it's arrived! I ordered one of these ages ago when I needed it for a show I was doing and they were out of stock and wouldn't be available in time, so I cancelled the order but knew I wanted one - I've done three shows in the last 12 months and needed one for all of them, so I re-ordered one and here it is. and it's perfect! nothing else sounds like it and it's perfect for what I need. the trombone player I work with wants one now and I've told him it'll be a lifetime of playing "song of india" if he gets one, the mute originally being called a 'song' mute after tommy dorsey used one in that tune. thank you so much for the item, the excellent service (as usual) and the prompt delivery. and no points to royal mail who never leave it at my flat but take it to a local post office instead. oh well.