Well as for quieting down the banjo's admittedly intrusive volume, I use a very old sock. It wasn't old when I first placed it in the back of the banjo between brace and head but that was decades ago.

I find a sock useful for three reasons: It tones the banjo down, it can be moved towards the tailpiece and back towards the neck to change volume and when somebody yells (as they always do) "stuff a sock in it!" I can say; I already did!

I use the mute to change the sound of the banjo. People tell me that, in the dark, no one would know it was a banjo at all. There seems to be a better attitude towards dulcimers but after a couple of hours of "Go Tell Aunt Roadkill" I can't stand it any longer and give it all away by breaking into "Bile them Cabbage Down" which I play so vigorously the mute usually falls off. Quite an interesting effect, actually.

CB