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The banjo reviews database is here to help educate people before they purchase an instrument. Of course, this is not meant to be a substitute for playing the instrument yourself!
7170 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Purchased directly from mikesbanjomute.com
I purchased Mike's banjo mute last week because of all the great reviews posted and it truly is an awesome and well-made product. I haven't been playing banjo very long and have only learned a few songs. Because of an accident in the past my hearing is extremely sensitive (I have noise-induced hearing loss) and every time I attempted to pratice with fingerpicks it was way too loud for my ears so I resorted to playing without them. When I found out about this product I ordered it right away and now it has made it possible for me to play with picks. It really is a nicely made and very effective product and I would recommend to anyone who wants to learn banjo much more quietly.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Direct from site
tl;dr: I highly recommend Mike's Banjo Mute. Easy to install. Great muting ability without compromising sound quality.
Like a lot of folks I like to mute my Banjos so as not to disturb my family. I've tried a lot of different mutes and methods, some good, some bad. Several folks on the forums were recommending Mike's Banjo Mute, so I thought I'd give it a try. I picked up one for 5-string and one for 4-string. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. They dampened the sound without hurting tonal quality. They also don't have the annoying "buzz" like some of the other mutes I've tried.
They were also very easy to put on with clear instructions on the site. Honestly, they're so simple you could figure it out from just looking at a picture, and I appreciate the simplicity. I only had one issue and it isn't about the mute design. I have an older (1930's) tenor and had to swap out the bridge with a modern one I had lying around. Just a heads up that if you have an older bridge with only two posts (one on each end) you may have fit issues. If you're comfortable changing bridges it's a trivial fix.
The only downside I've experienced so far is that I tend to rest my palm below the bridge when I use a plectrum on my tenors. The screw heads do stick up above the bridge far enough to be in the way. I've been adjusting to it, and I suppose it's probably a bad habit to rest my palm that way to begin with.
So, why 9 stars and not 10? My all time favorite mute is still the Richelieu Master Mute. I picked up a Richelieu tenor a few years back that came with one. While I love the design and sound, they aren't made anymore and are hard to find. They also like to stay on one 'jo and aren't designed to take on and off. (They slide over the bridge when you want to mute, then slide off out of the way)
Mike's is my new go to for mutes that can both stay on a single 'jo, and easily switch to another.
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: www.BanjoBolster.com
I would seriously not have believed that this thing could improve the sound of my already awesome banjos, but it does! I was sent two Banjo Bolsters to review; one for my “main” banjo and one for my cello banjo, and I am loving them. In the past week, I’ve used them in a rockin’ jam, a couple of solo videos, and a solo performance. They performed beautifully in all of those settings. I’ve always stuffed my banjos, using all sorts of things from foam to rolled socks to stick-on gel. This beats them all. The Banjo Bolster somehow manages to let every note ring individually instead of stepping on the heels of the note that came before. My banjo sound seems subtly more concentrated, like a stock left on a low simmer for a few hours. (I’m a chef, so please forgive the cooking analogy.) Glad to have them in my banjos, where I’m guessing they’ll be living for many years! ---Hilarie Burhans
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: banjobolster.com
Like every other banjo picker I have used many a textile to damp the frequencies bouncing around inside my banjo, and none of them has worked.
So I ordered my Bolster for my my Reiter Whyte Laydie,
The sound of the Whyte Laydie with the Bolster not touching the head took away the overtones I did not like, and left all the good stuff.
I could describe other placements, but I am becoming long of wind. Bottom line, I like the sound of my Whyte Laydie a lot better with the Bolster tucked in place along the rim, but not touching the head.
As a side note, I decided to take the Bolster out of my open back banjo and place it in my Stelling resonator banjo whose tone ring is as big as the great outdoors. I had tried for years to damp all the high frequencies it puts out,without sacrificing the ring and the wonderful sustain. That Bolster- with total head contact- has done what no textile has done before.
If you are in doubt, get a Bolster and mess around with it. It beats towels, wash rags, and underwear as a damper, because it takes out the junk and leaves the twang.
