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Building a mute for a jazz bass

E

Etchbass

May 22, 2011
276
0
38
Great Lakes Freshwater Person
#1
Hello everyone,

I love muting with foam and finally decided to make a permanent installation on my bass for easier switching; that would in turn open up doors for real quick and precise muting on all 4 strings during songs.:hyper:

I wanted to buy this The BassMute - A smart muting device for Bass Players to put on my bass, but the guy isn't getting back to me after a week or so...:hmm:

I guess I'm going to have to go the old fashioned route and build something myself, because I cant seem to find any other options.:smug:

I was thinking of buying a tune-o-matic bridge, replacing the saddles with foam, and screwing it in right in front of the tail-piece. :eek:

Does anyone have any other ideas or suggestions? Do any of you experienced luthiers know of anywhere I could buy a part like this?:help:

Thanks for your help!:bassist:
 
#5
Marty Forrer said:
Easy. A piece of medium density foam cut to shape and wedged under the strings. About 1"x 1" x 5" will do it. The grey foam from the Seymour Duncan pickup packaging is what I use.
Click to expand...

I think he's looking more for a way to switch on the fly. I have my foam between the bridge cover (Fender J) and the top of the strings, but it seems like that's not what you're looking for either.

I like the tune-o-mute idea you had - but I can't see how you would be able to switch there either.

For what it's worth, I'd keep after the Bass Mute guy, or find an outside dealer for one because that seems like the best bet for what you're wanting to do.

Have you tried Ebay or Amazon for one?
 
#8
pnut166 said:
What about the EBMM bridges ?
Click to expand...

I've been thinking about that too. Would require redrilling, which I'm not opposed too, although I really like the bridge I have. Plus, MM replacement parts don't come around for cheap very often.

I know "permanent and switchable" sounds confusing, but I'm sure some of you have seen something like this before. For instance, the mute at bassmute.com has a lever on it, and I've seen bridges with mutes built in underneath the strings and attached to a lever.

The tune o matic bridge idea would potentially work, but i would have to practice switching that on the fly; lots of knob twisting, hahaha.
 
#9
I had a Bassmute mounted for awhile, but it didn't mute enough, so I sold it here several months ago.

I have an idea for a mute such as you describe, I'll try to cobble up a prototype sometime soon.

I like the kind of foam used in many gardeners' kneeler pads.
 
#11
I've thought about trying to adapt a jaguar mute to a bass, but I'm not sure how feasible it really is.

65_fen_jaguar-wht_13.jpg
 

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