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Double Bass Ultimate practice mute

Eric Swanson

Eric Swanson

Oct 8, 2007
1,685
209
Boston, MA
#1
Hi All,

I had a groovy little practice mute back in the late '70's. It was essentially a small, heavy, circular clamp, made of heavy iron or steel, with a thumb screw and cork-lined jaw that gripped the bridge. The whole thing was about 2" in diameter and the disc was about 3/4" thick. It had a black finish and black knurled thumbscrew.

I gave mine away in a pique of generosity and have missed it ever since. I bought it from a shop that is now out of business. Internet searches haven't turned it up.

I have tried "C" clamps on the bridge, but it is hard to match the focused mass and density that this little sucker had. It really killed the bridge vibrations and made practicing at late hours, etc. possible. It quieted my bass like nothing I have seen since.

I have one of the rubber/wire bridge mutes now but it just isn't quiet enough. I really wish I could find this thing. Anyone know about this little rascal?

Or here's another question - what are you folks doing to avoid bothering neighbors/family members, other than the classics; C clamps on the bridge, wrapping the bass in blankets, or using a spring and rubber bridge mute?
 
#3
Thanks...I have experience with that, too. It works. I like the look as well :-).

I run into issues with my bow hitting the blanket when working on the G string. Plus, portability is a bit challenging. (But heck, we are bassists, so who am I kidding?)

I was hoping someone may have knowledge of a small, handy, clamp-on mute, like the one I used to love.

Anyone else? How do you folks keep the peace at home?
 
#4
Eric, you could pick up a small iron C-clamp or even two at Home Despot or your local tool shop and use silicone to attach a couple of thick cork pads (you do drink wine, don't you?).
Let it cure overnight.

The heavier the clamp, the higher the damping factor.

Just don't crush your bridge with it. :)
 
#5
Jake,

I am right with you! I have been using the C clamp concept for awhile as a ghetto substitute. Of course it changes the "feel" of the bass, but that doesn't bother me - I like hearing fewer harmonics in terms of focusing on intonation.

Problem with the C clamps is not so much crushing the bridge as twisting/levering it carelessly out of alignment. Not good. The handles rattle in a hateful way, too, but that can be fixed with rubber bands.

So, using one's visual imagination, one can see that a bass wrapped with a sleeping bag, with Frankensteined C clamps is both a quiet instrument and an ungainly beast. Hence my quest for my old practice mute. I have been looking in industrial supply catalogs for machinist setup clamps, etc. I will share any gold I find...

Doesn't anyone else have trouble blasting out their family with open string bowing exercises, shifting double stops, trills, etc. - the stuff that strong technique and domestic strife are both made of? :-)
 
#7
Mr. Phil,

Thanks for the effort, but no, that's not it. I'll try to sketch something and post it.

It was a disc of steel (or iron) about 3/4" thick, about 2" diameter. From the side, it looked sort of like the old Pac-Man character; a disc with a slot shaped opening machined into it.

On one side of the slot, cork (to protect the bridge). On the other side, an adjustable thumb screw with a nylon pad over the end that clamped onto the bridge. Sort of like a really small, thick, heavy, C-clamp.

I think I got it at Chuck Traeger's shop in the late 70's. Not sure...I just know that it killed the bridge movement like nothing I have seen since.
 

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