Herb Ellis ..contraption...

[RayS]

What is this on herb's guitar headstock?

It looks like one of the many variations (not one I've ever noticed before though) of a string butler.??

Ray

[pcjazz]

String damper.

[marcwhy]

Like George's:

[sgosnell]

And probably made by George. Entering "Van Eps string damper" into a search engine will give you lots of information.

[Doctor Jeff]

NOT like Elvis and Scotty’s damper, which was a sponge…



Actually Scotty used the Van Eps damper on his Super 400 as well.

No offense to the OP, but I think it’s funny that about once a year someone starts a new thread with this exact title. George should have made a little sign to stick on his guitar “string damper” with an arrow so folks would know what it was.

[AllanAllen]

Elvis was using Scotty’s guitar there. He didn’t like that it was flashier than his flat top so he asked to trade, according to Scotty’s book.

[RayS]

Thx everyone,

Can't believe I've never noticed it in his videos before,guess I've been watching with my ears

Learn something every day

Ray

[sgosnell]

Any day I learn something is a good day, and I have more good days than bad. I'm so ignorant about so many things, it's not that hard.

[MarkRhodes]

Any day I learn something is a good day, and I have more good days than bad. I'm so ignorant about so many things, it's not that hard.

I love the Will Rodgers line, "We're all ignorant, just on different subjects."

[MarkRhodes]

Carol Kaye went the opposite way: she taped a strip of felt over the strings of her bass at the opposite end.

[JohanAbrandt]

Carol Kaye went the opposite way: she taped a strip of felt over the strings of her bass at the opposite end.

A bit like chicken pickin but opposite