BP/Guitarbuerator.... the scoop on the "old" bridge with mutes

[Psychicpet]

Was there anything aside from the economics(more expensive to make) and possible customer complaints/requests (needing new thumb screws/new foam) that led to the demise of the bridge with mutes?

any sign of them on the horizon??...ever???






ps. Canada WILL play hockey like they know how to in Vancouver in 2010!!!!

 

[bovinehost]

I believe I remember someone mentioning that the edges were very sharp.....you know how product liability is these days.

 

[Psychicpet]

ya, I just still kick myself for selling my first sting ray which was an early 90's with the mutes..ya know, don't know what you got til it s gone kinda thang....

 

[bovinehost]

Look at you, quoting Joni Mitchell.

 

[Psychicpet]

Canadi-anna man, just call me Canadi-Anna...... hehehehehehehehehe

 

[Mobay45]

Canadi-anna man, just call me Canadi-Anna...... hehehehehehehehehe

Canan-anan-ananada.

 

[Randracula]

 

[Psychicpet]

Take off eh!



..... hoser

 

[Tom F]

I had mutes on my recently sold '93 Stingray, and I used them...once. I tried them out and they sounded good, but it wasn't any sound I couldn't get another way. They were difficult enough pain to move up/down that I couldn't see myself using it while playing. A piece of foam shoved under the strings achieved a similar result, and it was much easier to install.

That all being said, the bridge w/mutes does look exceptionally cool, and I never experienced any of the sharpness others have reported. At least not like the bridge on my first bass, Fender JP-90 which I cut my hand on and bled all over the bass!

 

[Mr Light]

If they started producing those bridges again, I wouldn't mind having one installed on Mr. Ivory. Or ordering a Natural 2EQ with one on it.

 

[flywheel]

Was there anything aside from the economics(more expensive to make) and possible customer complaints/requests (needing new thumb screws/new foam) that led to the demise of the bridge with mutes?

any sign of them on the horizon??...ever???

Did you actually use the mutes on your bass? My '91 and my '92 SR4's have them but I never use them. They do LOOK cool to me for some reason...guess because you just don't see them anymore.

 

[Psychicpet]

i monkeyed a little with them but that was so long ago that i'm really not the player i was then and now i do bleeb i'd be giving them some time for sure

 

[tplyons]

Frankly I just don't find the original implementation was designed very well (no offense to anyone) but in order to switch back and forth between muted and not, you need to screw them down for a little bit of time. Not very quick and easy, that's for sure.

Im itching to try a bassmute from www.bassmute.com

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Their original purpose was to get a Double Bass sound. I've seen them used very effectively in jazz bands. I've never used them, but sure like their vintage look.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>I believe I remember someone mentioning that the edges were very sharp.....you know how product liability is these days.

My understanding also Jack

 

[Dr Stankface]

I've played in our school jazz band before and if I never needed to have a deep pizzicato tone of an upright, well..... I grabbed my upright.

String mutes are cool but I'd never use 'em.

Andrew

 

[Big Poppa]

Liability was the reason...We got some guy who allegedly cut his finger and was going to sue us and then another guy and we said forget it....

I also agree that it was a poor design.....It was only good if you wanted to have that sound all of the time

 

[Golem]

..... They were difficult enough pain to move up/down that I couldn't see myself using it while playing............

That all being said, the bridge w/mutes does look exceptionally cool, and I never experienced any of the sharpness others have reported. At least not like the bridge on my first bass, Fender JP-90 which I cut my hand on and bled all over the bass!

The sharpness I experience with the mutes on my '91 is the other kind, as resulting from a slight reduction of the scale length. However, since it's an FL, that's not a real headache, and since it's a FL the mutes are VERY useful.

Also, mine has the BassLines pre-amp/EQ which provides pitch shifting to compensates for the mutes ` . ` . ` . ` . ` . ` . ` ;->

 

[markorbit]

Liability was the reason...We got some guy who allegedly cut his finger and was going to sue us and then another guy and we said forget it....

I also agree that it was a poor design.....It was only good if you wanted to have that sound all of the time

That's a shame as I think string mutes are a useful option. They can open up a different flavour which can only be a good thing. And the Music Man had individual mutes too which was great - you can guarantee a broad tweak won't be even.

I also agree that the look is a key attraction of the StingRay. Nevertheless, I still ordered a brand new one but I do wish I could get a vintage bridge for it.

 

[TSanders]

When I need string mutes the side of my right palm works wonders.