Double Bass Using an non after length mounted mute for live performance

[pmad_bass]

It's pretty common to see the Tourte type mutes dangling from the after lengths. Just wondering if anyone is using something that doesn't hang on the after lengths for live performances and if so what are you using? Like a wood mute for example. A lot of times changing from non mute to muted can happen pretty quickly ....so obviously there would be some logistic to consider when switching it out from maybe one's tux pocket or stand.

 

[slappahdabass]

I like a tourte with the little wings cut off so I can use it like a wood mute - it rattles pretty significantly on my bass if I leave it on the afterlength. On prior basses I used both a tourte I left on and an ebony mute. I favored the wood mute but had the tourte for passages where the section still needed to come out of the texture or there was just no time.

 

[pmad_bass]

I have the tourte. It worked well on my Kolstein Fendt...."well" as in it stayed on when I put it on and didn't rattle much at all on the after lengths. The one thing it didn't do so much was mute that bass, which is pretty loud. It dampened the color/brightness a bit, which works. On my new bass my bridge is thicker and the tourte comes off pretty easy...so was thinking I'd *maybe try something else.

 

[Anne Millington]

The tourte on my bass does not rattle, so no issue there. It does move a bit, but no rattle.

But a similar tourte on my cello does rattle, so I started using this. It mutes fine when hooked over the bridge. But when playing unmuted, it wedges over the single string of choice, and very effectively eliminates the wolf tone. I have never seen one for bass, but I might be tempted to try it just because it doesn't move when properly placed.

I am pretty sure that if you could squish it onto a bass it would not mute a whole lot, but some folks, not saying who, hate playing with a mute anyway.

Classic Violins - Cello Tourte Single Hole Mute

 

[Cory Palmer]

I use a leather mute if there is enough time. If there are faster mute changes I use a tourte type mute. If I’m playing a muted solo like Mahler 1 or Lt. Kije I use an ebony mute.

The leather mute gets a nice muted sound for the section while the ebony mute still has a good bit of projection.

If I don’t need a mute I don’t leave the tourte mute on the after length. It tends to rattle a fair amount on my bass

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[neilG]

Ebony mute or a cut-down rubber practice mute. Dropping the rubber one makes less noise.

 

[PaulCannon]

I normally use a leather mute. For most shows I like to have a small tray attached to the music stand, so the change time isn't much longer than with the little rubber mutes.

I don't particularly like the small rubber mutes because they hardly affect the tone, they can rattle, and they get in the way if you need to play behind the bridge (fairly typical in modern music).

 

[LouisF]

I have a 2-prong wooden mute made by Dennis Roy in the Boston Symphony. It's a little pricey, but I play on GDA plain gut and the rubber mutes just were dreadful. The Bassment - Dennis Roy, Bass Sales & Repair - Mutes For Sale

 

[Bruce Calin]

Ebony mute or a cut-down rubber practice mute. Dropping the rubber one makes less noise.

My old principal in the Omaha Symphony had the biggest ebony mute I've ever seen. He thought the Tourte mute was a bad joke. I'm curious about the cut down practice mute. How is it cut down?

 

[neilG]

My old principal in the Omaha Symphony had the biggest ebony mute I've ever seen. He thought the Tourte mute was a bad joke. I'm curious about the cut down practice mute. How is it cut down?

Cut the two ends off so you are left with the middle 3 pieces. It mutes very nicely, I think.

 

[Bruce Calin]

Cut the two ends off so you are left with the middle 3 pieces. It mutes very nicely, I think.

Thanks for the info. I have a couple of these and will give it a try.