Gruvgear Fretwraps?

[KB]

Anyone here have any experience with the Gruvgear Fretwraps? Seem to be a little pricey, but look to be an alternative to the scrunchy. I currently use scrunchies for some occasional muting, but they wear out quickly and these things look interesting

[JAUQO III-X]

If you use scrunchies occasionally, these might not be too costly. Especially since you get 3 fretwraps in a pack.

[ishouldbeking]

just curious, what exactly do you use them for? is it akin to putting foam under the strings by the bridge?

[JAUQO III-X]

They act as string dampeners. When not in use they sit a little above the nut but when you want to use it as a dampener you just slide it onto the fingerboard

[BassSlave]

I've switched from the scrunchie to the Fretwrap and have them on three basses. They work better and you can control the amount of pressure or damp factor.

[dj5]

They are of excellent quality and will last for ages.
As the last post says, the amount of damping is very controllable - I just use them to stop open strings ringing because I got bored with constantly having to use my fingers to do it on my six, but you can put a lot more muting on than that if you wish.
I'm still on the first (of three in the pack), and I bought them ages ago. Well worth it.

[drumNbass28]

I got myself one today!! Haven't played much with it, but looks handy!!

[KC Bassman1814]

Just got my fretwraps today -- took less than a week to get here. M size. Feel pretty good and look like they'll be adjustable for either my 4, 5 or 6 sting. Should work in the studio for muting during recording

[StrangerDanger]

I hate to pay $30 for a set if I dont like them. Anybody got a spare small they want to sell?

[mjac28]

I want to try these looks like just what I need

[StrangerDanger]

I ordered a 3 pack of smalls. As soon as they get here I will probably be selling 2 of them. Just FYI.

[One Bad Monkey]

They're selling singles right now for $10 with free shipping, this weekend only. Good way to see if they're for you. I find that I use them more on my sixes over my other basses.

I also use one on my NS Design CR-5M EUB. When you bow with the tripod base, the entire body vibrates, which brings a lot of residual string noise. The FretWraps help alleviate that

[StrangerDanger]

Originally Posted by One Bad Monkey

They're selling singles right now for $10 with free shipping, this weekend only. Good way to see if they're for you. I find that I use them more on my sixes over my other basses.

I also use one on my NS Design CR-5M EUB. When you bow with the tripod base, the entire body vibrates, which brings a lot of residual string noise. The FretWraps help alleviate that

Oh man you gotta be kidding me!

[Stag]

I have no experience with the fretwrap or the scrunchie, have studied the palm muting technique but am not fluent with the palm or my thumb.

Does the tone you get differ from damnping by the nut, to adding foam next to the bridge? I've seen the classic photos of guys adding the foam. But i'm assuming thats fairly perminant, compared to slipping the fretwrap past the nut. Any thoughts on tone?

Thanks guys.

[StrangerDanger]

Originally Posted by Stag

I have no experience with the fretwrap or the scrunchie, have studied the palm muting technique but am not fluent with the palm or my thumb.

Does the tone you get differ from damnping by the nut, to adding foam next to the bridge? I've seen the classic photos of guys adding the foam. But i'm assuming thats fairly perminant, compared to slipping the fretwrap past the nut. Any thoughts on tone?

Thanks guys.

Yeah I believe its two totally different things. The foam mute at the bridge gives a upright tone. The fretwrap is just designed to prevent overtones from vibrating strings that youre not playing. It shouldnt affect your tone at all like a bridge mute. If it does, I wont be keeping them.

[One Bad Monkey]

Originally Posted by StrangerDanger

Yeah I believe its two totally different things. The foam mute at the bridge gives a upright tone. The fretwrap is just designed to prevent overtones from vibrating strings that youre not playing. It shouldnt affect your tone at all like a bridge mute. If it does, I wont be keeping them.

That is correct; the FretWraps mute string vibration and overtones, making technique heavy things like slap/pop and tapping cleaner. I use them when I'm being run direct, since that picks up EVERYTHING. They do NOT affect your tone at all.

[maguire]

Do fretwraps have a capo effect? Or can you use a fretwrap just below the nut and still have the full fretboard range?

In other words:
Do open strings automatically go up at least one sharp when it is in use?

[TolerancEJ]

Originally Posted by maguire

Do fretwraps have a capo effect? Or can you use a fretwrap just below the nut and still have the full fretboard range?

In other words:
Do open strings automatically go up at least one sharp when it is in use?

They do not alter the note. It just doesn't ring out as long.

Yes, you could slide it to the first fret to take effect. When you no longer require the strings to dampen, slide it above the nut.

[rimbaud]

It's not only a string dampener in my case, I mostly use it as a "sympathetic vibe" killer or harmonics killer, by saying that I mean that correctly located over the nut and by working on the tightenning you need for that, you can really get cleaner basslines while recording, specially when you unfortunatelly get a crappy low B that rings too much, this works better than a scrunchy IMHO.

Nothing related to the foam you place under your strings near the bridge, that's not the same use.