Adjustable mute ideas

[pbass2]

I'm one of these guys who keeps little hunks of foam around for jamming under the strings for the retro vibe. I'm always wrestling with getting equal pressure across all the strings. I keep meaning to try and come up with some kind of adjustable foam mute than can be slid under the strings and then adjusted, at least as must as raising/lowering the two outside edges (of course 4 individually adjustable mutes would be REALLY cool). Something you could basically slide onto any bass and crank 'er up when the mood strikes--not a permanent mod at all.
Anybody come up with anything to accomplish this?

[uethanian]

ever seen adjustable upright bridges? they have metal screws on the legs that let you adjust each side. you could have a low wood bridge with that type of construction, with a band of foam/rubber lining the top

[Vin_MM_Sabre_79]

Originally Posted by pbass2

I'm one of these guys who keeps little hunks of foam around for jamming under the strings for the retro vibe. I'm always wrestling with getting equal pressure across all the strings. I keep meaning to try and come up with some kind of adjustable foam mute than can be slid under the strings and then adjusted, at least as must as raising/lowering the two outside edges (of course 4 individually adjustable mutes would be REALLY cool). Something you could basically slide onto any bass and crank 'er up when the mood strikes--not a permanent mod at all.
Anybody come up with anything to accomplish this?

Yeah Leo Fender did back in 1978 I believe...




That bridge is about half the weight of my bass.

If you were a bit of a metal wizz you might be able to come up with something similar. Each of those pads is stuck to a metal spring that wraps under the bridge. Height is adjusted by the screws which are threaded into the bridge

[Vin_MM_Sabre_79]

However.....Seeing as this thread is in the technique section... I sometimes play with a fingerless woolen glove and pick with my thumb at the bridge for a really soft mute effect. The Micheal Jackson jokes usually stop after people hear how damn cool it can sound.

[pbass2]

Originally Posted by Vin_MM_Sabre_79

However.....Seeing as this thread is in the technique section... I sometimes play with a fingerless woolen glove and pick with my thumb at the bridge for a really soft mute effect. The Micheal Jackson jokes usually stop after people hear how damn cool it can sound.

Now that's a new one on me! I might have to try that sometime.
But for me, the reason I do this is for getting the pick click and the fast note decay. Very retro, 60's kinda vibe. Producers LOVE it. 80% of the time I just do it with my palm back by the bridge and I'm quite good at getting an even sound that way. But sometimes the right tone is only when I pick farther up towards the neck for a nice picky, clicky, but rubbery thud(we're talking flatwounds too of course, and muting with the palm up there doesn't work the same way.
I've got little strips of foam for all 6 of my basses, but some kinda universal adjustable thing is what I'd love to find/make. Maybe I could take the MM bridge idea and craft something . . . .time for a trip to the hardware store. . . .

[Erick Lam]

I lay my pinky across the string for instant muting. It takes a while getting used to it but it works well. Not as muffled as the palm.

[pbass2]

yeah--that can work well too, but when it doesn't is when I need to pick way up right by the neck--if you mute with your hand up there it's a very different sound from having the strings muted back at the bridge.

[bassmonkeee]

Originally Posted by pbass2

yeah--that can work well too, but when it doesn't is when I need to pick way up right by the neck--if you mute with your hand up there it's a very different sound from having the strings muted back at the bridge.

I use one of these.

www.bassmute.com

[BigSwami]

I thought I was the only one who had heard of those crazy Dutch guys and their wacky mute. Thing costs a fortune!