Little rubber thingies...

[shadowrune]

On the A and E string, there is a rubber band (not the type you shoot and fling at people). I'm wondering if it protects the bridge, works as a small mute, or both, or neither. It came in the packaging with it on the string already. If it's a mute, I'll take it off and let Lucid (my fiddle's name) shine! Thanks

Comments

[altoclef]

These bits are to ensure the string doesn't dig into the bridge, which would be detrimental to the tone and the bridge. They will only have a muting effect if they're in the wrong place - to minimise this, fit them such that the end nearer the pegbox is flush with the bridge - so there's protection between the string and the bridge, but all excess material is pointing towards the tailpiece.

Hope that helps!

Thanks very much!

[shadowrune]

I'll leave the rubber bits on Lucid, thanks for the info everyone!

-The Lucid Shadow

[samisyosam]

It doesn't really work as a mute as much as it works as a softener. They usually add those to most steel strings because they sometimes cause for too much bite and a rather tinny sound. You can take it off if you want, but keep them around just in case you find that the brightness detracts from the quality of the sound.

[hobbitblue]

Its to protect the bridge from the sharp thin higher strings; I left the one on my E string, seems to be working out fine.

[human_league]

it's there so it doesn't cut into the bridge. just let it chill there and do its thing.

[grainya]

for some reason I only have one on my A string, and not my E. But as I recall, my teacher said something about the string not so much digging into the bridge as slipping around on the bridge (which is also bad for tone). And if I am remembering correctly, I snapped my A string the day before one of our recital things trying to tune it, and he had to replace it. Hrm...