Double Bass anyone used a mute to kill sustain?

[downunder]

So basically a piece of foam that gets pressed against the strings at the nut by a Velcro tape around foam and neck?

That would damp open strings only (and the out strings more than the inner ones). I used a piece of thin rubber between fingerboard and string close to the nut for that purpose (and in my case only for my high C string and only if I use a steel core one which is seldom the case).

Yes it only damps the open strings. It does damp them pretty evenly though. If you want less sustain on the fingered notes you can just release the note. And as I mentioned I can push it out-of-the-way when I don't want it engaged. I'm not saying it's the only way to do it. Maybe the rubber thing works for you. It depends on what you're trying to achieve.

 

[MrSidecar]

I remember a studio session where my dominant-strung bass sounded far too modern. I used a thick piece of foam snaked between the strings at the bridge, similar to what you'll do on electric to get closer to the Motown sound.
It worked great. But you'll have to tune after applying the foam.

best
Sidecar

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I remember a studio session where my dominant-strung bass sounded far too modern. I used a thick piece of foam snaked between the strings at the bridge, similar to what you'll do on electric to get closer to the Motown sound.
It worked great. But you'll have to tune after applying the foam.

best
Sidecar

Well, AFAIK the Motown sound IS putting foam against the strings at the bridge.
But then, I think you get the Motown sound, not a shorter natural sustain of an acoustic instrument (too much damping of high frequencies and too less for the lower ones).

 

[MrSidecar]

Well, AFAIK the Motown sound IS putting foam against the strings at the bridge.
But then, I think you get the Motown sound, not a shorter natural sustain of an acoustic instrument (too much damping of high frequencies and too less for the lower ones).

Actually, yes. And that was what I wanted, since the newish dominants at the time not only were too long-sustaining but also too bright.

Best
Sidecar

 

[Zbysek]

If you want less sustain on the fingered notes you can just release the note.

That's correct.

Of course, I have been using this technigue on EUB (as well as other basses) to control the length of my tones....but, IME, there is a difference between sound of fingered notes being released on EUB and the sound of dying-out note on DB...that's why I am trying to find a way how to kill sustain on EUB...

 

[downunder]

Well some of the other suggestions I read seem good. a rubber practice mute that goes over the top of the bridge might work. You might also want to try raising the action or using a string that has a faster Decay. Even a DB will have long sustain with low action and spirocores, for instance.

 

[jthisdell]

I tried homemade foam mutes on my NXT and ones that dampened enough affected the intonation.

Raising the string height helps.

On a solid body EUB like mine synthetic core strings like Obligatos work well to eliminate much of the excess sustain, etc. DB players do not like them as they are very dark and dead on a DB. Again, pricey +200 and i had to replace the stock tuners. But this was four years ago and the strings are still on.

 

[Zbysek]

Well some of the other suggestions I read seem good. a rubber practice mute that goes over the top of the bridge might work. You might also want to try raising the action or using a string that has a faster Decay. Even a DB will have long sustain with low action and spirocores, for instance.

What do you mean by rubber practice mute, please? Can you post a link/picture? Thank you.

 

[Zbysek]

I tried homemade foam mutes on my NXT and ones that dampened enough affected the intonation.

Did you place them above or below the bridge? Do you have a picture? THX.

 

[downunder]

What do you mean by rubber practice mute, please? Can you post a link/picture? Thank you.

Ultra Practice Mute for Upright String Bass Heavy Duty Rubber | eBay

 

[Francois Blais]

On a solid body EUB like mine synthetic core strings like Obligatos work well to eliminate much of the excess sustain, etc. DB players do not like them as they are very dark and dead on a DB.

???
That's not my experience with Obligatos and when I read the threads in the Strings sub-forum, people don't describe them as too dark and dead on their DB.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Obligatos have a bit less sustain than undamped strings like Spiros, but not much. It's more that they have less brightness than Spiros and a bit more pronounced soft attack.
For a short sustain there should be damping material between the layers of windings or the core material itself needs to damp the vibration. Like with gut or monofiber synthetic strings.

 

[Zbysek]

Ultra Practice Mute for Upright String Bass Heavy Duty Rubber | eBay


View attachment 3533855View attachment 3533854

Thank you.

 

[dylanjohnson]

I use the Azola leather afterlength mute above the bridge on my Lightning Bug to kill a little sustain and give it a thumpier sound in the higher registers, as I am primarily using it for 60's ska and Afro Cuban music. Works great. I haven't tried it for bowing, however.

 

[Zbysek]

I use the Azola leather afterlength mute

What's that? Can you post a picture/link, pls? Thank you.

 

[dylanjohnson]

This isn't me, but it is where I got the idea. These basses came with a leather strap to mute the afterlengths of the strings. Putting the strap above the bridge mutes the strings a bit, although this guy is using it tightly, which is causing lots of muting... More than I use.

What's that? Can you post a picture/link, pls? Thank you.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

This isn't me, but it is where I got the idea. These basses came with a leather strap to mute the afterlengths of the strings. Putting the strap above the bridge mutes the strings a bit, although this guy is using it tightly, which is causing lots of muting... More than I use.

But you can hear that sith a harder attack a noise is generated by the vibration of the string against the leather.
There is no easy solution for that.

 

[dylanjohnson]

But you can hear that sith a harder attack a noise is generated by the vibration of the string against the leather.
There is no easy solution for that.

That's true, but I've not noticed it myself in recordings. I think it is mainly being picked up by the mic because of proximity?

 

[DoubleMIDI]

That's true, but I've not noticed it myself in recordings. I think it is mainly being picked up by the mic because of proximity?

I just wanted to make clear that this might not be the ideal solution.
If it works for you, that's fine.

 

[dylanjohnson]

I just wanted to make clear that this might not be the ideal solution.
If it works for you, that's fine.

Certainly in agreement on that, however, I have tried the string route and it didn't do the trick. This is the best solution I've found for me. I even contacted Carey Nordstrand about making one of his Nordy Mutes available for upright, but he said there were too many variables with string spacing. Very true.