Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

This add-on string mute was distributed by Gretsch years ago. I saw another one on eBay (complete with box and instructions) which I unfortunately passed on. I can't remember the exact name of this unit-either a Mansfield Mute or a Mitchell Mute, something like that. It works quite well, believe it or not. There is a foil sticker stating "Made In Italy" on the reverse side and the string muffler is a strip of white felt. If anyone remembers this item's proper name I'd sure appreciate knowing it!

Here's another neat Gretsch accessory-the Tone Twister. It came for a time on Gretsch's less expensive guitars back in the early '60s. They supposedly gave the player an aproximation of string vibrato. I've got three of these. This one (on my 6124 Anniversary) has "Patent Pending" on it. The other two (one is gold-plated) have patent numbers. These aren't really very functional vibratos, but they sure are great conversation pieces!

Very interesting accessories, Forrest. Is there also a mute, perhaps this one would do, to mute the overtone harmonics sometimes produced on Gretsch guitars by strings resonating from behind some bridges? I hope this makes sense.

admin wrote:Very interesting accessories, Forrest. Is there also a mute, perhaps this one would do, to mute the overtone harmonics sometimes produced on Gretsch guitars by strings resonating from behind some bridges? I hope this makes sense.

You're right, Peter, that can be an issue for Gretsch guitars whose neck angles have changed. Some of these older instruments, while still playable, are on the cusp of needing a neck reset. As the bridge height is lowered to compensate for this, those unwanted tones can become a problem. This mute would work nicely for that purpose as well.

The mute was made by Meazzi and called a Meazzi Stoppatore. They came on several models of Meazzi Hollywood guitars.