Band rehearsal. Kenny Shroyer was there with all of his mutes and suff in a Ralph's Market shopping bag. He said somebody had stolen his mute bag, but I didn' believe him. I though he was trying to be a trend setter. After remembering that incident about a y
ear or so ago, I thought the whole thing was just so cool that I had to carry on the tradition. So Kenny, this fashion statement is for you!