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Gold Tone Banjo Mute Evaluation Question - Question Has Been Resolved.

Jan 14, 2025 - 5:11:24 AM
Players Union Member

jcland

USA

393 posts since 3/7/2006

I need to purchase a banjo mute and I am looking to get one of the Gold Tone mutes.

They make 2 models, the Ultimate mute and the Iucci mute.

Amazon Links:

Gold Tone Iucci Banjo Mute
amazon.com/Gold-Tone-Iucci-Ban...st_sto_dp

Gold Tone Ultimate Banjo Mute
amazon.com/Gold-Tone-Ultimate-...st_sto_dp

Any information how they perform and you would rate them?

Anything better out there?

Thanks

Edited by - jcland on 01/14/2025 05:43:44

Jan 14, 2025 - 5:27:21 AM
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KCJones

USA

3424 posts since 8/30/2012

They both do the same thing. Buy whichever one is cheaper. I've got an ultimate mute. It works just fine.

You can also just clip a clothes hanger onto the bridge, it does the same thing and it's free.

The whole idea of these mutes is to add weight to the bridge to absorb the energy from the strings rather than transferring it to the head. Any method of adding weight works.

Edited by - KCJones on 01/14/2025 05:27:42

Jan 14, 2025 - 5:42:48 AM
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Players Union Member

jcland

USA

393 posts since 3/7/2006

Thanks KCJones. Looks like it is a mute question now as the Iucci is not even available on Amazon at this time so I went ahead and just ordered the Ultimate Mute. Should be here in Thursday.

My mute now is the original mute designed decades ago by Bill Knopf. It works but I have to put it on top of the bridge and secure it with bass tighteners.

Time to upgrade.

Jan 14, 2025 - 8:55:05 AM
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Owen

Canada

16497 posts since 6/5/2011

I have a knock-off of the "GT ultimate" that works okay [I added heat shrink tubing when the glue holding the fuzzy strips gave up the ghost] ... but I have two banjos. 

... speaking of "whichever is cheaper," if you're so inclined [and have tools and a bit of a stash] they can be made from insulated wire and/or bar stock and heat shrink tubing. [Fwiw, the two shorter red ones in the pic are insulated wire that didn't really pan out; t'other two are from thinnish bar stock and heat shrink tubing.]

The longer red one in the pic is the one I mostly use .... it works better than the "Ultimate" knock-off, so I presume it's heavier [another thing I'm not inclined to check out].

Glad you've got the upper hand. 


 

Edited by - Owen on 01/14/2025 09:02:04

Jan 15, 2025 - 8:04:03 AM
Players Union Member

tonygo

USA

195 posts since 12/29/2022

quote:
Originally posted by jcland

I need to purchase a banjo mute and I am looking to get one of the Gold Tone mutes.

They make 2 models, the Ultimate mute and the Iucci mute.

Amazon Links:

Gold Tone Iucci Banjo Mute
amazon.com/Gold-Tone-Iucci-Ban...st_sto_dp

Gold Tone Ultimate Banjo Mute
amazon.com/Gold-Tone-Ultimate-...st_sto_dp

Any information how they perform and you would rate them?

Anything better out there?

Thanks


I mute my banjos and roll up small bubble wrap like a burrito and put it inside the rim.  On my BG banjo I also line the resonator floor with a carefully cut piece of bubble wrap. My gal has not moved out...yet.  I like Mikes Banjo mute the best and glued a piece of rubber on the top clamp and that ended the occasional string buzz I was getting. I mostly play on Nylon Strings so there is that.

Jan 15, 2025 - 8:24:13 AM

1395 posts since 10/23/2003

I own both of those mutes.  I think they are among the best mutes available.   I have tried others, but these seem to retain a nice tone for a good banjo., 
I actually enjoy using them when there is no particular need to mute because they produce a musical tone, not just a damped down tone. 
 I was involved in a recording project that never saw the light of day, but actually choose to use the  lucci mute for backup accompaniment of a singer.   These mutes retain their musicality much better than others.
 I would advise you to buy both especially if you own several banjos.    

Edited by - writerrad on 01/15/2025 08:25:47

Jan 15, 2025 - 8:34:20 AM

1395 posts since 10/23/2003

quote:Yes,  I have done well with old fashioned clothes pins both the ones with the slot and the ones with a spring that tightens one time I ended up having to stay in a small town in Germany for 5 months due to the needs of my dear Mother in Law and lost my mute. 
I do advise banjoists to purchase both the Gold Tone mutes mentioned, as I find them very nice, and properly configured they give the banjo a nice tone that I like them to have that is a joy in itself.
Let me also say, I have no experience using a mute on a real RB, but I do use them on my two Tubaphone Banjos, one a Vega from 1923, and another banjo a local luthier built for a friend of mine with the challenge of making the loudest open back banjo with time and money no object.
The gold tone mutes do preserve a nice musical tone.  I will sometimes put them on the banjo for no other reason than it sounds nice with them on!
Thanks
Originally posted by KCJones

They both do the same thing. Buy whichever one is cheaper. I've got an ultimate mute. It works just fine.

You can also just clip a clothes hanger onto the bridge, it does the same thing and it's free.

The whole idea of these mutes is to add weight to the bridge to absorb the energy from the strings rather than transferring it to the head. Any method of adding weight works.


Jan 15, 2025 - 11:40:56 AM

JackGrave

Czech Republic

35 posts since 11/22/2022

I own two Iucci mutes, and I can say: I'd like them a lot. I am using it on my tenor banjos, suprisingly it have better sound (when eqiuped) on CGDA tuned one, it slightly changes sound to more like harp like sound. Muting effect is about 20 dB (which is really grand).
Jack

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