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P Bass Rubber mute-above the strings or below

#21
You could also try a heavyweight rubber band like I sometimes use. It sounds different than foam. Wrap it around the bridge, loop it under the saddles, and position it over the strings where the saddles are. Try different thicknesses and types of rubber band. And experiment with the tension and placement to find the amount of muting you like best. Even try using multiples.

Easy on and off too. Works best if you play with a lighter touch - which I usually do. If you really dig into your strings it will have a less noticeable effect.

The only real problem is they'll stretch out and oxidize over time. Which means they'll eventually break, or fatigue and be less effective. So keep some extras handy. And if you find one you really like be sure to stock up.

(Note: I'm currently partial to the fairly short and stiff bands my local grocery store uses to bundle produce like asparagus. See below.)

The attached quick picture was taken for illustration purposes only. I usually do this with flats so ignore the rounds in the photo.
 

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#24
Michael King said:
I have a 1972 Fender Precision bass with flat wound strings and I play it through a Fender Rumble 200 with one 15" speaker. When I bought it the bridge cover did not have the rubber mute strip. It was long gone. Lately I've been wanting to get a more woody sound, closer to a stand up bass, and the James Jamerson sound. I purchased the same foam rubber and stuck it inside the bridge cover just like it originally was. The result was very nice, I was pleased. Then I started seeing videos of people like Bob Babitt and Bobby Vega with the foam under the strings up against the forward edge of the bridge. I took the bridge cover off my guitar and put a piece of foam in the same spot and the result was THE tone I've been looking for.

What is the consensus, do most of you that employ this muting have the foam touching the strings from above (the strip attached to the bridge cover) or slid under the strings resting on the body? Maybe both?
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Not to derail this thread, but where did you get the actual foam that Fender uses? I've been looking with no luck. I wish they sold the bridge cover with the foam. I know they put it on some of their reissues.
 
#25
TKing16 said:
Not to derail this thread, but where did you get the actual foam that Fender uses? I've been looking with no luck. I wish they sold the bridge cover with the foam. I know they put it on some of their reissues.
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It was actually Sears weather stripping. They used to buy the stuff by the roll!

I've been using the "brush" side of a wide foam paintbrush. Took a little work to remove enough plastic so that it fits between the bridge and pickup, but it just took a few minutes with a good multi-tool.
 
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#27
paparoof said:
Here's something to consider - watch your intonation:

I've been putting foam under the strings in front of the bridge for a long time and only recently checked my intonation with the foam in place and HOLY COW it was way off. Pulled the foam out and intonation was right back to where I'd set it previously.

I'm sure I could just use a softer type of foam or just cut it a little shorter next time so it's not pushing up quiet as hard, but what I'm actually planning to try next is to still use a thick piece of foam, and still put it under the strings, but this time cut slots into it for each string to ride through the foam instead of on top of it. I'm assuming this won't affect intonation, but I'm not sure if it'll provide enough damping. One way to find out....
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I have tried many different kinds of foam under my strings , cut to many different heights. It has always changed the intonation of my bass. That's why I never stick with the foam; I feel like I'd have to intonate it with the foam mute and then leave the mute in place.

I like to play in tune, so it doesn't work for me to slide the foam in and out as needed.
 
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#29
image.jpg
image.jpg



I have one of these on each bass, this is a shot of my uke bass. Velcro straps and weather stripping, then I cut a little away from the g and e sides (or b on the 5 string I used to have). Easy to flip on and off (i leave it hanging or put a and piece of Velcro on the bottom of the bass to attach it if I want to be neat...). It works well and gives that attack and decay that's essential for Motown. It does push the strings a little sharp, although not on this bass because it takes a lot to change pitch on these rubber strings, but it's definitely workable.
 
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#30
TKing16 said:
Not to derail this thread, but where did you get the actual foam that Fender uses? I've been looking with no luck. I wish they sold the bridge cover with the foam. I know they put it on some of their reissues.
Click to expand...

Lowes weather stripping. It comes in a roll about an inch wide and one side has adhesive on it. Cut a piece to fit the inside of your bridge cover and stick it on. Looks as close to the real stuff as I have seen. To me almost the same consistency too.
 
#31
RED J said:
According to Lady Carole Kaye, under for fingers, over for pick. If I remember correctly, forgot her reasons. But she always seems to have them. ;)
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That is what I was going to say also. Carol Kaye uses felt, folded over, with just masking tape holding it on because she used a pick. I have done exactly that before and it sounds great. She says foam under the strings when you play with your fingers.
carol-kaye.png
 
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#32
GregT said:
That is what I was going to say also. Carol Kaye uses felt, folded over, with just masking tape holding it on because she used a pick. I have done exactly that before and it sounds great. She says foam under the strings when you play with your fingers.View attachment 683516
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I took her idea and just used Velcro instead of masking tape. Either way, it sounds good! I'm not worried about under or over though, it's muted and in the context of a full band there's not a ton of difference.
 
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#33
I bought foam from the local arts & crafts store. The intended use is to fill seat cushions for dining room chairs & the like. I experimented with the width & how much it contacted the strings & found what sounded best to my ears.

20150709_202220.jpg


BTW my apologies if anyone's getting sick of this photo, but, I really love this instrument!
 
#35
I use packing foam under, tried sponge.
The fretting hand mute with a bit of foam is effective, it is all in the hands even when using a mute.
I also use a pick and the side of my hand to mute for a different effect as well.
 
#36
I bought a new 1973 Fender P-bass, lefty, black, maple neck- and a lefty case- at Sam Ash Manhattan, for $321.00 out the door! Well, it had the green silk flats, a foam mute glued under the bridge cover, and a low mount 'tug bar,' finger rest. Of course, all that got changed, fairly soon afterwards. I DO remember it having a great sound before I 'improved it.' As a bass tech, I've experimented with all sorts of things- I believe there is a difference- slight, but evident- of the foam above vs. below. The original Jazz basses has individual felt mutes under the strings on mounts that screwed into the body.
I like the weatherstripping above the strings best. I've made prototype wooden mounted foam mutes with the same type foam Fender used, and tried it in lots of different places. The advantage of under string placement- you can cut the foam to any height, and width- VERY important factors. The degree of damping varies with how thick the foam is, what kind of foam it is, and how much, or little touches the strings. The amount of foam contact area from the break point of the strings on the saddles makes a huge difference, too.
 
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#39
Latitude94941 said:
I have tried many different kinds of foam under my strings , cut to many different heights. It has always changed the intonation of my bass. That's why I never stick with the foam; I feel like I'd have to intonate it with the foam mute and then leave the mute in place.

I like to play in tune, so it doesn't work for me to slide the foam in and out as needed.
Click to expand...
Of course it does change intonation. The fact remains that piles of classic sings were recorded that way and all sound great. Why? Because obsessing over a few cents of intonation that human ears can't hear in a mix is in vain. If you want a mute tone, you use a mute and don't worry about it. End of story.
 
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