Distressed, or plastic guard?

[JonT]

I find that try as I might, I seen unable to stop dragging my little and ring fingers. The result is wear on the finish of my mando. I'm thinking pretty seriously of applying a sheet of clear, stick-on plastic, cut to cover just the area that's at risk. In fact I've ordered the stuff from Stew-mac.

But.

But - that stuff doesn't come off, I'm told, and that troubles me. So which is worse - stick-on plastic covering the natural blonde finish of my Collings MT or places where my fingers, and nails too, have worn through the finish and started damaging the wood? I'd be very interested what you all think.

Thanks - Jon

[mandroid]

#3) elevated finger-rest/ pick-guards are the missing piece. those like Cumberland-acoustic's smaller
abbreviated ones fit on 2 pins in the edge of the fretboard are clean installations.
some of Ebony from listed builders, are also a good visual match. can be shaped to match scooped 'floridas'

If you go with stick on stuff, Adhesive solvents are made to remove adhesive residues,
including one for medical bandages, which should be pretty benign.

[MikeEdgerton]

I cringe when ever I hear about anyone putting these on any instrument. Plan on keeping it or having a patch of bad finish. If you do a search on clear pickguards you should find some horror stories and some suggestions for getting them off. This has been a discussed a few times in the builder section. You might get it off without any damage, then again you might not.

[EdSherry]

I make it a point to install guards as soon as possible on any instrument that doesn't come with one.

Unfortunately, once you've already worn away the finish (especially if there are nicks/scratches caused by playing), the clear plastic guards can't eliminate existing wear (though they can prevent future wear). #

The result can look unsightly -- though, in my view, less unsightly than allowing the wear to continue further.

I second the suggestion for an elevated pickguard, if that fits your mando.

[DryBones]

I put a small swirl of the clear stuff on my Mid-Mo when I first got it. You can hardly see it unless looking for it. That being said, on a more expensive mando I think I would go with an elevated pickguard if it was needed. I plan on just wearing a hole in my Eastman and JBovier, just to prove I have been playing them! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Doug Edwards]

Our guitar player put one of those clear plastic guards above the sound hole on his Martin HD-28V. NOT GOOD! In a short time he could see where the plastic interacted with the finish and removed it. You see quite well where it was on the guitar. Worst than player wear IMHO.

[F5G WIZ]

I know a guy who has a hole almost worn through his sound board but won't install a pick gaurd/finger rest cause he is not used to it. I'd have to say get used to it or have a extremely distressed looking mando. although the finish may already be marred a bit go ahead and install one, it will cover the existing mark and they are not hard to get used to playing with. Mine is one of the small abreviated variety. I never much cared for the great big ones. They cover to much sound hole in my opinion.

[Lee]

I too cringe at the thought of the stick-on guards. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[Greenmando]

Scars are like tattoos but with better stories. I have no guards on mine.

[GTison]

tape your fingers up while playing until you get them trained to stay there. No mess! No expense! No unsightly finger rest. Tho I have one on to let others play mine. Then you finger draggers can't get to it, and I won't be mad at you .:D

[Steven Stone]

[Scars are like tattoos]

Frankly, I'm not fond of either. I think tatoos on 70 year old people look just as bad as scars on 70 year old instruments.

Get a floating pickguard installed and learn to play "correctly." It's really not that hard.

Even Bill could have done it if he wanted to...

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[Trip]

I have worn completely through my finish on my Flatiron about the size of a quarter......since I will never part with my instrument(I may add another some day)I never had issue with the distressing, but now Im concerned that after another ten years of playing, that I will actually make a Willie Nelson hole in the darned thing......and I hate the feel of the raised pickguard.....so Im going to experiment with carving a custom shaped guard out of solid wood(only 1/8 inch thick edge, with a slight concave so no contact with the top)that my luthier friend is helping me to make and finish, and Im going to install the wood with an incredibly strong 3M clear tape on the binding only so as not to interact with the wood finish, and have no contact with the top vibrations(with the 1/16 thick tape and the slight concave there should be 1/8 inch of clearance).........and Im planning on installing an armrest with matching wood with the same concept of a somewhat permanent taped install for both of these......I know this sounds taboo to the purists, but I just cant stand the feeling of a normal fret board mounted guard......