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The bridge of my fretless Stingray has four rectangular tarnish marks where the adjustable damper pads used to be.
Some people who seek to emulate the sound of James Jamerson push a strip of foam under their strings close to the bridge. I find that this screws with the intonation. This is not hugely critical for the Jamerson thud but still annoying.
In the book, Standing In The Shadows Of Motown, Pino Palladino is photographed with an improvised foam block damper on his vintage red Precision Bass.
Judge for yourself. Try it. Then, try conventional palm muting.
Chop a chunk of soft green foam off, shove it under the strings by the bridge. Play it.
It'll either be pleasing, or piss you off..
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
I use these. https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/255308958
Cut the top end just a shade longer than your action is high. Trim the ends so it is just a shade wider than the bridge, and fit standing upright IYSWIM. Slide it right up to touch the base of the bridge plate (on a P anyway) and I think the narrowness stops it changing the intonation. Can be fitted and removed easily and does just enough of the job of dampening the strings without doing too much.
Years later, the same chap has now lent me another one he got, which isn't as bad - it's also missing the mute foam though, and I'm tempted to replace it just to give that odd spring thing at the front of the bridge something to do .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I used two very different amps: Blackstar Fly Bass and a Markbass Minimark 802 for the tests. Results were pretty consistent and, to my ears, improved the bass sound by removing the sparkle of newish strings. And the louder I played, the more the damper improved the sound. I know this sounds a bit geekish, but at lower volumes, by angling the foam away from the bridge on the E string, improved the sound. For some reason, mainly damping, I tend not to play open strings but with the foam damper in place, open strings are now on the menu. Low E at volume is an impressive sound. And the foam seems to keep it in some sort of control.
Testing such things reminds me of the worst excesses of hi-fi fanatics! Or when I last setup a Linn LP12 turntable. Setting the cartridge overhang was straightforward enough, setting the tracking weight and bias was when you began to question your own sanity.
How the foam damper on the Precision performs in a band situation remains to be seen, a practice is planned for this week or next. I will report back.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
A few years ago I spent an afternoon with a Washburn acoustic bass trying to get it to sound more like a double bass.
I tried lots of different thicknesses and densities of foam, but the closest I got was with some loosely rolled kitchen towel, which which worked way better than the sponge.