Get RUBBER BRIDGE tone for $3! - Works with ANY Guitar

Рет қаралды 20,793

Күн бұрын

#hitsongs #rubberbridgeguitar #cheapguitar
Many of today's biggest hit songs and artists use rubber bridge guitars. Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Steve Lacy, Phoebe Bridgers, Perfume Genius and countless others. How can YOU get that sound without buying a new guitar or figuring out how to make a rubber bridge?
I'll show you exactly how - 3 different techniques - for as little as $3 and without damaging or altering your guitar in any way.
Learn how easily YOU can get the magically DEAD sound of rubber, and how it can bring new LIFE to your own music.
▶ SPOTIFY PLAYLIST ◀
Rubber Bridges
- over 4 hours of rubber bridge nirvana -
open.spotify.com/playlist/0TG...
▶ RUBBER BRIDGE EMULATIONS ◀
Rubber Tube Mute
Latex Tubing, Latex Tube Natural 3/8in OD (10’ length)
amzn.to/3JVS3t4
Rubber Weatherseal Mute
VITAM AMO Weather Stripping Seal Strip for Doors/Windows 18 Feet, Self-Adhesive Backing
amzn.to/3n1DRWh
Foam Sponge Mute
QEP 70005-3VPD XL Grouting Super Sponge, 3 Pack , Yellow
amzn.to/42uFQCT
▶ PORTABLE ACOUSTIC GUITAR PICKUPS ◀
Seymour Duncan 1150030 Woody Series SC SA-3SC - Single Coil Acoustic Guitar Pickup
amzn.to/40nesol
AMUMU SP30 Woody Magnetic Soundhole Pickup for Steel String Acoustic Guitars Single Coil
amzn.to/40qSlgZ
Acoustic Guitar Pickup 12 Sound Hole Magnetic Pickup Transducer for Acoustic Guitar Accessories
amzn.to/3LDn4Di
⏰ Chapter Timestamps
00:00 The HIT sound of rubber bridges
00:50 How to get the rubber bridge sound
01:31 Guitar Discoveries theme
01:48 Ways to get a rubber bridge sound
02:31 #1 Latex Rubber Tube
04:23 Adding a pickup and effects
06:16 Cosmic Spin rubber bridge example
08:16 #2 Rubber Weatherseal
09:50 #3 Grouting Sponge
11:10 Which do you like? GuitarDiscoveries.com
Robert Cassard shares guitars, gear and tips to make you a better musician.
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/ robertcassard
▶FOLLOW GUITAR & RECORDING DISCOVERIES ◀
Facebook: / guitardiscoveries
▶MY WEBSITES◀
Guitar Discoveries: www.guitardiscoveries.com/
Cosmic Spin (Band): cosmic-spin.com/
▶BUY THROUGH MY LINKS PLEASE◀
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Every little bit helps me keep the channel going.
Hi, my name is Robert Cassard. Thank you for watching, liking and subscribing.
I am a lifelong guitar player, singer-songwriter, producer, and music fanatic. I create Guitar and Recording Discoveries videos to share the pure joy of music - shortcuts to help you play guitar, sing, record and sound great doing it. I learn the hard way so you don’t have to!
Learn more about me, my music and my videos:
www.guitardiscoveries.com/
Check out my band Cosmic Spin’s website:
cosmic-spin.com/

Пікірлер: 104

@JonNewquist Жыл бұрын

This is great, and I have all of those items in the garage already. It reminds me of the mute in my old Ovation bass. So I tried it on my Yamaha Transacoustic parlor guitar with the long hall reverb maxed out. It's very cool sounding. Thanks! Looking forward to next week.

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear you had the items to try, Jon! I didn't know Ovation had mutes on their basses. Man, I'd love to hear your Transacoustic in "rubber mode"!

@johnfrewin7717 Жыл бұрын

Very interesting, I’m often on the lookout for different tones , and although I don’t think it’s going to be a regular choice, I like the way It could quickly and reversibly done to pretty much any of my guitars, also loving the way that simple slap back delay sounds... looking forward to having a play/experiment myself 👍🎸🇬🇧

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

Glad you’re intrigued, John. I think relatively few people will commit to a rubber bridge conversion, having one or more of these non-invasive items in the guitar case is almost like having another effects pedal…

@domenicosorrentino1972 11 ай бұрын

I love the combination too, remind me when plaiying without a pick (plectrum) with hands or thumb strumming. I'll try rubber on the bridge

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

Glad you’re enjoying it, domenico!

@roncerosky6258 Жыл бұрын

Cool video. I love the sound but do you think this is more of a recording tool than say a live one? I get a very similar sound playing my nylon string acoustic with light palm muting.

