The joy of a bath sponge...

[LITTLEWING]

Our of curiosity and boredom, I cut a slice of foam off a new sponge (don't tell the Mrs) and fashioned a perfect section to fit nicely under the strings by the bridge on my four string Precision as a soft mute. Oh my goodness, I was in Tamla Motown heaven for hours on end. It just opens up a whole new world and adds a new feather to the cap. For the first few seconds it sounds kinda 'whoah' like a set of dead strings but suddenly 'that vibe' kicks in and you're off. Give it a bash, you can thank me later.

Edited September 2, 2017 by LITTLEWING

[Maude]

I really wasn't sure what I was clicking on when I quickly read the title as "The joy of a sponge bath".
I've got a cheap precision with some grey packaging foam under the bridge cover and flats, I love playing first generation Ska with it, real old thump.

[TheGreek]

Great idea....You might want to think about selling some on eBay - oh no, somebody beat you to it...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mute-Aid-Bass-Guitar-Mute-Turn-your-Electric-Bass-into-a-Double-Bass-5-Pack-/222590591527?hash=item33d36ee227:g:ObQAAOSwX61ZC4CF

Edited September 2, 2017 by TheGreek

[casapete]

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1504354026' post='3364321']
Great idea....You might want to think about selling some on eBay - oh no, somebody beat you to it...

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mute-Aid-Bass-Guitar-Mute-Turn-your-Electric-Bass-into-a-Double-Bass-5-Pack-/222590591527?hash=item33d36ee227:g:ObQAAOSwX61ZC4CF"]http://www.ebay.co.u...bQAAOSwX61ZC4CF[/url]
[/quote]

....."long lasting specialized foam." Mmm....interesting.

[Dad3353]

[quote name='casapete' timestamp='1504357843' post='3364364']
....."long lasting specialized foam." Mmm....interesting.
[/quote]

Yes, of course; that special blue sponge that's made exclusively for bass muting, optimised for its musical qualities.

Edited September 2, 2017 by Dad3353

[ivansc]

My original 62 Precision came with flats and a foam strip factory fitted to the inside of the rear cover. If I remember rightly it looked like neoprene but I am not sure when that was invented!



EDIT: Been suggested that Leo & Co used to nip across the street to the nearby Sears & Roebuck and buy rolls of their weather stripping! Could be an old wives tale though...

Edited September 2, 2017 by ivansc

[TheGreek]

I have quite a lot of black foam packaging which would be ideal for string mutes - unlikely I'll ever use it - anybody want it?

Same as this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GUITAR-BASS-PICKUP-HEIGHT-ADJUSTMENT-FOAM-SPONGES-X-2-H-8mm-X-W-15mm-X-L-45mm-/182704024989?hash=item2a8a022d9d:g:SJQAAOxyWmxSaDvF

Edited September 3, 2017 by TheGreek

[Dad3353]

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1504371336' post='3364469']
I have quite a lot of black foam packaging which would be ideal for string mutes - unlikely I'll ever use it - anybody want it?
[/quote]

Shame it's not blue; would have worked otherwise.

[yorks5stringer]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1504373709' post='3364502']
Shame it's not blue; would have worked otherwise.
[/quote]

I guess that's why they call it the blues?

[bazzbass]

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1504354026' post='3364321']
Great idea....You might want to think about selling some on eBay - oh no, somebody beat you to it...

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mute-Aid-Bass-Guitar-Mute-Turn-your-Electric-Bass-into-a-Double-Bass-5-Pack-/222590591527?hash=item33d36ee227:g:ObQAAOSwX61ZC4CF"]http://www.ebay.co.u...bQAAOSwX61ZC4CF[/url]
[/quote]

curiously, can also be used to wash dishes lol

[Geek99]

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1504389707' post='3364612']


I guess that's why they call it the blues?
[/quote]
What, "time after time"?

[drTStingray]

I didn't even bother to cut the one I used on a Stingray a few years back - it was one of those scourers with sponge one side and a thin scourer layer on the top - worked a treat stuffed between the pick up and bridge - and it was blue (rather than the yellow and green ones you often see on the supermarket shelves!!) - matched the colour of the bass....

