No wonder so many have been sold – they're hard to improve upon!

'The iconic mute for a generation of performers – and one that has passed the test of time. Superbly crafted and engineered (they all look and sound alike), it has been seen on major concert and contest stages on every continent of the globe.

The mute produces a clear, brilliant sound that allows for a wide dynamic range with secure intonation. No wonder so many have been sold – they're hard to improve upon!

The importance to a brass band of high quality mutes is clear – a mix and match approach invariably produces a mix and match sound – all right in an open-air park concert, but a death knell on the contesting or recording stage.

For cornets in particular, having a complete set of quality homogenous mutes is a must – and worth their weight in gold.  Buy cheap and nasty and you will surely sound the same.

And as long as the Band Secretary can keep an up to date inventory (cornet mutes go AWOL from bandrooms more often than Ronnie Biggs over Wandsworth Prison wall) they are also well worth the investment too.'

4 B R ROADTEST   4barsrest.com