Acoustic Guitar In An Apartment

Try using aluminum doors.

My wall doesn't open that way.

The issues I've had with playing acoustic in my apartment as been the toe tapping...more like foot stomping.

I have a friend in Seattle who bought an isolation cube to play and record in. It's quite a rig!

Ric, are you kidding? If not, that HAS to be some rig. And, what drove him to do that?

I have a friend in Seattle who bought an isolation cube to play and record in. It's quite a rig!

Ric, are you kidding? If not, that HAS to be some rig. And, what drove him to do that?
These are pretty common in Japan especially for horn / wind musicians. You can see some of them on the Ishibashi Music web page. These are essentially rooms within rooms. Some are big enough for a piano.

Amusingly in this picture from that page it looks like dad is hiding out in one of these watching TV.

I just came across this product for players who have a multi-hole Ovation guitar. It should help to mute the sound.

-- Rob

http://www.lostartvintage.com/mainframe.asp

When out firstborn was just a wee lad...we were living most of the time on a sailboat up in our Whitsundays. As a new dad...it was GREAT to have him asleep...and keeping him that way meant that I put most of my balled-up socks in the Epiphone. Sounded like...well, an Epiphone with socks in it...gawd awful...but it sure worked.

Try it! (I mean the socks...not havin' a kid!)

Cat

When out firstborn was just a wee lad...we were living most of the time on a sailboat up in our Whitsundays. As a new dad...it was GREAT to have him asleep...and keeping him that way meant that I put most of my balled-up socks in the Epiphone. Sounded like...well, an Epiphone with socks in it...gawd awful...but it sure worked.

Try it! (I mean the socks...not havin' a kid!)

Cat

Episocks ? :wink:

I'm glad this came up because the only time I have to myself is when my one year old daughter is asleep and she is a very light sleeper in a very small house. I haven't been practicing at all using a pick because I don't want her to wake up but as a result of no practice I really can't strum very well at all now. Using my fingers just isn't working.
So, I'll have to try socks or one of those sound hole plugs. I had no idea they made those. Thanks!

I find that there is a huge difference in volume between playing with a pick and playing with your fingers. You can strum with just your thumb and index fingers instead of using the pick. So, in addition to any mechanical damping, you may want to try this as well.

Just what i was going to say! When it's late (10pm or so) I'll just play with the fingers (no pick) and it's fun!

Bob Jessie

If stopping the sound holes and/or packing the body isn't adequate or very inconvenient, a lot of the volume (and sustain) can be killed by putting a damper under the strings near the bridge. Some foam or rolled cloth will do the trick.

BTW, stuffing a hollowbody with rolled socks is a time honored anti-feedback trick, esp among jazzers.

-=Greg

So, I'll have to try socks or one of those sound hole plugs. I had no idea they made those. Thanks!

Yep...I tried EVERYTHING...and the socks worked the best. Hard to believe he's in university now studying Digital Recording Engineering. (Isn't THAT weird???)

Cat