Poor man's Van Eps string damper

[buduranus2]

This gets it done quite nicely.

[MarkRhodes]

A thin strip of felt under the strings at the nut works too.

[sgosnell]

As does a strip of loop Velcro. Lots of things will get the job done, some better than others, and some more convenient than others.

[Jabberwocky]

That's not nitrocellulose-safe. Better off using a short length from your cat's woollen ball of yarn.

[buduranus2]

That's not nitrocellulose-safe. Better off using a short length from your cat's woollen ball of yarn.

Yes, I totally agree. My guitar is poly, but your point is well taken.

[Litterick]

The metalheads use hair scrunchies. The lawyers spend lots of money on specialist products.

[Woody Sound]

As does a strip of loop Velcro. Lots of things will get the job done, some better than others, and some more convenient than others.

What I like about Budur's rubberband is that you can quickly flip it back over the nut if you don't want it on for a certain tune or passage.

[sgosnell]

True, but for me the rubber band doesn't work well enough to be worth the trouble. It might work better on other guitars, though. Whatever works...

[feet]

http://www.thejimmyclip.com/

have used one of these for a while. the name is atrocious, the looks aren't anything special but it works ok, it's harder to lose than other products and easy to swap between guitars. it has some things going for it, but i wonder what else is out there.

[buduranus2]

THEJIMMYCLIP.COM

have used one of these for a while. the name is atrocious, the looks aren't anything special but it works ok, it's harder to lose than other products and easy to swap between guitars. it has some things going for it, but i wonder what else is out there.

The Jimmy Clip is intended to reduce vibration above the nut and/or below the bridge. It doesn't directly damp the vibration of open strings, which is what I wanted. That said, as it turns out the rubber band on my guitar apparently does both. Now if I could only monetize it...

[DRS]

Scrunchie
I've seen top bassists use their girlfriend's old scrunchies and if they're good enough for them, there good enough for me.

[MarkRhodes]

Scrunchie
I've seen top bassists use their girlfriend's old scrunchies and if they're good enough for them, there good enough for me.

I have used them too.

[SamBooka]

If you watch the herb Ellis video where he discusses his damper he points out that even the open strings ring somewhat freely when the damper is in position. It doesn’t take much to stopsympathetic ringing . Unless it’s physically in the way of you playing in the first position you should not have to flip it back-and-forth it very often.


For the record I’m a fan of the dollar store scrunchie but that is the Guthrie Govan talking. Y

[feet]

The Jimmy Clip is intended to reduce vibration above the nut and/or below the bridge. It doesn't directly damp the vibration of open strings, which is what I wanted. That said, as it turns out the rubber band on my guitar apparently does both. Now if I could only monetize it...

sorry, wasn't paying attention. but now that i get what you're asking, the rubber band seems clever enough. i should consider such at thing, but as a guy who relies on open strings and sympathetic vibrations as much as i do, it would have very limited usage.

makes perfect sense for lead players, shredders, bass players and other guys who don't use the open strings as much.

[buduranus2]

makes perfect sense for lead players, shredders, bass players and other guys who don't use the open strings as much.

I don't play the full guitar (aka "lap piano") so typically avoid open strings. Just a single note guy, no double stops or chord melody. Occasionally I get boxed in and the only way out is with open strings. I can see where it'd be intrusive for more developed players.