Foam Mute

[MondoKen]

I am interested in some type of muting for my Sterling. It sounds like a simple solution is to place some foam under or next to the bridge. What size and type of foam is recommended? And is there an optimum place to install it?

This is my second question of the day. Thanks again in advance for the answers.

Ken

 

[Hellboy]

I am interested in some type of muting for my Sterling. It sounds like a simple solution is to place some foam under or next to the bridge. What size and type of foam is recommended? And is there an optimum place to install it?

This is my second question of the day. Thanks again in advance for the answers.

Ken

What I did was that I walked into a store, or more a store like factory really, located rather close to where I live that makes matrasses, cuchions and pillows. They had LOTS of foam materials laying around. So I walked around and picked up left overs . Different type of foam materials that I thought might work. And then I walked up with this rather huge pile I had collected and asked one of the workers if I could buy the stuff and how much it would cost me. He just looked at me and said: "Noting. We can´t use that **** so just take it". So I said thank you and walked back home and got the knife out.

It´s hard to give a specific advice regarding where to place it and what kind of foam to use cause it´s much a matter of taste really. But I place it down by the bridge, as close as possible, and I personally refer foam that are not too soft. About 2 - 3 cm wide and it´s important that the foam has lots of contact with the strings to get a good, muted, sound. I´ve found that you need so much of it that the foam itself would detune the instrument if you would just push it in under the strings because of the preassure. So I have a bass prepared with foam under the strings on concerts that I pick up when I want that particular sound. It just takes to much time to put the material in and re-tune the bass on concerts. Experiment and see what you like yourself. I think that it´s what is often needed since peoples references vary.

I´ve used lots of materials thro the years to mute strings. Everything from t-shirts to gloves, polishing cloths, socks, underwear, pot-holders, small flags, and other things. Most of it works just fine actually but the biggest advantage with foam is that it doesn´t make other people wonder what the hell you´re doing and if you´ve gone totally bonkers.

//Jan

 

[Frankie5Angels]

Some people cut up sponges. Some use cut up mouse pads. Try different materials and see what works for you.

 

[MondoKen]

Thanks.

 

[tkarter]

I use foam taken from a shipping box.

tk