Bass guitar 'scrunchie', anyone use them?
I watched a bunch of YouTube vids of bass players recently and saw these being used more and more. I recently put one on my bass and it seemed to make a very slight improvement on open string noise. I even see where you can buy a commercial version called Fretwraps that you can slide up the neck. I also see some bass players are using capos on their bass to improve open string sounds on certain songs.
inept inquiring minds like mine want to know...

I 'inherited' a GruvGear fretwrap with a bass I bought one time. Got a super-nice GruvGear SoloStrap in the deal too, but had no earthly clue what to do with that scrunch-y lookin' thing-y!

Although I don't understand the purpose of having one of these on the tuner side of the nut as in your pic ... the guys who use these to mute their open strings are often doing some blazing soloing up high on the neck.  It relieves you from the task of keeping the strings quiet while all the action is going on. 


For me, even in my most intense playing situations I've always used my open strings.  Often as passing notes on a long run from top to bottom - that kind of a thing. That said, if I'm trying to record a bass melody or something I will happily stuff a rag into the bottom 2 or 3 strings to avoid any unnecessary rumblings.

Jimmy J

IIRC there is a one handed bass player (military injury) that scrunchies the strings to prevent open ringing.  He's really good too!

Suposedly there is some power loss in string vibration due to energy being partialy transmitted over bridge saddles and nut, but I'm not sure on how much it is or even if it is any relevant. Sometime ago I stored my "Jamerson" foam behind the bridge during a perfomance and, as it got stuck, it's been there for years now. Can't feel any significant differences in tone or sustain, though.

I can see the point of using one of those "hair thing" to mute string noises so I have one on my Rogue, but as I tend to regularly use harmonics and open strings, it ended being almost unused. Two useless mutes and both are there for years, ha!

I never thought I'd use one, but a little over a year ago, I started playing with a Peter Gabriel tribute band. I bought a 6 string bass to mimic some of Tony Levin's early Stick work and found the scrunchie thingy (gruvgear) pretty useful. I don't love it, and I move it behind the nut any time I don't need it, but again, it is useful in certain situations for stopping sympathetic string vibrations.   

I started using one on my Stanley Clarke 5-string, keeping it behind the nut all the time. The strings between the nut & tuners were vibrating sympathetically, this stops it. Though I tried a different brand of string recently and haven't noticed the sympathetic vibrations, so may not be necessary now.

But THIS beast NEEDS them!



I bought a 2-pack (Gruv Gear) - makes it so much more enjoyable to play. Obviously this isn't the normal use though! (The Duostrap is nice too, helps distribute the weight to both shoulders, also necessary with this instrument)

If I ever make to California for a Gathering, that Doubleneck of yours is at the top of my 'must-play' list.    (such a cool bass/guitar)

hehe...It looks like your bass neck has been censored.
(at least on my dark monitor)

Quote from: edwardofhuncote on December 23, 2020, 08:15:46 AM
If I ever make to California for a Gathering, that Doubleneck of yours is at the top of my 'must-play' list.    (such a cool bass/guitar)

It is one of the finest fretless basses I've played. And has an extra neck as bonus!

Quote from: edwardofhuncote on December 23, 2020, 08:15:46 AM
If I ever make to California for a Gathering, that Doubleneck of yours is at the top of my 'must-play' list.    (such a cool bass/guitar)

You are more than welcome!

Quote from: elwoodblue on December 23, 2020, 08:24:50 AM

hehe...It looks like your bass neck has been censored.
(at least on my dark monitor)

No speed bumps! Maybe my intonation should be censored...

Quote from: edwin on December 24, 2020, 11:38:50 PM

Quote from: edwardofhuncote on December 23, 2020, 08:15:46 AM
If I ever make to California for a Gathering, that Doubleneck of yours is at the top of my 'must-play' list.    (such a cool bass/guitar)

It is one of the finest fretless basses I've played. And has an extra neck as bonus!

Bonus neck - that's an interesting way to think about it!