Violin Practice Mute, Black (GL3834)

This is not meant to silence your violin. This simply takes the edge off a full violin sound and makes it so that one can practice without disturbing those around them. The upper register and lower register sounds are muted the most, so sound doesn't penetrate - you know what I mean if you play violin. The notes are clearly audible and it is easy to practice with the mute on. If you are working on technique - works great. If you are working on your tone or vibrato, then obviously you wouldn't put the mute on during those practice sessions. Some notes - I bought one of the heavy mutes too - coated metal. This one works just as well, is much lighter in case it falls off would cause less damage to the floor or things around you (your toes), and mutes nicely. The heavy mute available on amazon too is more expensive, and does produce a bit richer sound. But this one does the job! Super easy on and off. Lightweight. Inexpensive. Highly recommended.

I am a beginning violin player, and I bought this mute so I could practice without driving my family and dog nuts. I am very pleased with it! It cuts down significantly on the sound, and my parents (whose bedroom is right above where I practice violin) said that they couldn't hear the violin while they were sleeping. The mute was a little stinky when I first got it (a bit like a new tire) but after washing it with dish soap, the smell almost went away. I left it on a table to "air out" for a day or two and the smell is pretty much gone! The rubber is soft so I don't have to worry about ruining my violin, and it fits nicely on the bridge without slipping off. Along with the other great things about this mute, I have also noticed an improvement on the sound of my violin when I take the mute off! I think that by minimizing the screeches, I have the confidence to bow longer and smoother, which is improving my technique and sound. This mute has also helped me to keep off the bridge, which was something I have always had trouble with. Another great plus! I highly recommend this mute! I love it!

I bought this at the same time I purchased my 4/4 violin, so I could play late at night without disturbing anyone. It seems well-made, and fits over the bridge perfectly. (Note it only should go one way--look at the non-symmetrical top curve and match it to the bridge. It should also not touch any strings directly when installed properly.) This unit mutes the sound substantially and removes the 'highs', but does not otherwise distort the sound. Works great--I like it!

I've been using it for at least a dozen practice sessions so far. It does lower the volume, but not that much. What it does do more noticeably is change the tone. It makes your violin sound a lot warmer and less screechy, especially if you're using cheap strings and old rosin. In fact, playing with the mute off suddenly makes me want to put it back on. XD Overall I would give this 3 1/2 stars for its overall effectiveness and ease of use. I rounded my score up to 4 stars just because of how often I use it (all the time now), and also because I like the tone it creates. Anyways, for some technical aspects, the rubber is quite firm but bendable. I vaguely remember my mute being a little difficult to slip onto the bridge when I first got it, but these days it slips on and off easily, probably because leaving it on the bridge for so long gradually conditions the mute to the shape and size of your bridge. It should likely fit onto your bridge, even a thick bridge like mine which was too thick for that chrome/metal mute (also sold here). The rubber mute won't have to (or perhaps was designed not to) actually touch your strings, as it works by simply hugging/sandwiching the bridge to absorb some vibrations trying to pass from the strings to the sound post. For stronger muting, you could try rigging your own mute (if you're the experimenting/engineering type) that actually touches the strings near the bridge. I tried adding rubber bands this way, and found it works but is hard to keep consistent depending on how you position, attach, and tighten the rubber bands.

Was scared to put this on my bridge cuz the bridge was expensive...but OMG! PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO FIND THAT IT WORKS! Had to pull apart the split in the rubber to slip it over my bridge cuz at first I thought it was the wrong size and I did NOT want my bridge accidentally moved out of position.bruh.....i didn't even know my violin was so loud, now that it has been muted, I can barely even hear it!! I can absolutely hear myself playing but it is so dramatically quieter, I feel way more confident going hard on my bowing technique practice💞😊 GO GET ONE FOR YOURSELF! Especially if you have neighbors or open windows or people who don't like violin nearby(I know, what!?) They won't hear anything, it'll sound like the violin music is coming from the tv, rather than you actually playing yourself.i am in loveeeee, will probably be ordering another one soon just for back up! Definitely works as advertised, I can't believe it's not rated even higher! I did NOT notice a smell from mine, AT ALL. It's just a hunk of rubber. I think the low ratings are from people who did NOT install it correctly. It simply pops on top over the strings, you should NOT be removing your bridge to slide this on, and when you slide it on, it should sandwich both sides of the bridge and none of the strings should be touched. I have a full sized violin.if this does not fit your bridge, I would have to guess that you did not go to a proper violin luthier to get your bridge cut in the first place, especially if your bridge is so thin that it can't be gripped. Invest in a proper bridge from a proper luthier and try again.

For the money, it is a good value but I've found it to be finicky to keep properly positioned on the bridge. The tone of the instrument is quite pleasing with the mute installed, in some ways an improvement over the sound my violin produces without it. Volume is reduced significantly and eliminates the tinnitus I sometimes experience in my left ear after a long practice. When installing, one must be sure to install in the correct orientation (the thicker part of the top goes on the E string side) and take care to see that none of the rubber is touching or too close to any of the strings. You may need to shave a bit of rubber off with a knife to avoid buzzing problems. Once positioned properly, squeezing the ends towards the bridge helps lock the mute in place. However, when I play a lot on the G and D strings, the mute inevitably works itself loose, begins buzzing, and must be repositioned. Perhaps a thicker bridge would prevent this from happening. But overall, a useful tool that will suit my needs until I can find something better.

I have never used a mute before (am teaching my self to play and have studied cello, piano and voice) so I have nothing to compare this to, but I'm very pleased with the decrease in volume as well as the tonal quality, which seems "richer" with the mute in place. I bought it so I wouldn't drive the neighbours crazy when practicing in the summer with the windows open. The first twenty to thirty minutes of my daily practice is all scales and arpeggios so I am concerned about making the neighbours' ears bleed! I also like the fact that it's made of rubber rather than metal and so I worry less about damage to the bridge. I've never tried leaving the mute on when I put the violin away because I would worry too much about it not fitting in the case and thereby damaging the bridge (or worse) when I close the case. All in all, I'm very happy with this mute. UPDATE: I emailed a professional violinist (he is concertmaster and violin soloist on movies such as Avatar, Titanic, Ratatouille and more!) and asked him about the advisability of using a mute on a NEW instrument. The instrument needs to develop its pitch and tonality (just as I do!) and that requires the wood to "breathe" and expand with the vibrations created in the instrument itself. I was fearful that a mute would delay that process by decreasing the amount of vibration in the wood. And... I received an answer from him! He said I am correct to worry and that, since I practice about 1.5-2 hours a day X 5 days/week, my violin (a student-grade Samuel Eastman) should be fully developed in approximately 1.5 years. I have been studying now for about 6 months, so the neighbours will have to suffer for another year! Just something to think about if your instrument is new!

I have not yet applied the mute to my violin, but, it meets all the needs that I was looking for. It is substantial, so it can do its job, but, its rubber and it is small sized so it wont damage my violin. But, mostly, I just love the company. They have gone out of their way to correspond with me to make sure I am happy. Its a rare business these days that actually takes time to meet and greet each customer and make sure satisfaction is 100%. No matter what you buy from them, you will be happy, because they wont rest until you are. Very, very trust worthy.