New banjo players quickly discover that banjos are very loud instruments. To protect the ears and bodies of loved ones and roommates from getting killed by noise pollution, banjo players need a way to subdue the volume.
This banjo bridge mute easily slides on and is adjustable to suit all bridge widths, without hindering right hand picking position or offering sweet sound with extended sustain.
Product Description
As soon as you first encounter your banjo, its volume may leave you shocked – this is one reason many newcomers opt for some sort of mutes or muzzle. Mute devices allow for lower volume practice sessions while attenuating any feedback that might arise from playing loud instruments, providing a reduced feedback loop and further dampening any feedback effects that might otherwise arise from playing loud instruments. A typical banjo mute consists of an ordinary device which fits on its bridge for quick installation for dampening purposes. Banjo mutes provide several advantages that will not interfere with proper hand positioning for picking, and are easily removable when not required. There are various commercially available banjo mutes in different sizes and styles; some designed specifically to fit certain bridge types while others feature clamping mechanisms or hinges.
The most widely available banjo mutes consist of rubber-like tubes that fit into the groove of a banjo bridge. While these mutes can be effective, there can be problems with fit that cause rattle during play; additionally, they’re not particularly suitable for compensated bridges since they can hinder finger placement when playing.
Paramount banjo mutes are clip-on devices designed to secure onto the coordinator rods or dowel stick and are an effective way to reduce volume by clipping onto one of these pieces of hardware. Although more secure than rubber mutes, they may prove challenging to install or remove and may not always provide an effective seal; while open back banjo models tend to respond better.
The Gold Tone Iucci model of banjo mutes may be the superior option for 5-string banjo players, originally created for use on tenor banjos but easily modified for 5-string models as well. This mute slides easily onto any banjo bridge like Mike’s Standard Banjo Mute does, yet features longer sustain and sweeter tone characteristics than most other mutes on the market.
Product Features
Many banjo players utilize a mute to reduce the volume of their instrument for practice, recording, or when they desire a different tone. A mute is typically placed between the bridge and head to absorb sound vibration and also decrease clashing overtones that make their banjo sound unnaturally brassy.
A mutes is an affordable and hassle-free solution to reduce the volume of your banjo. Easy to install or remove, they do not alter intonation of the instrument and come complete with soft inner lining to protect bridge from scratches during setup/uninstallation processes. Made of brass for durability and featuring hand adjustments that fit most bridge types; soft inner lining prevents bridge scratches during use/uninstallation processes.
Traditional mue designs were typically mechanical, with most adjustable on and off features and some being adjustable on the fly to achieve various degrees of muting. Some clamped onto the bridge (as shown below), while others, such as Gibson’s experiment and Lange’s push-pull button operated mute had to be taken off and put back on repeatedly in order to adjust their level of muting. Paramount offered one such hinged model that operated through a lever located next to its arm rest for immediate muteing control!
Mike’s Mute offers a straightforward yet effective solution to reduce banjo volume. Made of soft aluminum with solid brass accents, its hook gently yet securely grips cutouts in bridge bridge, while solid brass rests atop to drastically lower volume levels to levels that won’t disturb neighbors, coworkers or family.
The USA-made banjo mute fits 4-, 5-, or 6-string banjos seamlessly and is easily adjusted for bridge width without touching the strings. Installation and removal is straightforward without hindering right hand position during play; volume reduction makes this ideal for practicing when people are sleeping or playing close quarter apartment or hotel rooms – plus it allows late-night jam sessions without disturbing spouses or kids!
Product Options
Banjo practice can become noisy, and many players prefer using a banjo mute for quieter practice sessions. A banjo mute reduces volume without altering tone or playability and also allows you to practice quietly without disturbing others.
There are various kinds of banjo mutes on the market. Most clamp onto the bridge and offer mechanical “on/off” settings; others can be adjusted to modify how much muting occurs; still others feature hinged designs which sit atop it so as to control sound from different angles. Mike’s banjo mute stands out due to its innovative design which eliminates force when attaching and detaching it, making it simple and effortless for use; its light construction fits easily in any case while its low 3/8″ profile prevents interference from proper hand positioning during play – it even comes complete with its own protective storage bag!
This high quality professional grade mute, manufactured in the US from brass, and equipped with a soft inner lining to protect bridge from scratches, is easy to use and remove than clamp type mutes; easily clips on and off with clips that quickly secure itself to any bridge (except bent moon type and staggered Grover compensated bridges), can fit most types of bridges (excluding bent moon type and staggered Grover compensated bridges), can adjust to all bridge types except bent moon type bridges with bent moon types as well as create more pleasant sounds than usual as it significantly reduces noise production while creating more pleasant tones than standard metal mutes would create.
It is much less costly than other brass mutes, making it an excellent option for beginning banjo players looking to save money and apartment dwellers who wish to practice late at night or early morning before work begins – perfect for close quarter apartment living, midnight/early morning pickers and those requiring solitude for practicing during sleeping or working hours.
An inexpensive way to mute a banjo is stuffing a balled-up piece of tissue paper between the strings and bridge, either open-back or resonator banjo, under each string above its bridge. This process works best with an open-back instrument; for resonator banjo players it may require taking steps such as taking off its resonator in order to access its truss rod hole. You should experiment with different amounts of tissue paper; too little may not deaden enough strings while too much may cause “thunking”.
Product Warranty
Once you get your banjo, you may be excited to play it – until you realize just how loud it can be. In order to prevent your wife/roommate/family/neighbors from murdering you for practicing all hours of the day and night, a solution could be installing a banjo mute onto the bridge; this will significantly lower its volume for practice or when an altered tone is desired.
There are various kinds of mutes for banjos, and most involve attaching some type of clamp or plug to the bridge and tightening it to muffle sound. Some models allow you to easily adjust their level of muzzling according to your individual preferences, like this Gold Tone Iucci mutes from 1924 (which could also be adapted for 5-string banjos). Later models used clips that go around it while still others had mechanical on/off switches that can be operated manually by hand.
Mike’s banjo mute is easy to install and remove, significantly reduces volume without taking the resonator off, is made from lacquered brass for superior vibrato control and features a low 3/8″ profile so as not to interfere with right hand picking positions, and features low vibrational overtones.
It can also be easily attached from the tailpiece side of the bridge so its aluminum legs fit between strings and cutouts in the bridge, and fixed securely using nylon screws that won’t move or scratch it. In addition, its lightweight and compact design make it suitable for most cases – plus comes complete with its own protective storage bag!