No matter how many of these practice mutes bassists have received as gifts from their neighbors, they are usually pretty crafty about re-gifting them or using them for spark plug wire organizers, and never seem to have one on hand when a long-suffering neighbor finally goes postal, so be pro-active and stock up now. The bass you save may be your own. They work GREAT - which is why bassists seem to do anything with them besides use them for bass mutes. Proudly displaying one on your bass is not an excuse for the silence coming from your practice room, however.