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

Good question, Ron. A lot of the hot artists use their rubber bridges (for certain songs) when playing live. The benefit is NOT having to palm mute, which gives more freedom and flexibility to your right hand. Here's a favorite example: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gJN6frKitJOoiWQ.html

@hannosolo 11 ай бұрын

I like it. It’s like a guitar version of adding pizzicato to arco.

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

Exactly! I played orchestral double bass for many years, and that's the perfect description.

@campworkaround Жыл бұрын

This is awesome man, thanks. Side benefit: when the box showed up from Amazon, it sure did look like a murder kit

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

LOL. What all was in your box?!

@ferenclucas2842 Жыл бұрын

The weatherstripping sounds the best

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

I love the subtle differences. Even more obvious when you heat 'em back-to-back, like in this video at 8:49: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/e7Oee9yXttyWZqM.html

@amberwoodstudio 11 ай бұрын

They all sounded very useable to me. Great idea

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

Thanks, Amber. I agree...each has it's own magic

@pg123ab Жыл бұрын

I use three 5/8 rubber grommets. Slide them between two strings and They work very good. You can use those also behind the bridge on arch tops to eliminate unwanted harmonics. You can also chose which sets of strings you want to mute, E and A, D and G or B and E, so mute the bass strings but leave the highs open etc……

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

This sounds like a great idea. I’m having a challenge imagining how you position the grommets…

@christopher-miles 11 ай бұрын

@@RobertCassard tim lerch has a video about it somewhere actually

@RicheyRyan 8 ай бұрын

@@christopher-miles I found the video here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/lbyPjcJk05vHhXk.html Thanks for the pointer!

@MarcFonda 4 ай бұрын

I'm using a strip of a scotch brute like material cut to size. It allows for a touch more high end.

@RobertCassard 4 ай бұрын

Do you mean Scotch-Brite scour pads? If so, that's a cool idea.

@Samnewtonmusic 5 ай бұрын

The weather seal sounds great!!

@RobertCassard 5 ай бұрын

Yeah, a nice sort of high-frequency pop, right? Thanks for watching and sharing your opinion, Sam!

@JeremyAlbright 11 ай бұрын

Thank you! This confirmed some suspicions I've had recently re: other options. I'm coming from the standpoint of a bass player, so other materials are nothing new. There's even the legend of Tony Levin having used a diaper on Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up."

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

Yes, Jeremy. I think the lesson is to try things until you get the tone you want. Diapers included!

@Philc231 Жыл бұрын

I have a inexpensive orangewood guitar with a pickup, I’m doing this today .

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

Probably perfect for “rubberizing.” Come back and tell me how it goes!

@AJHillis Жыл бұрын

Sponge is my personal preference of these three options! Thanks for trying it out for us!

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

Are you testing “rubber” bridge techniques? Come back and tell me if the sponge works for you.

@AJHillis Жыл бұрын

@@RobertCassard I already had rubber weather stripping and tried that, got it to sound pretty good! Just posted about my version on r/telecaster using my red esquire with the bridge cover.

@voodoovideo Жыл бұрын

@@AJHillis Where can I find your post?

@RjBenjamin353 6 ай бұрын

Very nice 👍

@RobertCassard 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for the visit, qwert!

@deetee5156 11 ай бұрын

I tried this with a silicone straw cover, and it works perfectly. Thank you for sharing.

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

Cool idea. A silicone straw cover? Where did you get it?

@deetee5156 11 ай бұрын

@@RobertCassard I bought it at a kitchen store in Canada. But I’m sure Amazon sells them. It was in my steel straw. I believe a silicone full length straw would work. Amazon sells them.

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

@@deetee5156 thanks. I’ll do some scouting!

@CamMineo 6 ай бұрын

Thankyou legend 🙏

@RobertCassard 6 ай бұрын

Glad you liked this. FYI - I just recorded a cover of The Beatles "Julia," using this rubber tube mute technique on two vintage Gibson acoustics. How do you like this? kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pcliZN2YqNTSnIU.htmlsi=LJOsA5Kh2T0lfg19

@Philc231 Жыл бұрын

I’m going to try this with electric too .

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

I’ve done it and it works. My only surprise was how dark it makes an electric guitar’s tone. Brighter pickups and single-coils can help. Of course, there are other ways to compensate, too. I may do another video to demo that at some point…

@CatGPT_ Жыл бұрын

how to sound like ariel posen for $3. amazing

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

Yes! I love how you put that... 🎼😍

@rebeccaabraham8652 11 ай бұрын

As an engineer, I love these ideas! I'll probably never use them - the music I play doesn't tend towards those tones... but maybe a bit of fun in a jam session one day....

