Posted by Scott Bassett on May 22, 2000 at 18:31:43:
In Reply to: muting posted by Martin Geerars on May 20, 2000 at 08:56:30:
I've been experimenting with pieces of foam or sponge rubber placed under the strings just ahead of the bridge to give me more of an upright "thump" with less sustain. I think it is more pleasing to the ear for the kind of music I play, which is mostly swing-era standards long-before the electric bass was invented. I am a newcomer to the bass and not quite ready for a fretless, much less an upright. But the foam or sponge mute lets me approximate that type of sound on my Ibanez 5-strings (SR-1205 and RB-885). The foam/sponge technique really hits the spot, however, on my old Supro Pocket Bass using the piezo pickup built into the bridge. To hear it, you would think I was dancing with an URB.