The plunger mute takes its name from the toilet plunger! It’s used in a similar manner to the ‘bowler hat’ mute which was widely used in the big-bands of the 20s. By manipulating the mute in front of the bell of the instrument, a player can create a surprisingly wide array of sounds, ranging from one similar to a cup mute, to a wah-wah effect, but without the harshness of a harmon mute. The plunger mute was famously used on Glenn Miller’s ‘Tuxedo Junction’.
