・This is Nakamura!
This time, "innovative" plunger mute.
?? "Oh, the plunger? Yeah, I use the toilet plunger kind."
Oh, right, this thing.
Honestly, this does the bare minimum just fine.
But haven't you ever felt something was missing?
・Difficulty stabilizing pitch
・The sound flips when closed
・Difficulty producing low notes
・Lacks richness in sound
This mute astonishingly solves all these problems.
Hirschman "KR Indigo"
This is the "KR Indigo" series plunger mute, a collaborative effort between Kenny Rampton—known as a trumpet player with "Jazz at Lincoln Center"—and American mute maker Hirschman.
Product page here
Also featured in our video
It features a distinctive appearance with a large blue silhouette and a 1-cent coin handle. This is the "Kenny Penny" system, which works in conjunction with the coin inside the plunger to switch between open and closed positions. This single coin allows you to adjust the playing feel and sound to your preference.
For trumpet, there are two types: MAX and Standard.
The MAX model has a larger outer diameter of 130mm. It fits standard Bach and Yamaha trumpets well, fully showcasing this mute's rich, powerful sound and impressive projection.
The Standard has an outer diameter of 122mm. This is recommended if you seek a traditional plunger sound or have smaller hands and prefer a more compact size.
Both are designed for comfortable handling, so choose based on your tonal preference.
MAX demo performance here
This one is also highly recommended!
There's also a video on "How to Play" using this mute. How to play/Kris Johnson
For trombone, there is one type: BIG BLUE. (There is another type outside the KR Indigo series, but it is omitted here.)
Similar to the trumpet, it delivers precise pitch and a rich, powerful sound. Especially for plunger playing, which can be unstable, the fact that "the pitch stays consistent and the sound remains stable when closed" is an unbeatable advantage.
This model comes in only one size. It is designed to deliver optimal results for all trombones from tenor to bass.
BIG BLUE demo performance here
This might be a bit niche, but another feature is that all models have a large cup volume, allowing you to use a standard straight mute instead of a pixie mute.
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To reiterate, using this mute you gain pitch stability, easier playing, and an excellent sound. .
Whether you settle for a "toilet plunger" or get the "real deal" is up to you!
Try this buzzworthy mute, adopted by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Count Basie Orchestra, and more!
Product page here
Nakamura