Do you use a bass mute and why ?

[BassAdder60]

Why and when do you use a bass mute ?

The kind that sits just in front of the nut 

I have one but I’m not sure why it would be an advantage to use it ? 
 

 

[Reggaebass]

Do you mean a fret wrap , It cuts down the overtones of the open strings and stops them ringing out 🙂

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited March 14, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Reggaebass]

  On 07/05/2021 at 12:25, Jus Lukin said:

maybe a sweatband around the nut could be handy

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I used miss RB’s hair bands for years before Fretwraps came out , she wasn’t too pleased sometimes 😁

[BassAdder60]

So would you see a benefit live or is it really a studio thing ?

I can see the open string advantage but have not considered it to be an issue live and not using one 

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited March 14, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Sibob]

  On 07/05/2021 at 12:52, BassAdder27 said:

have not considered it to be an issue live and not using one 

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Don't use one then

Si

[ead]

I occasionally stick a bit of quite squishy foam up against the bridge when I'm seeking to emulate the upright tone.

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited March 14, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[bassment73]

I occasionally use a Nordymute on my bass that is strung with flatwounds, as it allows you to get that palm muted tone, whilst having the freedom of playing fingerstyle. I guess it's emulating what old fenders with the foam mute under the bridge covers sounded like.

If I'm playing old Jamerson lines I'll use the Nordymute: https://nordstrandaudio.com/products/nordymute

 

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I've never used the kind that sits by the nut, and probably never will as I don't go in for slap tap or similar party tricks.

I've never got on with foam at the bridge end as it either deadens too much or not enough for me. I tend to use palm muting where I can control the pressure on the string with more precision.

[Killed_by_Death]

 

This a mute:

pros use it to make roundwounds sound like flats

 

 

[NikNik]

I use one over the saddles between the cover on my '51 bitsa. 

Edited May 8, 2021 by NikNik

[Stingray64]

I only use a fret wrap when I’m playing John Davis style dub bass because it allows me to tweak effects and perform more without having to prioritise constant perfect muting that would mess up the octave pedal tracking.

[YeastieB]

I use a cut off from an extra-thick Minky Sponge as it is just the right height to fit under my Jazz bass  strings.  But you can use anything, didn't Tony Levin use a nappy during the recording of Don't Give Up with Peter Gabriel.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Extra-Thick-Sponge-Wipes/dp/B009R0HI86/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=extra+thick+minky+sponge&qid=1620504618&sr=8-1

[goingdownslow]

  On 08/05/2021 at 17:04, Killed_by_Death said:

This a mute:

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I thought you were referring to Carol.... then the second picture loaded.

[BoomTing]

  On 08/05/2021 at 17:04, Killed_by_Death said:

pros use it to make roundwounds sound like flats

 

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Think You will find Carol only uses Flats the (bridge) mute is to cut overtones.

Edited May 9, 2021 by BoomTing

[Killed_by_Death]

 

Carol notoriously uses flats & a pick.

Leland Sklar says he prefers rounds, because if he wants them to sound like flats he can just use a mute.

 

[TheLowDown]

I prefer not to use 'crutches' because I think muting should come from the player. The only time I think they come in handy is for tapping or slapping, but I don't go there.

[bassment73]

Is it really a 'crutch'. They were factory fitted on the majority of basses from the 50s to the 70s. Removing them was making something different. They allowed you to play fingerstyle with that almost upright bass kind of sound. You can't palm mute and play with fingers at the same time. James Jamerson's sound was all about playing with fingers on flatwound strings muted by the factory foam glued to underside of bridge cover.

Whilst I confess that my own personal favourite muted style I play is with palm muting, playing with a pick, soloing the neck pickup, the foam mute is a iconic sound, not a crutch

If you're talking about the scrunchie type mute that people use at the nut end, that again is a godsend for players who like to tap at the dusty end, as it kills all those nasty overtones at the lower neck end, that even the best left hand muting can't always cure.

My take is that with bass playing, everything is valid. Different strokes for different folks.

😊

Edited May 12, 2021 by bassment73

[EssentialTension]

  On 11/05/2021 at 20:18, TheLowDown said:

I prefer not to use 'crutches' because I think muting should come from the player. The only time I think they come in handy is for tapping or slapping, but I don't go there.

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Do you prefer not to use 'frets' because intonation should come from the player?

[Doddy]

  On 11/05/2021 at 20:18, TheLowDown said:

I prefer not to use 'crutches' because I think muting should come from the player. The only time I think they come in handy is for tapping or slapping, but I don't go there.

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So they are a crutch, but they come in handy for tapping and slapping?  So, not a crutch then.

I don't use the hair tie/fretwrap thing often, although I have them on a couple of my basses. (A hair tie went straight on my bass after aayching Victor Wooten on the Bass Day 98 video). I mainly use them with certain monophonic synth pedals which are sensitive to sympathetic vibrations and tend to glitch at the slightest overtone.

[wateroftyne]

  On 11/05/2021 at 20:18, TheLowDown said:

I prefer not to use 'crutches' because I think muting should come from the player. The only time I think they come in handy is for tapping or slapping, but I don't go there.

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Jamerson and Babbit would like a quiet word…

[TheLowDown]

  On 12/05/2021 at 09:10, Doddy said:

So they are a crutch, but they come in handy for tapping and slapping?  So, not a crutch then.

I don't use the hair tie/fretwrap thing often, although I have them on a couple of my basses. (A hair tie went straight on my bass after aayching Victor Wooten on the Bass Day 98 video). I mainly use them with certain monophonic synth pedals which are sensitive to sympathetic vibrations and tend to glitch at the slightest overtone.

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So I would be better using a fretwrap rather than trying to become the best I can be at muting. Fair enough.

[TheLowDown]

  On 12/05/2021 at 08:31, EssentialTension said:

Do you prefer not to use 'frets' because intonation should come from the player?

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Well that's one reason why I chose unlined.