The numbers, and my ears, say I'm glad I did.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: banjobolster.com
Who knew there would be a market for a better t-shirt, towel, foam, bandana, rag, etc. to stuff inside your banjo to damper the tubby overtones? I was a bit dubious even after I saw Tom Collins' and Hilary Burhan's reviews...but I was also curious. Was it really necessary? Then, on a road trip from FL to MA, I stopped off and jammed with some friends, one of whom had a Banjo Bolster in her Ome banjo and I was impressed. I ordered one for myself. Dang! The Banjo Bolster works as advertised and works very well. Quite impressive! I'm a believer! Also, I had a bunch of questions after placing my order and Ric went out of his way to call me with answers. The level of customer support is indicative of the thoughtful care that has gone into developing the Banjo Bolster. Thanks Ric & Deb! Big smiles to you both.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Banjobolster.com
I play a Recording King, open back. As my playing improved, I became disappointed by a lack of clarity, an undesirable metallic, buzzy tone and overtones. The Banjo Bolster made immediate improvement. There is more clarity, and less clutter in the sound. The Banjo Bolster has really improved the sound I can produce, and my satisfaction with my banjo.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: banjobolster.com
I have tried everything to reduce the overtones in my banjos. Stuffed animals, rags, foam padding, even cut up one of those knee cushions I had from Home Depot and stuffed in the banjo pot. I always knew something was in it by weight and feel. I tried a Banjo Bolster in one of my Enoch Tradesman and without pushing the banjo head up and putting pressure on the dowel rod, I'm able to quell the overtones without losing volume and still getting a nice "cluck" out of the banjo. I've had them in both my banjos for a month plus and have pretty much forgotten about them. They also add no weight to the banjos. I love them!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: www.BanjoBolster.com
I was sent two Banjo Bolsters to review; one for my “main” banjo and one for my cello banjo, and I am loving them. In the past week, I’ve used them in a rockin’ jam as well as in a couple of solo videos, and they performed beautifully in both settings. I’ve always stuffed my banjos, using all sorts of things from foam to rolled socks to stick-on gel. This beats them all. The Banjo Bolster somehow manages to let every note ring individually instead of stepping on the heels of the note that came before. My banjo sound seems subtly more concentrated, like a stock left on a low simmer for a few hours. (I’m a chef, so please forgive the cooking analogy.) Glad to have them in my banjos, where I’m guessing they’ll be living for many years!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: banjobolster.com
I received a Banjo Bolster a short while ago from Ric and Deb Hollander, the folks who first developed it for Ric’s banjo, and now make and sell them through their new website, banjobolster.com, and though totally skeptical about it at first, after having tried it for a while, I'm totally sold on ot. It's a brilliant addition to the banjo players' toolkit, that can help just about any banjo sound its absolute best.
I tend to be a sucker for every new banjo device I hear about, most of which don’t turn out to be nearly as good or useful as I thought they would be, and I find myself unable to use them and simply abandon them. But my experience with trying out the Banjo Bolster was pretty much the exact opposite of that scenario.
When I first heard about the Banjo Bolster, I have to admit that I was a complete skeptic. I couldn’t really see much point to it. Having been a banjo player for over a half century now, I was secure in the idea that the various different-sized blocks of foam rubber that I’d been using practically since I started playing were perfect for me - and were all I would ever want to use. After all, I had done plenty of my own experimenting with them when I was younger to perfect them to my taste. There was a learning curve back then, of course, but eventually I learned exactly how, when, and where to use them to get my banjos to sound just the way I wanted them to.
Thus, being an old guy who thinks he knows everything by now, I was almost certain that if I tried a Banjo Bolster, I was quite unlikely to be impressed. But at least I was open-minded enough to give it a chance to see if I might possibly be wrong, though I was not expecting to be surprised. Yet, surprised I was, indeed!
When it came time to test-drive one, I realized that I had to specify one banjo to use it with and provide certain measurements to have it custom fitted. So, I chose my 1927 Whyte Laydie (conversion from a tenor by the late Mike Ramsay) because it seemed to have a problem with pronounced unwanted overtones from the time I got it, and it had taken considerable experimentation on my part at that time to fashion and position just the right size and shape of foam block to tame them and get a sound I really like. Also, I have several other 11” pot banjos with nearly identical dimensions, so I figured it would fit those as well.
I do have other banjos that have 10”, 12” and 13” pots, but only one of each size, so I figured those would just “lay by the wayside. during this checking it out process. But, as chance would have it, I was playing my 13” Goat-skinned headed Romero at the very moment the Banjo Bolster arrived in my mailbox. This particular banjo seemed to have developed some unwanted overtones during a long stretch of being not played at all during the pandemic. and it had taken considerable experimentation by me to figure out how to diminish those overtones with a small block of strategically placed foam.
So, having the Banjo Bolster in my hands for the first time, and being curious, I extracted that block of foam from the Romero, and plunked the Banjo Bolster into it, though expecting that it probably wouldn’t work, not being the right size for a proper fit. But, in fact it did work - really quite well!
Then I tried the Banjo Bolster out in various positions inside that huge head and found that each different place I put it seemed to tame the overtones, while producing banjo sound with different tonalities, depending on where I positioned it. I was starting already to be impressed by just how easy the device was to use, and what variety of tonal characteristics it was opening up for me, that were quickly, almost effortlessly, achievable.