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

Glad they appeal to your engineering side, Rebecca. Do they appeal to your musical side? Cheers!

@rebeccaabraham8652 11 ай бұрын

@@RobertCassard Nah.... I like warm, ringing jazz tones... and slightly overdriven blues...... Most pop-type tones make me want to hide somewhere remote until the fad has been permanently consigned to history... never to return! Not that I'm cynical........ much......

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

@@rebeccaabraham8652 I get it…but give Ariel Posen a chance to woo you with his rubber bridge baritone: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hJlzpLd0zODRYZ8.html

@gregrobinson1304 Жыл бұрын

Thank you sir! I feel like all of my obsessive palm muting is vindicated : )

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

As a palm-muter and deep groover myself, I hear you, Greg!

@martianmurray Жыл бұрын

For the moment I’m using a microphone windscreen. The deadening effect is a little too much especially on the trebles but I hear what you’re getting at!

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

I’m trying to picture how you’re using the windscreen, martian… But no matter how, it’s a creative idea, and I’m glad it’s working well enough!

@martianmurray 11 ай бұрын

@@RobertCassard I just folded it in half and slid it under the strings up against the bridge. An sm58 sized windscreen.

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

@@martianmurray That explains it! A sponge windscreen. Not sure why, but I was picturing a pop filter, not a windscreen... My brain must've been turned off.

@martianmurray 11 ай бұрын

@@RobertCassard oh yeah it was a nylon string too so it had plenty of room, and it took the no-sustain to the extreme lol. Trebles were gone but the basses sounded cool. Gotta get a Waterslide for my jazzmaster now!

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

@@martianmurray jealous of your Jazzmaster. I love the sound of Madison Cunningham’s. I think she does standard tuning, down 2 whole steps. Low note is C.

@eddielee6490 11 ай бұрын

I vote for the grouting sponge !

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

That’s two for the sponge 🧽!

@chriseaton184 11 ай бұрын

Does this not throw the intonation out as it effectively shortens the scale length?

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

It doesn’t shorten the effective scale length because these techniques are only mutes. They mute the vibration of the strings from the original bridge. If you replace the bridge, you keep the scale length identical as well.

@olivergiles6731 Жыл бұрын

Since when do bass strings "Hang lower" than the treble strings? Measured from the bridge saddle they're all the same and follow the curve of the saddle . String Action on the other hand is usually LESS on the treble side .

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

Thanks for asking that question, Oliver. You're right that bass strings don't technically hang lower, they're just heavier gauge. On my Stella, the thinner end of the sponge fit better under the bass strings and the thicker end fit better under the treble strings. This placement also kept the string-to-string volume of the muted notes more balanced, and that's what's really matters. Thanks for watching BTW - please come back tell me if you try out any of these techniques and how they work for you.

@olivergiles6731 Жыл бұрын

@@RobertCassard 😊Hi,well... What i always wanted was one of those mechanical felt padded contraptions for an archtop bridge. Unfortunately all of the genuine old stuff i checked was more or less of a pain..... For the few occasions when i needed it i used a strip of piano felt that I squeezed between the strings and the (flattop)bridge right in front of the saddle. I think i still have it but haven't used it in years.....

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

Piano felt seems like a great idea. I also have some thick felt weatherstripping that's very similar. Guess I'll have to try that next... 😱

@LeslieDugger Жыл бұрын

How different is this really from palm muting?

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

Big difference in that it's ALWAYS muted and it's effortless. But the sound is similar...

@Frankinsteinguitar 11 ай бұрын

Neato.

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

And you don't need to "frankinstein" your guitar to get that sound!

@Philc231 Жыл бұрын

Kinda like danelectro’s wood bridge from the old days

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

I’ve never heard or played one of those. Do you know of any recorded example? My Stella was built with a wood bridge, as are many archtops. A wood bridge usually adds mellowness but not “deadness” like rubber.

@Philc231 Жыл бұрын

I don’t know specifically but I have no doubt there’s old silvertone and danelectro vids here .

@riomichellecorrales7096 11 ай бұрын

Those sound are like the ones made by a newbie. I know I sound like that when I was learning guitar. No need for rubber bridge for a newbie guitarist. HAHAHA.

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

Interesting that you hear the rubber bridge as a "newbie" sound. A lot of virtuoso guitarists use and LOVE them. People like Madison Cunningham, Aaron Dessner of The National, and the one and only Ariel Posen. Check this out: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hJlzpLd0zODRYZ8.html

@michaelhudson1524 Жыл бұрын

Weather seal followed very closely by sponge..

