bean_fidhleir Posted January 30, 2009 Report Posted January 30, 2009 The title says it all. A bridge-hooding mute does evil things to the sound quality. I'm wondering whether something like slices of rubber band between the strings and the bridge notches would be as quietening and less evil. Or something else?
troutabout Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 In a pinch you can roll up a dollar bill and weave it into the afterlength. Sliding it nearer or farther from the bridge will adjust the dampening but not the tone. Hundred dollar bills make it sound sweeter I have also slid the rubber outer coating off TV coaxial cable and it works better and will just about kill the sound if it's pushed against the bridge. Neither damage the threads or winding like a wire mute can.
GMM22 Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 Are you trying to quiet the violin somewhat permanently, or are you looking for options to knock some volume out only for certain occasions?
cjstuff Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 I discovered by accident that a foam wedge that I keep under my fingerboard when I'm not playing my good violin also really damps down the top plate's vibrations if I play with the wedge left in. It doesn't subdue the volume as much as a mute, but it noticeably cuts down my violin's volume and projection without affecting the tone. Perhaps you might try this in conjunction with some other tricks.
GMM22 Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 Deleted (with some regret). Hmmm... A delete with regret? I am sorry I missed the first incarnation.
bean_fidhleir Posted January 31, 2009 Author Report Posted January 31, 2009 Are you trying to quiet the violin somewhat permanently, or are you looking for options to knock some volume out only for certain occasions? Sorry, I should have said. It's because I live in an apartment and don't want to annoy the neighbors. I'm too busy with a project to go find a seisean somewhere, so I only play at home.
Wolfjk Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 In a pinch you can roll up a dollar bill and weave it into the afterlength. Sliding it nearer or farther from the bridge will adjust the dampening but not the tone. Hundred dollar bills make it sound sweeter I have also slid the rubber outer coating off TV coaxial cable and it works better and will just about kill the sound if it's pushed against the bridge. Neither damage the threads or winding like a wire mute can. Hi, In a pinch you can roll up a dollar bill and weave it into the afterlength. Sliding it nearer or farther from the bridge will adjust the dampening but not the tone. Hundred dollar bills make it sound sweeter This is the most brilliant idea I seen for a long time! Think! If the fiddle is lost it will be a lot more valuable to the finder with a hundred dollar bill tucked between the strings! Cheers Wolfjk
David Burgess Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 In a pinch you can roll up a dollar bill and weave it into the afterlength. Sliding it nearer or farther from the bridge will adjust the dampening but not the tone. Hundred dollar bills make it sound sweeter Careful, this may attract strippers. Might get an impromptu "lap dance", which makes playing difficult.
Janito Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 Hmmm... A delete with regret? I am sorry I missed the first incarnation. I mentioned Yuen...silly me.
FiddleDoug Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 Buy an inexpensive, solid body electric violin. I did that several years ago, and it's worked out really well for me. Changed the strings to Helicores. The sound, without an amp, is quiet enough to not disturb people, but loud enough for you to hear. Headphones if you want it louder!
Fellow Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 I mentioned Yuen...silly me. +++++++++++++++ Hey, what about? "To make a fiddle quieter" ? (1) change the string angle, (do not use the optimal angle) (2) Heavy bridge or softer wood bridge and lighter bow. (3) eat less don't drink too much(player part) Make sense?
bean_fidhleir Posted January 31, 2009 Author Report Posted January 31, 2009 I do have an electric (Yamaha), and it's my regular fiddle even though its fixed chin and shoulder rests aren't really comfortable and the electronics produce a sound that's a bit 'off'. I tend to get hungry for the pleasure of playing a 'real' fiddle after awhile.
Janito Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 +++++++++++++++Hey, what about? Make sense?
Fellow Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 Make sense? ++++++++++++++++++ A recent photo of the same violin. Seriously speaking , it is beyond repair. I have attacked a few corners at it for practice fun.
Janito Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 @ Yuen-Fellow As your pictures show, behind a veil of naivete, I believe you have an impish sense of humour - thanks. Please re-insert your photos into this thread - Sid Perelman-like and priceless: http://www.maestronet.com/forum/index.php?...tuning,AND,fork
lvlagneto Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 I live in an apartment, and used to worry like crazy about my practice bothering people. Just talk with surrounding residents, and ask them if your playing even bothers them. Sometimes, when I play really late at night, I use a metal "hood" mute. They even make ones covered in rubber now, to prevent damage to the top. Rubber mutes tend to make awful sounds when they no longer fit tightly... buzzing. The same goes for the metal mutes. Just make sure that they're seated properly. You will also run in to more problems if you have a thicker student bridge... mutes work much better on thinner 'tuned' bridges. Also, I've used a wooden cloths pin(s) before just for giggles... worked pretty well.
hollenbach Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 Make sense? I wonder what the hammer is for...
David Burgess Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 I wonder what the hammer is for... Surely you've read about testing frequency response with an impact hammer........
Don Noon Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 Surely you've read about testing frequency response with an impact hammer........ That size of hammer would only excite the lowest modes... and you could only do it once. ... but it WOULD be quieter after that.
Janito Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 Surely you've read about testing frequency response with an impact hammer........ Ahh...now I know why the bridge is trussed up...not bands, but bandages.
Anders Buen Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 I have tried a 1mm rubber between the bridge and the violin body. It weakened the sound in the mid range, but was almost equally strong in the low and high end. I think it is quite difficult to reduce the sound output by say 10 dB or more without also affacting the timbre. A lower bridge and thinner strings may help, but not much..
Bill Yacey Posted February 1, 2009 Report Posted February 1, 2009 I have tried a 1mm rubber between the bridge and the violin body. It weakened the sound in the mid range, but was almost equally strong in the low and high end. I think it is quite difficult to reduce the sound output by say 10 dB or more without also affacting the timbre.A lower bridge and thinner strings may help, but not much.. Was that a high sensitivity rubber, or standard issue? 1mm seems pretty heavy duty...
bapiano Posted February 1, 2009 Report Posted February 1, 2009 Was that a high sensitivity rubber, or standard issue? 1mm seems pretty heavy duty... That was a bit more subtle than what I was thinking. Well done!
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