Mute pads/Flea bridge maintenance?

[GrooveArgento]

Hey Guys,

I have a 1994 Stingray with the "Flea bridge" including the rubber pads. The pads are starting to get really dry and tiny cracks are appearing, and I was wondering if theres some kind of product I could clean or re-hydrate them with.

Also, what do you use for cleaning the metal parts? (bridge, tuners)

Thanks!

 

[Russel]

If they are rubber, I'd suggest tire dressing, or a similar petroleum base fluid. But I offer you a piece of advice with that suggestion:

As far as string mutes go, I don't have a freaking clue what I'm talking about, and I'm sure there is somebody here that does.

 

[Caca de Kick]

They're just a foam material. When they're toast, remove them and replace.
Some folks have made new ones using weatherstrip material from a hardware store, other have used old mousepads.

 

[silverburst]

I think that tire dressing might get all over the place, including the strings. I would go with Mike's suggestion and replace the foam bits.

Mutes!

 

[the unrepentant]

I think that tire dressing might get all over the place, including the strings. I would go with Mike's suggestion and replace the foam bits.

Mutes!

Ever change your strings?

 

[Duarte]

I love mutes!

 

[silverburst]

Ever change your strings?

Two day old Ernie Ball flats, baby!

 

[rhythmCity944]

I found that the battery spacers in R/C cars (the pro kind) are almost identical to the material in density and texture to the factory foam mutes. Mouse pads work good too. I find when the foam starts to get brittle there isn't much you can do to save it...good luck

 

[GrooveArgento]

Thanks for all your replies. I guess I'm not very virtuous when it comes to measuring, cutting, etc...Maybe someone with those skills should manufacture and sell them!

Lets do some math. MusicMan basses included the mutes since 1976 until 1994. That means thousands of basses with bridge mutes that are between 14 and 32 years old. Those mutes are not getting any younger! Most of them must be rotting or gone by now (or will be over the next few years).

I guess that there must be -at least- 15.000 basses out there with the mute bridge, between Stingrays, Cutlasses, Sabres...15.000 x $15 (thats a fair price for a rubber pad kit for a high-end instrument like the MM)...there's a $225.000 business over here, minimum!

What are you waiting for, handy people?

Thanks and merry christmas to you all!

 

[Caca de Kick]

It's funny...I made a set of mutes for the bassist from the Polyphonic Spree's vintage StingRay. Somehow he contacted me.

 

[silverburst]

...there's a $225.000 business over here, minimum!

Except that, generally speaking, the mutes go unused, so very few people want to replace them.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Two day old Ernie Ball flats, baby!

And good for another 5 years at least!

 

[Aussie Mark]

$15 (thats a fair price for a rubber pad kit for a high-end instrument like the MM

Why would I pay $15 for something that takes 5 minutes to DIY .....

 

[Caca de Kick]

You'd be suprised how non-mechanical some people are. My guitarist didn't know how to look for a broken solder connections on a guitar cable, and completely oblivious to a soldering iron.

 

[rhythmCity944]

You'd be suprised how non-mechanical some people are. My guitarist didn't know how to look for a broken solder connections on a guitar cable, and completely oblivious to a soldering iron.

a buddy of mine can't change his own strings on his guitar...i'm surprised he can tune the thing

 

[Jerry J]

Does anyone know of a source for the steel portion of the string mutes and the thumb screws?

I contacted EB customer service and they said that they no longer carry or make that part. And I've found nothing on fleabay.

[/QUOTE]

 

[MrMusashi]

last time i saw some of those on the bay they went for 50$

MrM

 

[Caca de Kick]

The spring plates that have popped up on ebay have gone crazy.

The last plate alone I saw went for about 85. And the last plate with thumbscrews set went for about 110.

 

[Jerry J]

Ouch!

 

[Cat'sDaddy]

Reading this thread made me curious enough to try the mutes on my '95 fretless Stingray. I discovered that I really like the sound that results from light mute pressure on the strings. Real nice attack and fundamental, with the ringing overtones taken out (of course, sometimes you want them--that's why the mutes are adjustable!). It cleans up the sound real nice, and makes it just right for the 50's/60's band I play with. I usually think that comparisons between upright bass and electric are kind of lame, but I gotta say that the extra thumpy, quicker-decaying tone these mutes produce comes quite close to an upright vibe. I bought this bass about a year ago, and although the mutes have most likely never been used, the material was soft and quite usable.