Ax Mask Tenor Trombone Bell Cover Review

Bell covers are increasingly becoming a preferred way during this time to help facilitate safe rehearsal and performance environments. The team at Torpedo Bags/Cronkhite Bags recently created a full line of AxMask bell covers and instrument covers and we were able to grab one of their 8" bell covers to test. As compared to some other offerings the Ax Masks use a higher-density fabric that has significantly less stretch, meaning that the filtering properties are higher; this does also mean that fitting the covers to specific bell designs can be trickier. Take a listen to the full review to see and hear the AxMask in action!
Find out more about the AxMasks at shop.schmittmu...

[@vetsurginc]

Softens the sound and less bell resonance. Royal Crown bag reference right on.

[@jazzbariman]

Do you think there will be any wear on the bell lacquer from using these? I know that these have not been around long, but the elastic strap has me thinking about the wear on the metal and lacquer. It also sounds like the manufacturer needs to make a few other sizes of these soon. I thought the change in sound was minimal. It almost seemed like it was more of a change in dynamics than tone colour, but I do agree with an earlier post that it did darken the sound a bit. I liked the sound on this over the other covers I have heard here. I think the people making these are onto something. Great video and great playing as always. I am not sure if the product reviews are a bonus to the performance or the performance is a bonus to the product review. The entertainment value of these videos is high. Thank you.

[@georgeschaut2178]

Because of the backlog of orders for these bell covers in Canada, for my 8 & 1/2 inch Bach 42 bell, I went ahead & made my own homemade/make-shift bell cover from spare fabric. This can be done by cutting a 12-inch diameter circle from fabric, draping it over the upright bell, & then keeping the fabric in place by using a tight elastic just below the rim...try it yourself... George, Sudbury, Ontario

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

Nice; thanks for sharing your experience! How are they working thus far?

[@luciano_trombone]

You should review the conn selmer bellcover soon!! It's amazing!!!

[@charlesfrishman231]

Have you tried this or the Stanbury 10” cover on an 8-1/2” bell VS the 8” barely fitting ones in an 8-1/2” bell?

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

We have been having difficulty getting the Stanbury covers in and are also waiting on our first order of the larger AxMasks; I will certainly give one or both a try when they come is and see if there is an improvement (or if they are too loose to be effective...)

[@charlesfrishman231]

Thank you, Keith!

[@johnfroelich6573]

Ha. Listening-the sound seems a little darker, some of the highs are dampened a bit-I can imagine times that this sound would be very useful. It reminds me of trumpet players using a Royal Crown bag. Once we are back to normal one of these will have a place in my mute bag.

[@raymondfallon7429]

I've run into trumpet players who pretty much always seemed about half in the bag...

[@raymondfallon7429]

To my ear this doesn't have as true a sound as the mask you previewed a couple of weeks ago, which I fear means it's doing a better job. Strange times... good stuff...

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

I think you are right on about the playing/sound vs. effectiveness. I haven’t had a chance to try the Stanbury cover with the recommended MERV filter material but if I had to guess that combination would be as resistant, if not more so...

[@bassbonejon9429]

Funny! It's like a mask but for your trombone!