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

I love it, Michael. Please a share audio samples if you record any. And tell us what guitar make and model, too!

@olgreybear7997 11 ай бұрын

Isn’t this just permanent, even if it is none invasive, strong palm muting? I’m not hearing much difference between this and a heavy palm mute across the whole saddle? Then again, it is very early and I’m sure I need to get my hearing tested 😂

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

The sound is very similar to heavy palm muting, but it's totally consistent without any effort, freeing your right hand to do whatever it wants. There's a big difference in that respect because it's automatic. To use a recording analogy, a rubber bridge is like a compressor that evens out all the peaks, while palm muting is akin to riding a fader manually.

@tezzo55 Жыл бұрын

We used to call that muting and we did it with our hands. The great thing with doing it with your hands is that you can lift them off at any moment so the guitar sounds good again. I once had a Fender Jag that had a mechanical version of this that you could flip on and off at will. I never used it. Sounded gash!

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

Thanks, tezzo55. As an old-schooler myself, I’ve done A LOT of palm-muting in my day. LOL You must’ve missed my earlier rubber bridge video where I talk about the mutes like you had on your Jag: What's the BIG DEAL about RUBBER BRIDGE guitars?! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/a9yHfNOo0b6roHU.html

@fromchomleystreet 4 ай бұрын

I can’t quite believe people are buying a purpose-built guitar to sound exactly like the guitar they already own, just with a bit of muting. Its a scam.

@RobertCassard 4 ай бұрын

I hear you, and my experiments proved to me that various mutes can ALMOST imitate the sound of a rubber bridge. But after making one myself, I can confirm it is different: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/e7Oee9yXttyWZqM.html

@fromchomleystreet 4 ай бұрын

@@RobertCassard I guess if you are an Indi pop star and have oodles of money to throw around, it might make sense to have a specific guitar that does nothing else but make this one particular sound, without you having to mess around with it, and so it’s always sitting there ready to go whenever you want that sound. That’s just not a financial situation to which I can relate.

@RobertCassard 4 ай бұрын

@@fromchomleystreet it doesn’t take “oodles of money” to have a really nice rubber bridge guitar. You can buy a parlor guitar, either a vintage Stella or a brand new Gretsch Jim Dandy, for $200 or less. As I showed in my video, you can then fabricate a rubber bridge for about $10. It’s not an extravagance by the standards and costs of most acoustic guitars.

@fromchomleystreet 4 ай бұрын

@@RobertCassard You’ve misunderstood me. I’m not talking about what you did, I’m talking about the people ordering a commercially produced “Rubber Bridge Guitar”, as if it was essentially a different instrument to the one they already own, when they could just head down to the hardware store, as you have done.

@RobertCassard 4 ай бұрын

@@fromchomleystreet I see what you're saying now!

@robertcrist3822 Жыл бұрын

Palm muting must be a forgotten technique, that's how we all do it in the studio and live with no external devices. I takes practice but can be utilized instantly while playing.

@RobertCassard Жыл бұрын

I’ve always used palm muting, too, but a rubber bridge gives a slightly rounder and more “bouncy” (and totally consistent) attack, and it frees up your entire right hand. All I can say is, it’s fun!

@idontgrillonwed 11 ай бұрын

I think this is A) Geared toward newer and younger guitarists just getting into guitar because of its recent explosion, and B) More for people focused more on their singing and song writing chops that don’t necessarily consider themselves guitarists. Most people struggle to play more technical material, especially finger style, while singing at the same time.

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

@@idontgrillonwed As a general rule, you may be right. But I certainly don't fit those categories, and nor does Ariel Posen: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hJlzpLd0zODRYZ8.html

@idontgrillonwed 11 ай бұрын

@@RobertCassard Ha. Yep! We both know that almost no rules don’t apply to that guy. Or Julian Lage…etc.

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

@@idontgrillonwed True. Excited that I'll be meeting Julian Lage in a couple weeks. Chris Thile is hosting an "Acousticamp" on Long Island and Julian is one of the faculty members. I'll be there with a guitar in hand!

@officialWWM 11 ай бұрын

Sounds like another fad to me.

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

It may fade in popularity, but because it sounds like a unique instrument, some artists will keep playing rubber bridges. Again, here’s why: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bZ5olMpo0q2me4E.html

@officialWWM 11 ай бұрын

@@RobertCassard I guess so. I just listened to that song. I guess it’s just not my kind of music but I can certainly see the appeal.

@RobertCassard 11 ай бұрын

@@officialWWM if you can see it, that’s enough!