Best material for a bridge mute?

[Hazza2004]

I’ve recently been wondering what the best material is to use for an understring bridge mute. I’ve used sponge in the past and would like to know about any good alternatives. Is it worth buying a purpose built string mute? Or should I make a home made one.

[Newfoundfreedom]

I made one out of an old neoprene phone case (like wetsuit material) Works a treat. 

Edited August 11, 2019 by Newfoundfreedom

[itu]

Felt might be an option, too.

[TheGreek]

The foam packaging that pick ups come in...

IIRC somebody at one of the Herts Bashes was using pipe lagging.

[Reggaebass]

I experimented a lot with various types of foam , and just by chance one day at work at a hospital I found this tubular foam, and it’s perfect as it doesn’t put too much pressure on the strings 🙂. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F133022517215

[Owen]

The felt mutes on old Jazzes had a very cool sound. Different from foam on a P. No idea how to make a removable set up though. Any thoughts?

[Reggaebass]

I’ve got the bassmute fitted to one of my jazzes which you can click on or off, they are really great but , imo , they are rather expensive 🙂

[ped]

I was installing an extractor fan earlier which came with some foam that looked perfect for a bridge mute. I’ve shaven off some of the G side to even out the dampening (my G string is always very low) and I can pull it out half way to mute everything but the G because I quite like to do that so popped accents stand out. 

The lines on the foam in second picture are shadows of the strings. 

I’ll finish the fan tomorrow

[Dan Dare]

On ‎31‎/‎08‎/‎2019 at 23:30, ped said:

I was installing an extractor fan earlier which came with some foam that looked perfect for a bridge mute. I’ve shaven off some of the G side to even out the dampening (my G string is always very low) and I can pull it out half way to mute everything but the G because I quite like to do that so popped accents stand out.

Good point. I've found the same - that the E needs more muting/thicker foam, even though I don't pop/slap. It's fun to experiment. I find a lower density foam, slightly thicker, produces a nicer tone. It seems to let the string speak a little before cutting the vibration. I'm off to my Obsessives Anonymous meeting soon...

[booboo]

Google nordy bass mute- buy a strawberry mivi, some pva glue and a small strip of foam. 

[hooky_lowdown]

Carol Kaye:

"The way I mute the strings is by folding over a piece of felt muting (buy at the sewing section at Target, Walmart etc.) so it's doubled to a width of about 1-1/2". Take it and tape it (I use masking tape) to on top of the bridge area, but laying slightly ahead of the bridges. It won't be too loose but you will have to re-tape it tighter from time to time."