New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute

Subject: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 06 Oct 04 - 09:31 PM

I was waiting to get some pics for the website, but I just got finished picking for an hour with the new Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute.

With the help of Bluegrass Master Chris Quinn and Banjo builder Bill Rickard, a few changes have been made to the original design. It is now made from Stainless Steel which Bill felt would wear better than the original Brass design. The biggest change is that instead of two independant "hooks", Bill and Chris came up with the idea of a solid piece that does the same job. This makes it even easier to install. The biggest concern was replicating the tone. We trusted Chris's ear for this and we are all in agreement, the new mute works as well as the original. I will post again when the pics of the new design are on the site. But for now, check out the site, especially the sound clips. (Special thanks to Tony Burns).

Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Oct 04 - 09:42 PM

What? No chrome plating? I got one of the last brass ones, and it sounds great. I wouldn't expect the type of metal would affect the sound, used in this way. Might be less apt to strip a screw when you bonked someone on the head though.

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 06 Oct 04 - 09:57 PM

A Banjo Mute?

No, I won't say anything... :-)

Robin

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 06 Oct 04 - 10:55 PM

Robin,

Thank you for your restraint. It has been done to death. Still, a wonderful instrument when played well. A dog when played badly. The mute is for the bad players trying to become good. Cudos to the late Mr. Fielding for inventing it.

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: DonMeixner
Date: 06 Oct 04 - 11:16 PM

Rick personally handed me a Fielding-Cutler mute and said with a banjo like mine this thing will be indispensible. I even liked the color.

Don

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Oct 04 - 11:19 PM

It's good to see these up and running. Thanks for the link...I hadn't looked at the website for awhile so hadn't seen In His Own Words and the Tributes pages. Got tears again from missing him and from the glow in my heart at having had him for a friend.

Thanks, again. I hope they sell like hotcakes.

kat

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 06 Oct 04 - 11:32 PM

Don,

I had one of the original Brass ones. I left the new Stainless Steel one on over night. Funny, when I looked at it in the morning I thought that the new one blended in to the Nickel hardware much better, it looks like it is part of the banjo.

It's funny, I remember when I first got my mute. I was saying to Rick that he should market it. Well, we knew Rick. He was happy to sell (or give) them to his students and friends and have a few at gigs and festivals. Heather is having a tough time keeping up with the orders. Through the power of the internet she is shipping them all over the world. She has run out of stock a couple of times this year. Nice to see.

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: GUEST,ex-pat, mm, where is my cookie?
Date: 06 Oct 04 - 11:47 PM

The mute is not just for players learning the banjo. It is absolutely invaluable for practising in the music room when others are asleep or when the wife is watching tv, on the phone, etc.

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 01:01 PM

ex-pat,

I refer to mine as a Marital Aid.

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 07:43 PM

My father was a very good classical violinist. A mute is useful, not only for volume control, but also changing the tone colour of an instrument.

Robin

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: ex-pat
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 10:36 PM

Hey Steve,
I hear you, I hear you. Foolestroupe, I am considering using the mute on my banjo on the next recording session. It creates a totally new sound!

Ollie

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: Juan P-B
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 11:48 AM

Whoever thought of it should get the Nobel Peace Prize - Geddit???

JP-B

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: GUEST,Steve Latimer
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 04:10 PM

ex-pat,

Both Chris Quinn and Jed Marum have said the same thing about recording with it. I don't know if either has. It really produces an interesting sound.

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: Once Famous
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 04:16 PM

A banjo was meant to ring out.

It's such a happy sound, I would never mute it.

Playing it with dynamics can be very effective.

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 05:41 PM

Martin, I don't think it's the volume that makes a banjo sound good. Loudness is good in many circumstances, but not all. The point of this mute is that a banjo still sounds like a banjo, just quieter. It even adds a bit to the sustain - nothing like the old towel-jammed-in-the-back, muffled 'plonk' sound. Players can attack it full force, and not wind up as a chalk silhouette in a bunch of police photos.

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: Once Famous
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 05:52 PM

It will never work in bluegrass.

Maybe on some tenor or plectrum to cut down on the percussion.

I've seen and played with plenty 5-string players.

The good ones can control their volume and play with dynamics without a gimmick. but I do remember sticking a towel in the back of an old open back Kay years ago. It improved the sound because it muted it.

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 08:01 PM

The tone colour changing properties of metals is fairly limited, but that of wood is truly amazing - there are so many different woods. Classical violinists used to consider a good mute valuable. Some composers even specified using a mute - I have forgotten the 'correct latin musical term'... you didn't need it for piano theory, but conductors/composers should know it...

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: GUEST,kritik
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 08:40 PM

I have forgotten the 'correct latin musical term'...

Have you also, Robin, forgotten that the "correct ... musical term[s]" were in Italian?


and MG: 'taint a "gimmick" -- lissen up what the folk are a-tellin' ya

Cheers

kritik

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: GUEST,Geo
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 09:35 PM

I've aways thought the best banjo mute is a hand grenade.

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 11:05 PM

I see this primarily as a practice device. Let's face it, banjos are loud, they need to be when you are playing with others. But I don't want the volume when I am practising when my wife and kids are sleeping or busy with something else. I've tried stuffing towels in the resonator, Clothespins attached to the bridge and a bunch of other methods that I have heard about. None of them have still sounded like a banjo and they require more effort to install and remove.

Subject: RE: New, improved Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 06:15 PM

the competition is at Elderly.