The Cloth Trick

[Farno]

Hey

Any of you guys use the cloth trick? It's where you wrap a clothe around the top of the neck and that mutes all unwanted noise when playing a solo. I find it necessary with a lot of delay otherwise I don't need it.

Just a question, will this throw it out of tune?

 

[kmachman]

I have used a dampener of sorts in many recordings. There are actual OEM dampeners (http://www.batten.com/String-Damper-Evolution.html) or the DIY type as you have mentioned. I have even used a hair scrunchy with great results. It shouldn't detune anything. You don't need a lot of pressure on it.

 

[ocnor]

Why wouldn't you just use your hands to mute the unwanted noise? Tying cloth around the neck is ridiculous unless you're that one armed bass playing dude.

 

[WhiteStrat]

I thought this was gonna be about draping a loose cloth over the lens when filming Elizabeth Taylor so she looks soft and young.

'Cause I've done that cloth trick.

 

[ocnor]

I thought this was gonna be about draping a loose cloth over the lens when filming Elizabeth Taylor so she looks soft and young.

'Cause I've done that cloth trick.

What type of cloth did you use?...canvas?

 

[Armistice]

What type of cloth did you use?...canvas?

The Harry Potter invisibility cloak should do it...

 

[WhiteStrat]

What type of cloth did you use?...canvas?

True story. Okay--it wasn't me. But in her last few movies, as she aged, she always had it in her contract that the camera would be draped with a white cheesecloth for any "well lit" shots. (daytime shots, I guess?).

Pretty low brow by today's digital standards, but it worked.

Anyway--back to the topic at hand. I haven't used a cloth to mute strings, not even a cheesecloth.

I have however, gotten Cheez It residue in my strings.

 

[ocnor]

I have however, gotten Cheez It residue in my strings.

I hate it when that happens.

 

[WhiteStrat]

I hate it when that happens.

But the Cheez Its are just so damn compelling. Such is life when snacking collides with guitar greatness, no?

 

[muttley600]

I have however, gotten Cheez It residue in my strings.

A bit of talc should take care of that nicely.

 

[stevieb]

But the Cheez Its are just so damn compelling. Such is life when snacking collides with guitar greatness, no?

Snacking ALWAYS wins. As it should.

 

[legionserial]

I'm touching cloth right now. It's a great trick.

 

[muttley600]

I'm touching cloth right now. It's a great trick.

Turn them inside out when your done.

Thank me later.

 

[legionserial]

Turn them inside out when your done.

Thank me later.

I already did that 2 weeks ago.

"These can't be my boxers, these bend." - Dave Lister

 

[Sonixx]

OP, I have resorted to that type of fix or worse when tracking less than accomplished players.

 

[legionserial]

I have resorted to that type of fix or worse when tracking less than accomplished players.

What, turning your underpants inside out?

 

[guido #2]

Here's another neat cloth trick; jam that cloth under the strings at the bridge.
"Mrs. Brown you have a lovely daughter!"






Add cheese to taste!

 

[miroslav]

I don't ever mute the upper neck when playing...but there is an easier way to do that if you must.

Cut a 4" x 1/4" x 1/4" (or whatever works for your guitar and action height) piece of foam...like the gray packing foam you find with a lot of electronic/computer stuff...
...and just slide it under/between the strings and the neck...move it to where you need it.


I use the foam pieces on all my hanging acoustic and semi-acoustic guitars that are in my studio...as they will "drone" a bit when I'm playing/singing near them, and could get picked up by the mics.

I also cover my drum kit cymbals with towels and deaden the upper/lower heads with some foam/string...as they will REALLY drone loud if you play almost anything near them. Just yell or slap your hands near a drum kit and you will see. I've even thought about using/miking that reverberation and maybe blending it in on some stuff...the cymbals/heads are acting kinda' like an acoustic plate reverb!