After a while, when I finally got out the Whyte Laydie to try the device inside its pot, the experience repeated itself exactly - except, this time, being custom fitted for the size of pot, it was even easier to position, and would stay more securely and perfectly in whatever places I put it.
This time I also experimented with positioning that varied between having the Banjo Bolster not touching the head at all, to applying very light pressure on the head, and finally, to making full contact with the head. In every case, it tamed the unwanted overtones, and varied from no muting of volume, through slight muting, to a similar level of full muting that I would get with a block of foam firmly wedged between the head and the dowel stick running the full length of the head.
Each of these sounds has its own application and use, and I was much impressed at the absolute simplicity there was in changing between them - a big plus when performing for an audience!
But the real clincher for me was that over the next several days, I was working intensively on writing and arranging a song, spending hours every day trying out different ideas, playing the banjo a lot. At a certain point I realized that I had forgotten completely for days that the Banjo Bolster was in there all that time without me realizing it.
It just sounded really good. There were no extraneous unwanted sounds to distract me from what I was doing, or even make me think about the sound. Yet, I had been definitely listening closely all that time because I was critically examining and constantly reworking and refining what I was playing.
That realization that banjo with the banjo Bolster inside it just sounded so really good and natural, while being such an intuitively easy device to use, has me sold.
I think this is one of the best innovations in banjo related technology to come along in a long time. Like the scoop at the high end of the neck that makes it easier to play directly over the neck and take advantage of the unique tonal qualities there, or Nylgut strings that allow you to get the tone and warmth of the banjo’s original gut strings without the hassles of actual gut, the Banjo Bolster makes it easier to get your banjo to sound its best, with the added versatility of easy re-positioning to find just the right sound for you.
I'll soon be posting a couple of videos about the Banjo Bolster, so you can see it in action. (ps both Tom Collins and Hilarie Burhans have posted excellent videos already - check 'em out!)
Cheers to all!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: banjobolster.com
I have a couple of banjo bolsters, and I've tried them on different banjos. The thing does exactly what it claims - it cuts overtones without affecting volume or tone. I'm primarily a clawhammer player, and I think this is one of the best investments in tone a clawhammer player can make. It's very inexpensive and IMO more effective than the various things I've stuffed into banjos over the years. Looks better, too. I also have the bluegrass model as well, installed in my Stelling. Again, the bolster does reduce overtones with no loss of volume or tone. In summary, I would characterize the banjo bolster as a very worthwhile purchase for any banjo player. Effective, inexpensive, and cool.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: banjobolster.com
I've tried a lot of different things in my banjo to control overtones and get the sound i'm after: Different types of material rolled or folded, moved in various locations, foam of different densities, stuffed dog toys, eviscerated dog toys, plastic bags, and other things touted to enhance tone. Some of them have helped, but all had some muting effect, which is not what i was after, and so i kept experimenting. I'm not looking anymore :)
The Banjo Bolster performs as described: The overtones are controlled giving really nice clear note separation and the volume is not at all muted. It's super easy to put in, it stays put and your dog doesn't think you've stolen their toy.
Another cool thing is that if you vary very slightly how you place it, you can change the tone you get.
I'm happy. My dogs are happy.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: https://banjobolster.com/
The Banjo Bolster is the fastest, most efficient and user-friendly approach I've ever come across to revive and beautify the sound of banjos; to fine-tune and enhance their expressive qualities. On several banjos with which I’ve tried it, the Banjo Bolster acts as a unique kind of acoustic equalizer and compressor - balancing the entire tonal range and refining the articulation of each instrument.
I love the way I can use the Banjo Bolster to control my banjos’ natural reverb, which on some of my instruments, overwhelms the fundamental tone, making it sound muddy and out of tune. The Banjo Bolster lets me easily control the reverberations, while maintaining the instrument's rich and resonant qualities. The improvement in tone is quite dramatic!
Some of my banjos have inconsistencies in volume from string to string. I've tried all kinds of stuffing, but it didn't help. The Banjo Bolster completely balances my string-to-string volume, much like a compressor used in audio recording, allowing me to dial-in the exact sound I want.
You ought to hear how this kitten can make your banjo purr, while preserving its full volume and tonal range. For such a reasonable price, Ric and Deb Hollander’s Banjo Bolster is a no-brainer!
I love where the Banjo Bolster is taking my music. It's become easier for me to get lost in my music, inspiring my playing to take on deeper levels of tonal nuance.
Ric Hollander's claim is really quite extraordinary: "The Banjo Bolster... enhances a banjo’s tone by transparently removing undesirable overtones, while preserving the full power and frequency response of the banjo." What has been surprisingly impressive to me is that Ric's claim is actually true; it's not an exaggeration. The Banjo Bolster is revolutionary in the ways it significantly enhances the tone of all my banjos. For sixty years I had been on what seemed like an endless search to beautify the sound of my banjos. The Banjo Bolster finally answered my search - taking me home to the sounds I had heard in my head, but could never quite pull out of my banjos.