Great for playing early Elvis stuff like My Baby Left Me and Blue Moon of Kentucky.

Edited September 3, 2017 by drTStingray

[uk_lefty]

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1504480153' post='3365190']
I didn't even bother to cut the one I used on a Stingray a few years back - it was one of those scourers with sponge one side and a thin scourer layer on the top - worked a treat stuffed between the pick up and bridge - and it was blue (rather than the yellow and green ones you often see on the supermarket shelves!!) - matched the colour of the bass....

Great for playing early Elvis stuff like My Baby Left Me and Blue Moon of Kentucky.
[/quote]

I do the same with my precision, a dish sponge does the job perfectly

[SpondonBassed]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sponge-Wooden-Handle-Glitter-Application/dp/B00IJ7DE90?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-ffnt-uk-21&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00IJ7DE90

With tremolo...?

[fleabag]

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1504371336' post='3364469']
I have quite a lot of black foam packaging which would be ideal for string mutes - unlikely I'll ever use it - anybody want it?

Same as this:

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GUITAR-BASS-PICKUP-HEIGHT-ADJUSTMENT-FOAM-SPONGES-X-2-H-8mm-X-W-15mm-X-L-45mm-/182704024989?hash=item2a8a022d9d:g:SJQAAOxyWmxSaDvF"]http://www.ebay.co.u...JQAAOxyWmxSaDvF[/url]


[/quote]


That's Bob, isn't it ?

[A.G.E.N.T.E.]

Gruvgear fump, high end bath sponge

[jacko]

[quote name='LITTLEWING' timestamp='1504352432' post='3364303']
Our of curiosity and boredom, I cut a slice of foam off a new sponge (don't tell the Mrs) and fashioned a perfect section to fit nicely under the strings by the bridge on my four string Precision as a soft mute. Oh my goodness, I was in Tamla Motown heaven for hours on end. It just opens up a whole new world and adds a new feather to the cap. For the first few seconds it sounds kinda 'whoah' like a set of dead strings but suddenly 'that vibe' kicks in and you're off. Give it a bash, you can thank me later.
[/quote]

carol kaye invented this and has been doing it for over 40 years. (or so she says )

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='casapete' timestamp='1504357843' post='3364364']
....."long lasting specialized foam."
[/quote]

Me wash you long time ...

[dyerseve]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1504617709' post='3366090']
Me wash you long time ...
[/quote]

can we keep the comments clean please gents...

[Funky Dunky]

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1504480153' post='3365190']
I didn't even bother to cut the one I used on a Stingray a few years back - it was one of those scourers with sponge one side and a thin scourer layer on the top - worked a treat stuffed between the pick up and bridge - and it was blue (rather than the yellow and green ones you often see on the supermarket shelves!!)
[/quote]

Yup, this is exactly what I did and works a bloody treat!

[ead]

My slice of inexpensive foam is yellow not blue, does that count?

[SpondonBassed]

[quote name='dyerseve' timestamp='1504618963' post='3366095']
can we keep the comments clean please gents...
[/quote]

[Imperceptible titter]

I tried a Victoria sponge once under a bridge and got away with it. I am known locally as a jammy git though. I heard later that someone called Mary was on the lookout for me as she thinks she owes me a kick in the berries.

[Funky Dunky]

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1504685942' post='3366496']


[Imperceptible titter]

I tried a Victoria sponge once under a bridge and got away with it. I am known locally as a jammy git though. I heard later that someone called Mary was on the lookout for me as she thinks she owes me a kick in the berries.
[/quote]

D'ough!

I've seen some half-baked wordplay in my time, but that takes the biscuit.

Edited September 6, 2017 by Funky Dunky

[fftc]

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1504698680' post='3366648']
D'ough!

I've seen some half-baked wordplay in my time, but that takes the biscuit.
[/quote]

Loaf? I nearly pied!

[fftc]

[quote name='jacko' timestamp='1504606662' post='3365974']
carol kaye invented this and has been doing it for over 40 years. (or so she says )
[/quote]

I think Carol prefers a [url="https://www.carolkaye.com/www/education/tips51.htm"]felt mute[/url] on top of the strings rather than a foam one underneath.

Edited September 6, 2017 by fftc