Is A Guitar String Dampener Needed

What is a Guitar String Dampener

It is an accessory used by Guitarists to dampen the strings and improve their sound by mitigating unwanted…

• String Vibration
• Overtones or
• Mechanical noise &

Keeping your instrument as quiet as possible.

Because this is not a standard accessory, many players may question this process.

By focusing on what these Guitar string dampeners are and how you can use them to improve your overall sound and playing, you will see whether or not they are right for you.

Read on…

What Does A Guitar String Dampener Do?

String dampeners significantly remove some unwanted noise from the Guitar itself and your playing.

Even though a Guitarist can mute some string noise with techniques like Palm Muting, unwanted noise will still occur while playing and happens to almost all players.

Also, the louder the volume, the worse this problem is.

Your music will also determine whether the noise is causing you trouble.

So to limit open string overtones, amp feedback at louder volumes, or get your recording done without unwanted noise, using string dampeners is a viable option.

Who Are Dampeners For?

Simply every player!

Now for some Guitarists, that is not such a big deal, but unless you are recording, it is, so that is where these string dampeners excel; recording picks up every unwanted feedback, open string notes or vibration and amplifies it.

Add string Dampeners to your Guitar.

Think of this as a way to correct some guitar design flaws; you should consider using one occasionally if excess noise is problematic.

Your aim as a player is the ongoing journey to achieve the highest standard of excellence with your technique and the sound quality of your instrument and equipment.

Different Terms

String Dampeners go by other names as well.

For the headstock, they can be referred to as ‘FretWedge,” they have dampeners for the strings at the bridge level called “Bridge Side Dampeners.”

Also, a more commonplace accessory is a movable dampener that goes by “FretWraps.”

Fretwraps wrap around the neck like a cuff or a collar with velcro, typically at the nut, and are easily moved or removed on the fly by sliding the accessory up and down the neck or onto the headstock. (See image)

Fret wraps also go by string muters, and terms are interchangeable. For convenience, we will call them all string dampeners because we are looking at all ways to mitigate the majority of unwanted noise on the entirety of the instrument.

What is Mechanical/ Overtone Noise

Every Guitar Has Some Noise

Based on the Guitar’s design and construction, you will deal with mechanical or overtone noise.

Electric Guitars are instruments that are designed to be not only touch but sound-sensitive.

• Strings vibrate nonintentionally
• Pickups are sensitive to sound and touch
• Mechanical /Resonance or Overtone noise is everywhere on your electric Guitar.

This noise on a Guitar can produce unwanted effects but can be mitigated with little effort.

Where To Find Unwanted Noise & Add Dampeners 

There are 3 places where you will find a good portion of unwanted noise…

• The Headstock (String resonance/Overtone noise)
• The Bridge (String resonance/Overtone noise) &
• The Tremolo Springs (Mechanical noise)

Headstock

Behind The Nut

This is not a place where you can control vibration.

See those string lengths behind the nut? (See image below) they will vibrate or resonate with your playing and can not be muted with technique.

The harder you play or, the louder you have your amp, the more these string lengths will impact your tone and create unwanted noise.

Solution

Placing a string dampener on those strings (using foam or cloth behind & under the nut) will eliminate any possible vibrations and clean up your tone during recording or live performances.

Gruv Gear has FretWedges here if you want to purchase an accessory. (See images)

Tip

If there is not enough space on the headstock to place a Fretwedge in the distance between the nut and under the strings, you can use a DIY velcro dampener or get a Fretwrap and place it over the strings.

Also…

If you have string trees near the tuning pegs to go the extra mile, apply some dampening there. (See the process in the video)

Bridge

Similarly, the Guitar string length behind the Bridge must be as short as possible to dampen resonance.

Like the headstock, the Bridge can also be a source of unwanted vibration or overtone noise; the more distance you have from your Bridge to your Tailpiece  (Ie a floating tailpiece,) the more noticeable the sound will be.

Solution

You can use DIY Dampeners like velcro or foam, but you can also purchase Bridge-Side Dampeners by Gruv Gear  (See image)

Tremolo Back Springs

You will find mechanical noise on the back of the Guitar.

Unintended noises are usually caused by tremolo springs and emancipate through the pickups.

Solution

Inserting velcro or foam into the spring area is needed to control a good portion of the noise associated with the springs. (See image below)

Tip

You can also purchase Polymer-Covered Springs designed to silence any noise from spring tension, giving the Guitar a dry, crisp tighter sound.

When To Use String Dampeners

Playing live

When you do not want your Guitar to generate unwanted feedback or noise, dampeners allow you to focus more on your playing than the equipment environment.

Recording

In the studio, String dampeners can significantly reduce the amount of mechanical or overtone noise, keeping the strings quiet and keeping your focus on recording the best take possible.

Recording software picks up every sound; a tiny amount of string noise can ruin an otherwise perfect take.

Dampeners can help you get your Guitar part correctly in one take and save recording time, energy, frustration and money.

Why Use a String Dampener

A string dampener is a tool like a capo, tuner or pick; noise is always in the background whether you notice it. Applying dampeners will ensure that your recordings and live tone sound clean.

Video

Final Thoughts

The critical point is that string dampeners are tools you can use or not use.

I was on the fence about this tool until I purchased them; then, you could see the hype.

They work.

On The Fence?

Take the information from this article and decide on Guitar string dampeners and if you should use them.

These are great accessories to help with your journey to mastery of your instrument, but they will not make you a better player, which still takes effort and time.

As explained earlier, even if you use perfect muting techniques, your strings will still vibrate in ways you don’t want them to, and I think of it as fixing a flaw in how Guitars are designed.

Did You Like This Article?

Check out my review of the Acoustik Attak Guitar Picks

Also…

Leave your comments below if you want me to review a favourite Guitar or accessory.

As always, stay the course and keep playing.

Feature images courtesy of Amazon.com