Thanks, Ric and Deb. It's been worth the wait!
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: from the source
First: this is my comparison of three sets of picks. not comparing them to anything else on the market present or past. 1: Roys own named after the late Roy Lewis. my favorite that are no longer in production. the softest metel of the three. bend easy and have the brightest sound. 2: Dotson 8s, very close to the Roys but a bit stiffer. very well made and polished.3: Hoffmeyer, stiffest of the three with a little darker tone. very well polished and with the custom band are a bit wider. the most comfortable for long wear times. Are they worth the cost? Only to those who don't mind spending the money. They will not make you a better player but may make you play longer. I will not recommend one over the other because everyone may have a different experience. I will say that they are all very good and do what I want. I can't speak on the gauge and metel breakdown of each. with so many choices now its a buyers market.
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: Direct purchase
This is my fourth Mike's Mute. I needed another radius style. Easy install, the wife is happy regarding "the quite" noise. Just a beautiful design that works.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Online
Bought this tuner to replace my snark. The D'Addario is small, easy to use and rechargeable via USB (cable supplied). Most importantly this tuner is more accurate and reliable than previous tuners I've used. Works fine in a session environment which is what I need.
The rotating dial let's me position it so it's easy to read. Display is bright and clear. Recharges quickly and a full charge lasts well. I haven't run out of charge while using it.
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: Mike's Banjo Mute (online)
This mute is very quiet and secure, allowing for as much or as little pressure and tension on your bridge as makes sense. The sound resulting from the muted banjo is actually pleasing to the ear in its own way rather than simply being a stifled version of a banjo in full flight. Well worth the little extra cost.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: www.mikesbanjomute.com
Mike's Banjo Mute was delivered yesterday. It has exceeded my expectations. I have a 1979 Stelling Whitestar, made of Curly Maple. It's loud. With this mute, the volume is now just as quiet, if not quieter than when I softly finger pick the guitar. It's also about the same volume as if you were wearing high end ear protection. You know how a Stelling has that "bell sound?" well this mute really accents that ring. The mute has exposed a beautiful, mellow tone that I hadn't heard before. As I demonstrated for my wife, the true test, she actually closed her eyes while I play as if she was relaxing. Right!?! I couldn't believe it either. Without the mute...well, you know how that goes. Anyway, I love it and highly recommend it. Happy picking.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Banjo Ben clark
Now the neotech is the most comfortable strap you can get. This huber is just full of character and nostalgia. connects with no metal or plastic. they sell out quick. Being a bit older and having more metal in my shoulders than the banjo it can be quit heavy. quick fix was to get a seat belt cover and slip on it for some padding. $5 at walmart. the strap is high quality and a little narrow. Wish it was at least 2inches wide. Its old school and just looks great. since I cant stand for long periods of time it dosn't really bother me. I'm 5'9 and 175 ponds so the shorter one fits fine with plenty of room for adjustment. When I was over 300 lbs and a 50 inch waist would have probably needed the long one.if you like old school look this is the one for you. I got the brown and it looks great with deep basket weave embossing. will last longer than me.The back is slightly textured for some extra grip. can be used over one shoulder like the young Earl did or over both.
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: elderly
Have used many bridges for many years. always like snuffy smith both compensated and not. even the pegged one.still think they are some of the best. Bought a moon bridge and things changed. just awesome. the do take a little more to get just right. I found that one I get that third string in tune and intonation just right the others just seem to fall in place. cant use a mute because of the curvature but that's ok. they sound great and are so stable. if you are happy with what you have that's great. If you need a new bridge and have a compensation issue like many of us then this is a great option. They do set back further to the bridge but its all in the design. elderly music is where I got mine and they are made in Ohio. cant give it a 10 cause nothing is perfect but its as close as ive found so far.
Overall Rating: 9
Where Purchased: Mike's Banjo Mute website
I purchased Mike’s mute for my 5 string flat finger board banjos. I was looking for something that was easy to use and effective. I read many reviews for banjo mutes and found Mike’s Mute reviews generally positive. I gave it a try. At first the strings buzzed a bit. After reading the instructions and reversing the placement of the mute, it works like a charm. Well-built; easy to use; very effective.
I have used other mutes that look like a hair pin. They are hard to install and seem to move the bridge a bit. Mike’s mute goes on smoothly with no disturbance of the bridge.
I just purchased my second Mike’s mute. This time the radius version for my Nechville 5-string banjo. These mutes will last me for the rest of my life. (hope my life lasts a long while)
b
Overall Rating: 5
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