Gibson EB bass string mute

Gibson bass guitar string mute. Gibson parts (as of 1965) SMA-1N (nickel plated), SMA-1CR (chrome plated). It is likely that early examples were all nickel plated. As used on the Gibson EB-0, Gibson EB-2, Gibson EB-3, Gibson Les Paul bass, Epiphone Newport and Epiphone Rivoli basses.

The under-bridge mute was invented by Gibson engineer Larry Allers in early 1960, and announced shortly afterwards. Gibson bassists were encouraged to retro-fit the unit to their instruments (see Gibson Gazette July/August 1960). The EB bass mute patent was finally granted in January 1962

It became a standard feature on many Gibson EB basses shortly afterwards (practically all EB3s and EB2s and many EB0s), until 1971 when it was replaced by the much simpler use of foam attached to the underside of the bridge cover. The mute itself did not change in any significant way in this time.

It is shown here, positioned below the bridge of a tune-o-matic Gibson EB3 bass, but was also designed to fit the earlier bar bridges used by Gibson since the 1950s. It does not fit the Gibson three-point bass bridge used from 1973.

The mute was mounted below the bridge, attached by three screws (on solid-body models). The screw holes are shown here. Note that hollow-body basses (the Gibson EB2 and the Epiphone Rivoli) just used holes 1 and 2, as hole 3 was situated directly above the choke cavity.

As can be seen the mute is a very simple design. To operate the mute, the handle (right hand side) would be pulled to the right, pulling the sloped end to lift the felt pad, pushing it against the strings. It is shown already activated here.