Our Products.

The Woodstop® Stopping Mute

The Woodstop® mute is my original mute that, according to many, set a “new standard” in stop mutes.  It has that hand-stopped sound, yet projects and plays in tune from low to high and has the flexibility to play on all sides of the horn (including the high F side).   

The Woodstop® mute was conceived from an idea that wood more appropriately mimics the sound of natural hand stopping. Each Woodstop® mute is made from a single piece of 100% solid laminated maple wood and is meticulously crafted by hand.  This mute is also custom fit to perfectly shape your bell for a seal that requires no fiddling. Overall, each Woodstop® mute is much more refined than a pressed metal mute, hence, intonation is much more accurate, projection in the louds is excellent, as well as the ability to play very softly.  The fact that you can play it on B horn makes it comforting for many who like the security of that side of the horn.  I did originally developed this mute for the B side, but you will find it easy to play on either F side.

Leading horn players from all over the United States and across the pond.  From New York to Los Angeles and Chicago to Las Vegas; from the studios, the Vegas shows, the concert halls and soloists, the Woodstop® has now covered it all.

The Padauk Woodstop® Stopping Mute

Padauk wood is an exotic hardwood native to India, Indochina, the South Pacific, and West Africa. It is known as a “musical wood” and used for marimba bars. It has a beautiful reddish-brown color and showy grain. This mute is truly gorgeous. The Padauk mute is extraordinarily stable feeling, has excellent intonation, plays strong, and is extremely even up and down the registers. The sound still retains the Woodstop® character, albeit with a little more brilliant character overall. It’s a bit more costly due to wood pricing/hand selection process, as well as machining, but I offer this mute because it is simply magnificent. The mute may take 2-3 weeks from time of order so just be aware.

The Woodstop® Straight Mutes

The Woodstop® Straight Mute is 100% wood which separates it from any other mute we know.  Most wood mutes are nothing more than a veneered cone with some man-made material beneath. This makes them much easier to produce of course, but the sound and feel is also not directly affected by the wood.  The process is involved and took months to achieve and as one customer best described, the sound is ethereal!

I do want to thank my good friend Karl Hill (Kortesmaki Horns) who played a very large role in the development of this mute.  He did all of my play testing as well as giving invaluable feedback from a perspective that only a world-renowned horn builder could.  Also, Lowell Greer for sending me home with a very large box of his horn mutes saying “have at it and hope you learn something from them”.    

Last but not least, my uncle, Gary Warren.  There were many challenges and puzzling times during the development of this mute, so kudos to him for figuring out the logistics of making exactly as I wished; you will love his product!

This mute comes in three different wood types; Walnut, Cherry, and Maple. Please go to the SHOP ONLINE page for descriptions. We will customize the bottom label with your name and unique serial number. 

The Woodstop® Practice Mute

The Woodstop® practice mute was developed for playability and sound.  This is a difficult task knowing so many practice mutes fall short in both regards, so I thought it best to bring on board a player that could convey to me exactly what their everyday needs were in a practice mute.  Gail Williams was prodding me to make one, so I asked for her help and she obliged.  She’s on the road most of the time as well as her need for one at home, so who better than Gail to seek advice on exactly what she and others want.  Gail also has a lot of knowledge about other practice mutes since she uses them regularly.

What we came up with is a practice mute that  plays very evenly up and down the horn with little resistance, a good sound, and good feel on the face.  Intonation is very good and it is tunable like my straight mutes.  Our wood choice gives a darker more realistic and less penetrating sound and is more free blowing.  One other facet we accomplished is to allow one to play it in very soft muted passages on stage.  Gail has used it in this capacity and loved how it worked so we covered that base.  It is not the softest practice mute on the market, but this is exactly what Gail was looking for in something that has a realistic feel, good sound, and intonation, as well as range up and down the horn; all in a very soft package.  I put my trust in one of the finest players in the world and I think you too will enjoy the result!  

  **Special thanks to Gail Williams for her time and expertise.  

The Woodstop® Mute Bags

Made to my specifications to fit Woodstop® Mutes in a custom fashion and protect your precious commodity.  They have a durable nylon outer shell with a lightly padded and very soft micro-fleece inner lining.  Easy in and out with zipper closures.  Each bag comes with an engraved detachable carabiner clasp for attaching to your case if need be.  I have dropped and lightly thrown these bags on cement floors and they performed their task of protecting the mutes from damage. 

The bags are US made, right here in southern Michigan by the same company that does upholstery work for Steelcase and Herman Miller in the Grand Rapids area.  They are very good quality and I am fortunate they will work with me (the little guy).  They will also fit other brand (Rittich style) straight mutes and stop mutes (i.e. Early German or late model multi-bell Alexander stop mutes).