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Question about Nut Mute/Wraps?

  • Thread starter Thread starter 14736251
  • Start date Start date

Who uses a Nut Wrap/Mute

  • Total voters
    20
1

14736251

Guest
#1
Does anyone know, how effective is the use of such a device, what is it supposed to achieve in the bass's sound?
VictorWooten.jpg

do you see the multi-colored hair tie Victor is using here? what is the story on this practice?

here's what I think-
it helps get a more bouncy attack
decreses unwanted overtones

Who out here in TB land uses them?
What are the reasons you use them?
What do you call these things?
 
#2
The deal is that it keeps strings from vibrating much when he can't control them with palm/finger muting, e.g. while slapping fast the low B has a tendency to rattle around unless you keep it in check with a wrap or with right hand technique.
 
#12
Fortunately I already knew that what Victor is using, is a hair tie, that is why I called it that.
But let me rephrase the question so it’s clear for some
-I’d really like to know what the reasons are for using them, coming from those who actually do use them?
 
#13
14736251 said:
Fortunately I already knew that what Victor is using, is a hair tie, that is why I called it that.
But let me rephrase the question so it’s clear for some
-I’d really like to know what the reasons are for using them, coming from those who actually do use them?
Click to expand...

In all seriousness, I have used an actual scrunchie on my nephew's Warr guitar. I believe the primary function in that case was to prevent a secondary pitch from the "back" length of the string (the portion from the fretted note to the nut) from sounding while tapping.
 
#15
bongomania said:
The first link isn't working for me, but the second one is fine.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I guess saved searches are cookie-specific? The first link works fine for me. The second one is a direct link to a thread, not a search.

Anyhow, that search string yielded three pages of linked posts that might answer the OP's question to a greater or lesser degree while he's waiting for more participation on this thread.
 
#16
Interesting to know that in the bass world these are referred to as scrunchies, this search was very useful, thank you. Interested to know how many people actually use these. I just put one on my bass after putting on new strings. Passing from say C to F created weird overtones if I wasn’t on the mute with my right hand; this seems to help that problem of reducing undesirable overtones for sure.

I noticed Norm Stockton, also uses these. I’ve also seen what looks like part of a cotton shirt wrapped around the neck which seems a little extreme, as well as the sock method.
 
#17
I use A PAIR of scrunchies* . . . more often when recording than when playing "live" . . . to help me achieve the cleanest recording.

I DO mute with all of the unused fingers of the left hand and the right hand thumb, ALL OF THE TIME . . . so that ONLY the note (or notes) that I want to play, sound(s).

The scrunchies help with the supression of extraneous sounds, like harmonics when playing notes at the nodes, and open strings that sound sympathetically . . .

:cool:

* using only ONE scrunchy can actually INCREASE the extraneous sounds, especially those pesky harmonics . . .
 

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