Hair bands used on bass neck???

[Medic162]

Ok, I'll admit this much ~ the turnip truck pushed me overboard this morning

Can someone tell me what Kim is doing with what appears to be a hair band on his bass??? I've seen Vic Wooten doing something similiar in a pic years ago and didn't think much of it. Should I ask my daughter to give me one of hers, or should I buy a new model??? Thanks

[sevenyearsdown]

that looks like one of those hair scrunchi things. I knew guitar shredders used 'em, but that's the first I've seen on a bass. Similar effect to putting the foam on at the bridge I would imagine.

[onlyclave]

It mutes the sympathetic vibration of open strings and allows for sloppier playing.

[mkrtu9]

I thought that they take out some sustain. The note still rings but just not as long. Other than that I have no idea.

[countrybassist]

Originally Posted by onlyclave

It mutes the sympathetic vibration of open strings and allows for sloppier playing.

Exactly

[HogieWan]

Originally Posted by onlyclave

It mutes the sympathetic vibration of open strings and allows for sloppier playing.

it only mutes open strings. Guys usually use these while doing 2-handed tapping so they don't have to worry about ringing open strings while they play, but it doesn't allow you to play any open strings.

[Anonymatt]

When recording, we do something similar called "the sock trick".

[JimmyM]

The hell with the bass neck...what's up with that hat???

[rhapbus]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

The hell with the bass neck...what's up with that hat???

He's obviously a cowboy.

[SwamiRob]

I've seen a similar thing used which may or may not be a hair band used as a capo, that doesn't exactly look very suitable for that purpose though.

[Medic162]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

The hell with the bass neck...what's up with that hat???

Yeah, pretty funny ~ Seems like all the pics I find of him, he's sporting some crazy lid. He must be a diehard "hat guy"

Kind of painful to hear that the hair thingy is used when "playing sloppy". I can't fathom Kim, Vic, or any other of my "heroes" succumbing to sloppiness? Alas... I did ask

[JimmyM]

It's not for playing sloppy...it's for two hand tapping to mute unused strings. Can't call Victor Wooten sloppy, and he was the one who came up with the idea.

[low-endz]

I havent used It on stage but I noticed it does help mutting the typical open 34" Low B

If you look @ the OP Pic you can see the bassist mutting the E with his thumb, it's easy to accidentaly hit the Low-B with the backside of the thumb when coming off the E.

I know a local Prog Rock Bassist (who's very technical & clean) use one on his Ibby 6er with thin gauge strings.
Thus playing fast passages on a 34" 6er with a .120 B makes sense to use a top neck mute.

[greenboy]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

It's not for playing sloppy...it's for two hand tapping to mute unused strings. Can't call Victor Wooten sloppy, and he was the one who came up with the idea.

Or Bill Dickens, and it can be used with slapping... It's actually fairly common among guys playing extended range instruments too.

[lousybassplayer]

I always used Whitesnake on my bass neck, but Poison will do in a pinch. Stay away from Crue though, they just ruin the whole tone.

[iplaybassguitar]

cough search cough

[xjeremiahx]

Originally Posted by lousybassplayer

I always used Whitesnake on my bass neck, but Poison will do in a pinch. Stay away from Crue though, they just ruin the whole tone.

winner.

[EADG mx]

Originally Posted by onlyclave

It mutes the sympathetic vibration of open strings and allows for sloppier playing.

Do violinists use mutes because they can't play quietly enough?

Do guitarists use delay because they're too lazy to play every note four times?