Mute Clamp Concept

[G]

So awesome. I can't wait to hear it!

[gimmeagig]

Originally Posted by maguire

Hesitantly posting some videos here. I would like the "damping" effect to be stronger, but this is a work in progress.

Open the first two videos side by side to hear the comparison.

So far I would say that it has achieved "light muting".

Open SRC5 for sustain reference

SRC5 Muteclamp Legato

SRC5 Muteclamp Staccato

For my taste not enough muting. I like the notes to be short and thumpy else there is no reason to have a mute on the bass.
I use a curved piece of wood that I glued foam onto. That assembly easily slides under the strings. The problem I have with that setup is that the tuning of the bass goes sharp from the pressure of the foam. I need to find a closed cell foam that is much softer than what i'm currently using.

[maguire]

Agreed, I'm going to try to get some more foam tension into the clamp.

I'll do a DI recording when its sounding right.

I see the mute clamp as working in 1 of 2 ways.

1. Wedged: between strings and body. in this case the upper layer of foam really only serves to stabilize the tool.

2. Floating: The foam itself needs to be under enough compression to truly clamp onto the strings enough to cause the desired muting.

I've seen both as being possible while testing, it's all going to go down to the details

[Immigrant]

Da Vinci reincarnate.

[glutah]

I have jammed foams if various densities under the strings for years, what a great concept you have. Would love to buy one...

[maguire]

Originally Posted by Immigrant

Da Vinci reincarnate.

Ha - Thanks - you're definitely the biggest fan of the Muteclamp

Too bad all it does is slightly prevent strings from vibrating...

[maguire]

So here's the plan moving forward:

New Clip:
1. More rigid material that can hold more foam tension.
2. Neutral material that will never harm the surface of a bass.

I've got some new parts lined up on an FDM machine (fused deposit modeling - i think). It will create an ABS part (same as most household injection molded plastic) and it will be much more rigid than the current clip. I would feel comfortable selling a clip made of that material.

New Foam:
1. Thicker pad of foam to cause more "clamping"
2. Higher quality foam that is slightly harder and more durable.

[scotch]

Maybe a thin layer of felt where the plastic contacts the instruments' top? Felt wont scratch or interact with the finish. Something similar to what people use when they install Bigsby vibratos...

[Max Bogosity]

Originally Posted by maguire

So the next foam pad will have an angular cut - let's try that.

I imagine it's tricky to cut the foam accurately. Would it be easier to leave the foam straight and introduce a small angle between the sides of the clamp? That is, make the gap between the two free ends slightly smaller than the gap at the 'hinge' end.

[maguire]

Originally Posted by Max Bogosity

I imagine it's tricky to cut the foam accurately. Would it be easier to leave the foam straight and introduce a small angle between the sides of the clamp? That is, make the gap between the two free ends slightly smaller than the gap at the 'hinge' end.

Good idea!

[maguire]

Originally Posted by scotch

Maybe a thin layer of felt where the plastic contacts the instruments' top? Felt wont scratch or interact with the finish. Something similar to what people use when they install Bigsby vibratos...

You bet - I have some indents on the bottom so I can set some felt in those. Ill get a pic up of that detail...

[Bassgeer]

Really cool what you are doing here! Love the aesthetics of the design! If I may make a suggestion, when you are sourcing a new type of foam, look for foam that has a higher density and (slightly) less elasticity. Higher Density, lower elasticity foams will be more effective at damping vibrations.

Good luck with this design!

[Exxcell]

Did anything new come of this? I'm still very interested.

[maguire]

Ah - I had to take a break. Just moved into a new apartment

Ok - next step is to find some good foam density to finish this. Then I have to make the clamp design more rigid to keep the foam squeezed together.

I'll try to push forward next week. Thanks for all of the interest and support!

[awilkie84]

How about something that sits over the saddles to mute? I know how to palm mute, but I hate doing it when I'm trying to do a run, or play multiple strings.

[Exxcell]

Originally Posted by maguire

Ah - I had to take a break. Just moved into a new apartment

Ok - next step is to find some good foam density to finish this. Then I have to make the clamp design more rigid to keep the foam squeezed together.

I'll try to push forward next week. Thanks for all of the interest and support!

Congrats!
This is one of the best ideas I've seen in years.

[rtav]

Excellent - I want one!

[bwardmusic]

I like the spring under string idea above. It looks easier and not in the way of your right hand like the cantilever idea you started with. However, I agree sticking a piece of foam under the bridge will do the same thing, although it might not look as pretty.

However, if you could adjust the tension of the string so it mutes in degrees, it could introduce some interesting sonic possibilities.

[maguire]

Originally Posted by bwardmusic

I like the spring under string idea above. It looks easier and not in the way of your right hand like the cantilever idea you started with. However, I agree sticking a piece of foam under the bridge will do the same thing, although it might not look as pretty.

However, if you could adjust the tension of the string so it mutes in degrees, it could introduce some interesting sonic possibilities.

Hey bward
Check earlier in the thread - there is a video of me using it as a mute whammy