Sounds too precise for an upright and the attack doesn't sound DBish, so I call mute (if that is a DB, that's some of the best intonation ever). Ever since doing a recording with a mute, I've been really enjoying the sound and feel, especially on a my new short scale. I'd like a BassMute, but as you have said, they are a tad spiteful in terms of price and only available on import (?). The Grossman looks like the best option as the Nordymute don't do the string spacing I need in a 4.