A Mute Point...?

[sloop_john_b]

You're right not to scan/post, but how about a page number(s)? Thanks JB!

Sure, pages 440 & 458 show him on the 4001s during those sessions, and page 481 shows him on the Jazz with his picking hand in the same place.

[sloop_john_b]

That's why I have my doubts regarding his use of the mechanical mute...the man doesn't even know what kind of strings he uses!

Maybe when F.C. showed/gave him the bass, he touted the mute as one of the features to Paul?

Your point is well-taken, though - I had my 4003 for three years before I joined this forum, and during that time I never knew the mute even existed!

[deaconblues]

Well, let's ask him!

http://www.memoryalmostfull.com/youtellme/

[nukebass]

That's why I have my doubts regarding his use of the mechanical mute...the man doesn't even know what kind of strings he uses!

I think that is exaggerated. It seems to me (speaking only of my opinion, of course) that McCartney doesn't want to be perceived as technical. JH has stated that McCartney's tech spent a lot of time searching for the original Maxima strings, so I think he actually cares what strings he uses. Maybe he just doesn't want to endorse anything verbally (since we all know that he automatically endorses whatever he is playing...).

[johnallg]

That is my take on it, Ryan. Anything brand he says he uses is an endorsement just in the saying.

The "Ask Paul" site is kinda lame as it looks at very simple key words and plays a video relating to that word, but not on what you asked. Try it. I asked about using the mute and got no response twice, but that Paul was bored (couldn't interpret the question and I asked it simpler the second time). I also asked about where the Rick was, and he answered with the artists music he was currently listening to.

So much for artificial intelligence.

[deaconblues]

Yeah, that was a joke...forgot to put the requisite " ".

[morrow]

heck , I was going to offer him fifty bucks for that old thing in the attic .

[4001_kenobie]

They're definitely a different material. The old one was felt, the new one is some sort of foam rubber. Difference could be in the material, and also could be in the width of the mute itself. The new mute pads are a little more than twice as wide as the old ones. I'm no mute expert, but it makes sense to me that when more of the string is contacting the mute pad, the string would be more muted.

The difference could also (obviously) be in technique, string choice, amplification, etc.

Felt?! I just learned another interesting fact I'd never seen posted here before! Thanks Jeff.

Thanks John. I'll try and get around to trimming the pad in the next couple of days and report back.

[johnallg]

This got me thinking - I have a large square of felt padding somewhere in the bowels of the basement. I got it when working construction many many moons ago when we were installing concrete pads for huge dynos. I kept a large square (a little more than 1.2 sq. ft.) and if I can find it I too will try a piece on my '04 4003 with the Maxima flats on it.

[4001_kenobie]

Well, I trimmed a few millimetres off each side of the mute pad, making it the same width as the bar its mounted on. It has made a bit of a difference, especially with the D and G strings, giving them more of a sustained note. Worth trying for sure, if you're a fan of the mute bar.

[rickaddict]

Well, I trimmed a few millimetres off each side of the mute pad, making it the same width as the bar its mounted on. It has made a bit of a difference, especially with the D and G strings, giving them more of a sustained note. Worth trying for sure, if you're a fan of the mute bar.

Cool! Thanks for the follow up post. RIC also makes the pads a little too long. The pad usually extends past the mute pad cavity on either or both sides. If it is too long it gets compressed in the area near the thumb screws and makes it much more difficult to raise. Trim the length of the pad to match the length of the tail piece mute pad cavity and the problem is solved.

[1965]

Photos forthcoming. How the heck do you even palm mute on a Rick bass? It's practically impossible.

Very true. I used to palm mute on my Jazz bass all the time, when I got the Rick I couldn't anymore. I'm gonna try messing around with the mutes, seems like it might be hard to get them to go back down again though.

[rickaddict]

Photos forthcoming. How the heck do you even palm mute on a Rick bass? It's practically impossible.

Very true. I used to palm mute on my Jazz bass all the time, when I got the Rick I couldn't anymore. I'm gonna try messing around with the mutes, seems like it might be hard to get them to go back down again though.

If it's hard to get your mute to go back down, the problem could be that the mute pad has come un-stuck from the mute bar. If the pad is un-trimmed, it likes to come off the bar. Take your pinky and push it back down (after you've backed the thumb screws off).