Homemade Mute - opinions

[lanark]

So I'm looking to use a mute / damper to get that motown / baby bass sound (already have flats). But I was wondering where to draw the line - how much damping do I need before it gets too much? (by the way, I'm just using a kitchen sponge with the scourer pad cut off, stuck under the strings near the bridge - should that be enough to do the job?)

So what do you all use?

[thisnameistaken]

I took a pair of scissors to an old neoprene mouse mat. Cut one strip so it just wedged nicely under all the strings, then cut another one the same in case I wanted super-thumpy. I usually just use the one strip though, right infront of the bridge on my Jazz.

I don't know if a nylon sponge would be stiff enough but give it a go anyway. If not mousemats are two or three quid.

Edited February 24, 2010 by thisnameistaken

[Doddy]

Bob Babbit just has a chunk of sponge or foam under his strings
[attachment=43456:85365181.jpg]

Edited February 24, 2010 by Doddy

[Fraktal]

At the risk of getting a lifetime ban from these forums I have to confess I use an old sock...

Dont worry, it went to the laundry first!

[chris_b]

[quote name='Doddy' post='756176' date='Feb 24 2010, 03:40 PM'][attachment=43456:85365181.jpg][/quote]
I'd use a foam mute about half the width the BB is using in this photo, and make it soft foam. When playing live you can "over damp" and kill the note. These guys were all running into a big mixing desk so they didn't have that problem.

[chris_b]

[quote name='Doddy' post='756176' date='Feb 24 2010, 03:40 PM'][attachment=43456:85365181.jpg][/quote]
Just look at BB! That's why a 3TS RW neck Precision wins in the "cool" race!!

[nick]

I've tried the kitchen scourer pad method, didn't dampen enough for me.
Found a strip of stiffer foam packing from the box of a soundcard to be good.

Edited February 25, 2010 by nick

[Shambo]

Send me an SAE and 20p and I'll send you enough neoprene to make several mutes.

[alanbass1]

[quote name='Fraktal' post='756223' date='Feb 24 2010, 04:28 PM']At the risk of getting a lifetime ban from these forums I have to confess I use an old sock...

Dont worry, it went to the laundry first![/quote]

Is there any tone difference before and after the wash?

[lanark]

[quote name='Shambo' post='757780' date='Feb 26 2010, 01:05 AM']Send me an SAE and 20p and I'll send you enough neoprene to make several mutes. [/quote]

I may well take you up on that.

[KiOgon]

[quote name='lanark' post='756134' date='Feb 24 2010, 02:50 PM']So I'm looking to use a mute / damper to get that motown / baby bass sound (already have flats). But I was wondering where to draw the line - how much damping do I need before it gets too much? (by the way, I'm just using a kitchen sponge with the scourer pad cut off, stuck under the strings near the bridge - should that be enough to do the job?)

So what do you all use?[/quote]

I had a sample piece about 4" x 3" of Firestone Butyl Rubber pond liner sitting on my computer desk, I was using it as a beer mat.

Then I rolled it up tight (bit like a spliff!) & stuffed it under the strings so it's wedged in place on the Badass upstream of the adjustable saddles, works a treat, best damper I've tried & it kind of looks OK

[Ancient Mariner]

[quote name='alanbass1' post='757940' date='Feb 26 2010, 10:22 AM']Is there any tone difference before and after the wash?[/quote]

Before is stiffer and will damp better.

[Musicman20]

I'd be quite interested to get a home made mute on one of my Ps just to try it.

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='KiOgon' post='761137' date='Mar 1 2010, 09:11 PM']I had a sample piece about 4" x 3" of Firestone Butyl Rubber pond liner sitting on my computer desk, I was using it as a beer mat.

Then I rolled it up tight (bit like a spliff!) & stuffed it under the strings so it's wedged in place on the Badass upstream of the adjustable saddles, works a treat, best damper I've tried & it kind of looks OK [/quote]
I like the look of that. Can you get that at B&Q?

[7string]

Blimey it's like an episode of McGyver

I needed some stiffer foam at one point and found a pack of 3 abrasive block at the £ shop. I trimmed off the abrasive bit and just had the hard foam in the middle. Works a treat.

[P-punk]

I use some weather stripping tape stuck between the bridge cover and the strings. Great muted sound, and easy to install and remove.

[KiOgon]

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='873168' date='Jun 21 2010, 12:19 AM']I like the look of that. Can you get that at B&Q?[/quote]
I don't know if B&Q do it but most water garden centres have Butyl by the roll - I'm sure they give out 'samples' - that's where mine came from. I just remembered you can request samples of various materials - Google pond liners.

Cheers,
John

[tino]

[quote name='Fraktal' post='756223' date='Feb 24 2010, 05:28 PM']At the risk of getting a lifetime ban from these forums I have to confess I use an old sock...

Dont worry, it went to the laundry first![/quote]
A yellow duster.....Just dont complain when she aint done the housework

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='KiOgon' post='873866' date='Jun 21 2010, 08:47 PM']I don't know if B&Q do it but most water garden centres have Butyl by the roll - I'm sure they give out 'samples' - that's where mine came from. I just remembered you can request samples of various materials - Google pond liners.

Cheers,
John[/quote]
Thanks.

[Grand Wazoo]

[color="#4B0082"][font="Palatino Linotype"][size=6][i][b]Grand Wazoo to the rescue...[/b][/i][/size][/font][/color]

I have 6 strips of neoprene compound, each strip 'nuff for 2 mutes, size as follows: [b]12cm long x 3cm wide x 2cm thick[/b] if you cut them in half - lengthwise - you'll manage to get 2 decent sets of mutes wide enough for up to a 6 strings bass.

[b]Please form an orderly queue.[/b]

pm me and we will sort out something involving you sending me a self addressed small jiffy bag and I will post the strips to you's

here are the pics, they are black, although they look gray in the poor phone camera shots and they come off brand new Land Rovers cars loaded on my ship, what happen they put them on the outside of the car doors to prevent doors banging against one another, once they get discharged they throw all these foam strips in a bucket. As I used them on all my basses I still had loads left for you guys.

So PM me and they are yours.

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='873970' date='Jun 21 2010, 10:34 PM']So PM me and they are yours.[/quote]
PM sent.

[Grand Wazoo]

[size=4][b]5 strips left [/b][/size]

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='873978' date='Jun 21 2010, 10:41 PM'][size=4][b]5 strips left [/b][/size][/quote]
... and thank you.

[Musicman20]

PM'd Mr Grand Wazoo!

Edited June 21, 2010 by Musicman20

[Grand Wazoo]

[quote name='Musicman20' post='874010' date='Jun 21 2010, 11:10 PM']PM'd Mr Grand Wazzo![/quote]

At least get my username right you.... debutant!

I got your pm, and the one from a Zach and an Essential Tension so now...

[size=4][b]it's only 3 strips left[/b][/size]