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Post subject: String Mutes
Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 4:27 pm
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A buddy asked me what the material is that string mutes are made of. After discussing everything from insulation to weather stripping, we gave up.

What is that foam made from? Is it available in bulk or just in the Fender mute kits?

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Post subject: Re: String Mutes
Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 7:09 pm
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isn't it the same foam thats used in most Road cases ??


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Post subject: Re: String Mutes
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 12:51 am
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On vintage Fender basses up through when CBS chucked the chrome bridge and pickup covers completely, the scuttlebutt I've always heard is that the muting strip material's OEM supplier was Sears Roebuck and Co. It is said to be Sears brand weatherstripping sourced from the hardware department of the Sears store that was closest to the Fullerton, CA Fender facility. It came in a big roll inside a thin square box. It had one self adhesive side that was some really sticky glue.

As this Sears weatherstripping aged it shrank and got harder. The glue however almost never released.

The exception was the brief (60-62) use of individual flat springs with felt pads on Jazz Basses, but that didn't last long at all. Then they switched to the weatherstripping on the Jazzes that they had always used on the P-Bass. It is exceptionally rare to find a Fender Jazz with one of the flat spring/felt pad muting systems intact as they were frequently removed. They looked like this:

Image

None of the repro bridge covers of today have the weatherstripping stock. For a while during the past 15 years or so, Fender was offering the spring/felt pad muting system as a Fender part again as it was used briefly on a Custom Shop Jazz Bass model, however I believe that part was discontinued several years ago.


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Post subject: Re: String Mutes
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 12:56 am
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Also, I just remembered that there was another bass muting system employed on early Mustangs. That was the last instrument designed by Leo Fender for Fender. It was sort of similar to the early Jazz spring/felt mute system but slightly different in that there was a screw to adjust the spring tension.


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Post subject: Re: String Mutes
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 6:55 am
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Thanks Brother Dave. We did talk about that 1/2" x 1/2" peel and stick weather stripping but figured there was a more scientific answer. The local Sears. Who would have thought? On (a few) basses without ashtrays it was placed under the strings on the bridge. Shriveled up as it got older to the point where it didn't even touch the strings anymore. You can see it on this 69. Stuck on hard as you pointed out, but no longer touching the strings.

Image

My 50th Anniversary J came with the individual felt mutes and a strip of the foam (and a ground strip) in the candy bag. Only time I have ever seen the individual mutes until your picture, which leads me to believe they were not frequently installed.

Image

Sears! Jeff is going to roll on the floor when I tell him that. Sometimes the answer is just that simple. I will give him my sample and let him go on a treasure hunt.

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Post subject: Re: String Mutes
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 8:01 am
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Wow Sears........who would of thunk it,....... thanks Dave,..... I was way of the mark with my suggestion that it was foam used in road cases,....... in the past I've seen guys take a 1 -2"W x 5" L strip of grey foam & slide it under the strings near the bridge when they wanted to get that muted Motown Jamerson sound .....


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Post subject: Re: String Mutes
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 8:23 am
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There's always the "brotherdave string mute". I got mine when I saw the infomercial on T.V. It was $19.95 and there was the get a second one free, just pay seperat shipping and handling. I thought $43.79 was a bit pricey for shipping but they did come in a hermetically sealed bag for my protection. (I think it was a Zip-Loc). They work really well and the autographed picture of brotherdave is a nice touch.

I'm not sure if they are available on his website.


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Post subject: Re: String Mutes
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 11:36 am
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James Coderre wrote:
Wow Sears........who would of thunk it,.......


Leo was very pragmatic when it came to field-expedient parts sourcing solutions.

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: String Mutes
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 1:49 pm
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On Fender's video of Don Was just has some dark gray foam shoved up under the strings of his Custom Shop Precision. Pretty funny. Informative video to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHzKxrpt ... 6Al4RON87i



It's also here on Fender.com, but I can't get it to link up.

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Post subject: Re: String Mutes
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 9:43 pm
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Removable foam mutes are nothing new or original. That has been a studio player secret for as far back as you care to go.

For flatwounds I like felt wraps better. I have a page devoted to my favored muting techniques here:
http://brotherdave.com/add_mute.htm


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Post subject: Re: String Mutes
Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 5:49 am
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I've used every conceivable thing type of materials in trying to get the right sound. With my basses that have the ashtrays, I just slide some felt inside. On the others I'll use foam under the strings.

Whatever works!


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