Heavy Practice Mute for Violin or Viola - Metal

Amazon ignored my cancellation request. I'm glad it did. This mute really works.It rides high on the bridge, to be sure. My previous terrible experience with a rubber coated metal mute (which didn't mute and didn't fit) led me to cancel this order after I read several reviews complaining that this all metal mute didn't fit either. It arrived anyway. So I plopped it on my acoustic violin and tried it out.Although it does not fit well, it does mute my acoustic to a decibel level that is surprisingly low - like my unamped silent electric violin. I now can play my acoustic at all hours of the night without waking anyone. It's really effective.The fit is poor, granted. But it works, plain and simple.I don't play my violin upsidedown or act like Lindsey Stirling, so I'm not worried about the mute falling off. Now, it does affect the timbre, making the violin sound like your average, unamped electric instrument. It almost completely stops vibrations at the bridge to do that. But there is no affect on the tuning at all.Some have worried about damaging their bridges. This mute prevents the bridge from translating the string vibrations to the body. Thus, the mute forces the bridge grooves to hold physical vibrations that otherwise would pass through to the violin itself. The grooves are taking the full brundt of the vibrating strings without any relief and so probably are being required to do more than they were cut to do. I've got to think that the bridge will wear out more quickly. But how much? Only time will tell. My present bridge only cost about $150 after a trip to the luthier. I really like the idea of practicing after hours - enough to press on with this mute and see what happens.

So I chose this mute over other rubber mutes because I heard that this one is best for not disturbing other people who may be in the next room. Honestly it really does make your violin much MUCH more quiet. My violin really likes to sing and with this mute in my room my sister said she couldn't really hear me from in the living room and not at all in the kitchen. It's nice to practice at night without disturbing my mom with any squeaks or just in general practice. Admittedly it is fairly expensive but to me at least its worth it, theres absolutely no way its going to break and I can't think of any reason why I would replace it. I think it looks kind of pretty when seated on the bridge but I guess thats just a personal preference.If I'm really nitpicking I only have two problems with it, since it is pretty heavy you might want to be careful that you don't push it down too hard on your bridge, or else it might mark it. Also on the bottom part that touches the bridge its not filed so there is a little sharpish metal edge (did that make sense?). Other than those two things no real problem with it.

This mute works really well. I'd say it reduces the sound to a third of what an acoustic violin would typically sound like. My other little wooden mute with the three prongs only reduces the sound by about 30%

I'm using this mute to get extra practice time in.It reduces my sound much more than a rubber coated metal mute that I tried.The listing says it is for violins and small violas, but my viola is a medium size (16"), and it works just fine.Remember, it's not supposed to go all the way over the bridge. Just push it down carefully and evenly until it is secure, and also try to keep your instrument level as much as possible when you are using it. (i.e., don't get careless and swing it around)Definitely worth the price. It was smooth metal, too, and well shaped.

This is the third mute I've purchased for a new violin I intend to learn to play. The other two mutes are 1) a rubber ultra mute and 2) a metal clip mute. This heavy practice mute does a much, much better job at actually muting the volume of the violin for practice, although, of course, learning to play on this kind of mute might prove impossible since the intonation is going to be way off.As many reviewers say, it doesn't fit well on top of my bridge. But it does fit. And it is much weightier than the other two mutes, so, combined with the poor fit, one should be cautious not to knock it off the bridge and onto the surface of the violin, particularly if their violin is nice/expensive, which mine is not.Very happy to have a mute that will actually dampen the sound to a respectable level for my apartment neighbors!

It really reduces the sound to its minimum. Much more powerful than my rubber mute.Highly recommend if one needs to practice during night time or simply doesn't want to make too much sound.

The mute is great. Only problem was that I didn't get it on the prime date I was told I would get it. Since we pay extra for Prime, shouldn't we get some sort of compensation for when they don't live up to their part of the bargain?

I have been wanting to practice (or rather only have the time to) at obscure hours. I just recently got a rubber mute and it does not compare. This is a hefty mute that gets the job done. People that were right outside the room could not hear me but yet I could still play just like normal and hear what I needed to hear as I am playing. It is heavy and may leave marks on your bridge if you push it on too hard, but you shouldn't have to as just setting it gently on the bridge has the desired effect.Also, great price. Shipped very fast.

Super good violin mute!!!