Behind the sound

This journey actually started decades ago. Back in the Soviet era, my father used to make handcrafted mutes because proper equipment simply wasn’t available here. Years later, his last practice mute finally broke. When I went to look for a replacement, I realized that the commercially available store-bought mutes were consistently out of tune and frustrating to play. As a professional trombone player and teacher, I knew exactly what a brass player needed from a mute, and I couldn’t find it on the shelves.

So, I decided to carry on the family “tradition” and build a better one myself.

Born in the Practice Room and the Pit

I chose 3D printing as my method because of the incredible flexibility it offers. It allows me to continually refine, test, and improve the design over and over again until the performance matches the best possible expectations.

Every mute is a result of this iterative process, developed not in a corporate lab, but where real playing happens—in the orchestra pit and the practice room. While I drive the design, I don’t do this entirely alone; I am incredibly grateful to the colleagues who help me test every prototype in real-world conditions. Special thanks go to the Estonian National Opera trombone section, Peeter Margus from the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, and Priit Aimla and Chris Sommer for their invaluable expertise and ears during the development of the trumpet line—which is more difficult for myself for obvious reasons.

The Philosophy

My approach is minimalist and functional:

• Free Airflow: Your instrument shouldn’t feel choked. These mutes are engineered to let you breathe and blow freely across all registers as much as possible.
• Smart Flexibility: By utilizing 3D printing, I can push the boundaries of mute geometry, creating professional-grade acoustic tools that are both highly precise and durable enough for the daily life of a musician.
• No Gimmicks: I don’t make loud promises; I make reliable tools for brass players who know exactly what they want from their sound.

Designed, tested, and crafted in Estonia.

Thank you for your interest and for supporting independent craft, 

Ivar Kiiv