Foam mute

duckyincarnate · #1 09-26-2006, 02:48 PM

Hi everyone,

I play a MIM Jazz Bass through a Sansamp BDDI, and lately I have have really been into the old R&B/soul bass tone, and from what I have read about it most studio bass players used P-basses set up with flatwounds and foam mutes in those days. I would like to try out the sound of a mute on my own bass, but don't have a clue how to do it. (I already run flatwounds) What kind of foam would I use? How large? Placement?

And perhaps as an additional question: how could I try to get close to a P-bass tone with my setup? I realise that it will always be a compromise, but I'm just curious.

Any help would be greatly appreciated... This forum is just a total bass encyclopedia and I find myself learning new things every time I come here!

spudmaster34 · #2 09-26-2006, 03:57 PM

what is considered one of the best mutes on the market is sold here www.bassmute.com and is used by the likes of marucs miller and others. I use a cut up sock wedged under the strings as close to the bridge as I can get it

Michael Henson · #3 09-26-2006, 04:10 PM

I can't remember the guy's name but one of the featured bassists in Bass Player magazine used to put an ordinary household sponge under his strings right by the bridge....

62bass · #4 09-26-2006, 05:12 PM

I use a foam mute and you're right, most studio bassists in the old days used them. The expensive add on mutes look great but you really don't need to spend all that money. I use some medium density foam under the strings right up against the bridge saddles, just touching the strings enough to cut out the upper harmonic ringing, but not enough to kill sustain or produce a dull thud, like guys who think they're getting the Motown sound today do. The foam is about 1" wide. You have to fool with it a bit cutting trial bits of foam to get it right. Once you do, it works great and really improves recorded sound and live sound. With TI flats there's nothing like it in my opinion.

tplyons · #5 09-27-2006, 12:57 PM

Cut a kitchen sponge piece so it lays under all your strings, but doesn't push up too much.

If you have a bridge cover, I've put rubber foam weatherstripping on the inside of those for the same effect.

Seriously looking at getting a bassmute very soon.

duckyincarnate · #6 09-28-2006, 09:51 AM

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I found some foam rubber and cut it into an inch wide strip covering the length of my bridge. It is amazing how much this does for the sound!

62bass · #7 09-28-2006, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duckyincarnate

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I found some foam rubber and cut it into an inch wide strip covering the length of my bridge. It is amazing how much this does for the sound!

Great. I've been doing that for a long time. It really does improve the sound, recorded and live. Works with roundwounds too. You really don't need elaborate and expensive mutes, unless having that high tech look is important to you.

Michael Henson · #8 09-28-2006, 01:57 PM

This basically makes it where you can't play harmonics while you have the foam on your bass right?

tplyons · #9 09-28-2006, 02:18 PM

I've pinched out some harmonics, but they decay very quickly.

Vandelay · #10 09-28-2006, 02:23 PM

I'm using a little foam sponge that I took from one of my 6-year-old's art sets. She had a sponge in the shape of every letter -- I'm using the letter "C", which is just long enough to fit under all the strings when stretched straight.