You are welcome to “disagree entirely”, but this a forum for suggestions. A sense of humor helps occasionally.
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Double Bass Apartment practice
- Thread starter LedReign
- Start date
I have had the best luck by using hockey pucks. I bought a box of a dozen from EBay. Just drill a hole in the center of the pucks and stack as many on the end pin as possible. Additionally, I frequently attach two pucks to the middle of the bridge. Using a bolt with a wing nut to tighten/press the pucks together on the bridge. I can use the standard practice mute and pucks on the bridge at the same time. I know this sounds like over kill but it works great for me! I live in an older building that is not very sound proof. With this setup I’m able to practice pretty much any time of day.
Although more expensive than rubber mutes, a three prong ebony mute quiets the bass nicely for arco practice.
John
John
It is a more beautiful sound, also! I find the big rubber practice mute cuts out more sound.
For the end pin there are little donuts of rubber filled with air that are used in shipping fragile things on pallets. Maybe look at McMaster-Carr or Grainger. Have not done it myself. Shoving the end pin into a tennis shoe sitting on a piece of foam rubber would probably work OK.
I have used two cotton dress socks in each F hole in addition to the big rubber mute. I can't say whether this kills the noise enough to suit your neighbors. And as noted I have not done anything about the end pin but if I find myself in your situation again I'll do so.
I have used two cotton dress socks in each F hole in addition to the big rubber mute. I can't say whether this kills the noise enough to suit your neighbors. And as noted I have not done anything about the end pin but if I find myself in your situation again I'll do so.
It's best to try and come to some agreement, but I also think that during reasonable hours its my right to make some noise, as long as I'm not squonking out something totally obnoxious.
I'd probably talk to my neighbors and offer to practice during predictable hours. Ask if they have kids who nap or other considerations (eg, scheduled zoom meetings now that everyone's working from home). Try to fit your practice time around it. Give them your phone number and say you need to practice regularly, but offer your neighbors an occasional (1/month, eg) "stuff it" call. I think most people would probably be understanding if it's clear that you're making an effort. But when all is said and done, it's your apartment too and I don't think it's fair for them to prevent you from playing unless it's quiet hours.
I'd probably talk to my neighbors and offer to practice during predictable hours. Ask if they have kids who nap or other considerations (eg, scheduled zoom meetings now that everyone's working from home). Try to fit your practice time around it. Give them your phone number and say you need to practice regularly, but offer your neighbors an occasional (1/month, eg) "stuff it" call. I think most people would probably be understanding if it's clear that you're making an effort. But when all is said and done, it's your apartment too and I don't think it's fair for them to prevent you from playing unless it's quiet hours.
There is no time of the day or night that you have a “right” to disturb your neighbours. If someone calls the police on you, you’ll find that out soon enough.
Just use headphones or an acoustic bass guitar (not plugged in). Nobody wants to hear you practice.
They only like the Jaws theme, they love it, it's all they listen to.
This is just untrue - quite possibly true for amplified bass guitar, though. Apt. living is one disturbance after another. A condo or house is another story. From kids to leaf blowers to parties to TV to stereos to musicians practicing it is all part of apt. living.
Maybe you don’t like it, but it is true. It’s called “disturbing the peace”. Of course there are noises in daily life, and as long as they’re not unreasonable, people tolerate them. But if a neighbour takes offence to something and calls the cops, there’s not a lot you can say—it’ll be up to the officer to decide what happens. I know from experience...
Again, with a bass amp shaking the building, yes. A double bass with a mute, no. There are decibel limits for noise complaints to go forward, if you know your rights you are fine.
This is largely dependent on municipal regulations, and that varies for each city. For more cities than we like to think, Yango is right. It's about the complaint. There is no "decibel limit at distance" requirement at all. Nobody official will bring in a decibel meter and measure anything. It's just about the complaint.
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Money figures in too. People in new buildings, concrete structure, new windows, doors, are far more sound insulated than older buildings, and these units have the higher prices for rent/buy to go with them. Some old buildings with low rents have very poor sound insulation between units. Normal noises leak through. The units can be improved, but that costs money and the owners would pass that cost on to the renters who then will not be able to afford those units anymore. So renters with lower rents live with more noise.
Mutual acceptance of the noise is what helps make these situations work.
That can go astray during a gentrification process where people with money move to, and buy units in, a neighbourhood for the hip, artist vibe, then complain about the noise and people activity and proceed to shut down, and kick out the folks that bring that vibe. It happens.
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I’m not referring specifically to any type of bass, I’m talking about any noise in general that gets on a neighbours nerves. The outcome can vary. The law won’t arrive with a decibel meter. They’ll just assess the situation with what they observe.
In any case, play on. If no one complains, fantastic.
Not sure how much muting this achieves but in my apartment I practice on a yoga mat. It offers some muting of the downward moving sound waves and it helps my back.
