Tone gard on varnish

[MikeEdgerton]

There is a notice on the Janet Davis website that says they don't recommend using Tone Gards on varnished mandolins. Is that official from the manufacturer or simply the opinion of the folks at Janet Davis? Am I to believe that the big name artists that endorse the Tone Gard aren't playing varnished mandolins?

[Paul Kotapish]

I know loads of folks using TGs on varnished instruments with no problems. My TG has been on for over a year and there's no problem with the varnish finish in my mandolin.

[Jonathan Peck]

Are all varnish finishes created equal? I have one mandolin with a varnish finish that is pretty hard and durable, and another that is soft and gets marks if you look at it sideways.

[Gail Hester]

All of my instruments are varnished and they all get Tone-Gards. Never had a problem.

[TonyP]

That's exactly the problem Captain. All varnishes are NOT created equal. Even though varnish is described as the easiest finish to fix, but obviously the most fragile , folks expect that it will stay perfect forever, in spite of these facts. I've tried explaining this on my website, in sheets with the Gards and it still seems to be ignored. So after a customer bought a Gard from a dealer and was not warned and said there was no warning(which at that time there wasn't) I decided to make a warning. What are you supposed to do with a finish that is so soft your shirt leaves imprints? How, no matter how old the instrument is, if you sweat on it, it softens and clouds? A lot of people buy Tone-Gards because is does less damage than what YOU do to it. But it's not perfect, obviously and they KNOW this. Until force fields are perfected, there is no way to contact a soft finish without making marks. That is not the Tone-Gards fault, it's bad batches of varnish, applied wrong. So to cover what I would think would be common sense I've advised all dealers to put the warning on their website and all new Tone-Gards have this warning:

WARNING: The Tone-Gard is NOT recommended for varnished instruments.

This in spite of tons of pros putting them on their Loars, Gils, Monte's and Dude's. This is the only way to get through to players that only in the last couple of years are more worried about what the mando looks like, than how it sounds. That it's not now an instrument, but an investment to be kept pristine. Even though the most expensive new mando's are distressed to look old. Distressed means marks, dings, wear on the finish, in short used.
Thank you for your time, pick purty.

[MikeEdgerton]

Thanks Tony.

[Big Joe]

I use them on my varnished mandolins, and have had no problems, but if I did I would rather have the few small marks where the rubber feet are as have the whole back discolored or scratched by buttons, buckles, sweat, rough fibre on shirts, etc, etc, etc. It also protects when others play my mandolins.

Tony has to say they are not recommended for liability reasons, but for a players perspective they will not do as much damage as many other items your mandolin will encounter. Now you get to make up your own mind which is more important. Are you more concerned about pristine condition that would not allow any kind of issue, or are you willing to take a minor risk and put one on and thereby increase the volume and tone as well as protect your mandolin from all the other more damaging issues? I chose to use the tone gard personally. I cannot tell you what to do.

By the way, Tony...thank you for what I got in the mail. I love it!!! You are too cool!

[F5G WIZ]

I use mine on a varnished instrument, I just don't leave it on all the time like I do on my other laquered mandolin. I put it on before a gig or jam and take it off after. Has never left a mark.

[SternART]

From my extensive TGard experience, if an instrument is new and freshly varnished, there is a possibility it might leave marks, but they would polish out easily with something like Gruhn's glaze, or of course Franch polishing. After about a year I think most varnish has set up enough there shouldn't be a problem. YMMV.

[Mteresko]

I have a Tone-Gard and an armrest on my varnished Wiens, and the Gard has not left a mark. The cork pads on the armrest have left an impression, but nothing that couldn't be rubbed out if one really wanted. I would think that the cause is the much greater pressure required to hold the armrest in place. If the varnish is cured, I wouldn't worry about the Tone-Gard; it affords much more protection than any damage that might occur.

[jaco]

Ditto what SternArt said. When I got my new Kelley, Skip said give the varnish time to harden(about a year to be safe). I've had no problems.

[Hans]

Take a look at the pickguard clamp marks on any old Gibson. Better yet, take off the bridge on your varnished instrument. Any marks? #Well, it's gonna happen likely. I agree, best to wait a year or longer, but varnish is a different animal than lacquer. Lacquer is all pretty much the same, but varnishes are another story. They can range from very soft to rock hard, and some are even sticky for great lengths of time.

[Jonathan Peck]

I would think that the cause is the much greater pressure required to hold the armrest in place.
I recently put my first armrest on. I tightened it down to the point where I couldn't move it at all. I thought about it for a minute, and then loosened it up until it would stay in place, but I could move it with a little gentle persuasion. It stays in place, but isn't overly tight as to cause the two metal arms to flex from the pressure. Doesn't seem like there's any good reason to tighten it down any more than that.

[jmcgann]

Varnish finish, 'gard, no problemo here.

[WJF]

Varnish on my two AL Smarts, Gards on both. I'll confess to being as nervous as you could ever imagine but no problems after a year plus so I think I'm OK