Pick Guard? Is this right?

[Desnosfan]

The other night I was talking to a local musician that plays guitar and some mandolin. He told me something that I never heard before and am a little skeptical of. Basically, he argued that in order to get the best sound from my mandolin, I should take the pick guard off. Well, I did look this up on the internet and did find several non-mandolin cafe sites that discussed this. Most people seem to be in favor of it, but it seems like an urban legend (country legend) for the mandolin. Has anyone else heard this? THe only reason why I could think removing the pick-guard would make a difference is if you had a rattling guard, other than that I'm not sure how it would take away from the overall sound.

It also makes me wonder what other strange advice players have gotten regarding the mando.

[AlanN]

Your best bet is to search this very site. Has been discussed till the cows come home.

[Mike Bunting]

Moo!

[MikeEdgerton]

Take a look at this (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48826&highlight=remove+pickguard) thread and this (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43571&highlight=remove+pickguard) thread and this (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38190&highlight=remove+pickguard) thread and this (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14618&highlight=remove+pickguard) thread. You might still need more information. I was always under the impression that the pickguard did affect the sound, after reading all of the threads we've had I'm not so sure about it any more. With that said I have a pickguard on one of three mandolins I play regularly and it's only there becuase it was there when I bought it. The other two didn't come with them.

[EdHanrahan]

As a not-too-long-ago guitar convert, I took the pickguard off just to avoid posting or brushing a finger there. It helped.

[EdSherry]

Sonically, I don't think there's much effect. I had John Monteleone add an "abbreviated" pickguard to my (early) Flatiron F-5 back when I bought it in 1985, and haven't looked back.

Personally, I like having a pickguard on an arched-top mandolin, not so much to "plant" my fingers on (not recommended, IMHO) but more so as to act as a "depth gauge": my RH little and ring fingertips lightly brush against the guard when I'm playing, giving me tactile feedback about where my picking hand is in relation to the strings. But YMMV.

[JCook]

Wouldn't it depend on whether the pickguard is glued to the top, or floating above it?

Jack

[Amandalyn]

I used to take my pickguards off, thinking I'd have more volume. Now they are back on, I use abreviated pickguards. I'd rather have the protection of the pickguard and the sound difference is nil. If you have a mandolin with plenty of tone, it's going to come through.

[evanreilly]

There is always the 'fashion' notion that since Bill Monroe didn't have one on his mandolin, one does not need one.
However, when Bill first acquired #73987, he played it with the pickguard. I don't think his very large hand size made it easy to hit the strings as hard as he wanted to with the pickguard, so eventually it was lost. I am also fairly sure that Bill also used one on the F-7 earlier.

[JeffD]

It also makes me wonder what other strange advice players have gotten regarding the mando.

Well you are sure to find it here. Both for and against having convincing arguements.

[mandroid]

Or is the Zen answer: Mu ?

to really know for yourself ... Perhaps a test?, 2 identical recording set ups , just the finger-rest removal,
or presence being the only variable..
then what you hear on the playback will tell you if there is really a difference..

non recording, stand in front of a wall or the patio sliding glass door for a reflective surface
to bounce back the sound you would be projecting out to your audience ..
and hear that same on or off test. .... :confused:

:popcorn:

[fishtownmike]

Sonically, I don't think there's much effect. I had John Monteleone add an "abbreviated" pickguard to my (early) Flatiron F-5 back when I bought it in 1985, and haven't looked back.

Personally, I like having a pickguard on an arched-top mandolin, not so much to "plant" my fingers on (not recommended, IMHO) but more so as to act as a "depth gauge": my RH little and ring fingertips lightly brush against the guard when I'm playing, giving me tactile feedback about where my picking hand is in relation to the strings. But YMMV.
I basically use it for the exact thing you do. As a reference point. As for better sound i have taken off the pickguard to experiment and did not notice any improvement to the sound.

[allenhopkins]

Only pickguard I've removed was on the '54 F-5, and that's because the pickguard was warped and got in my way. Noticed no difference in either tone or volume.

Some players do like sticking the treble-side f-hole right up next to the microphone. In that case, presence/absence of a pickguard might be significant.

[Mandoviol]

I like having a pickguard; keeps me from beating the heck out of my instrument. Of course, there's an advantage to not having one (keeps you from anchoring your hand on it), but as others have said, I'd rather have the protection. I really don't want my mando looking like Willie Nelson's guitar....:grin:

[grassrootphilosopher]

I am also fairly sure that Bill also used one on the F-7 earlier.

Yes, the F-7 used by Mr. Bill had a pickguard.

Let´s consider the taste factor. Would you like to plant your fingers on the top and finally wear through the finisch or would you rather leave the pickguard on? (You could learn to play without planting anywhere.) Would you like to really dig into the strings and not have a pickguard to mess with or would you rather play a little less rough? Does it feel good or doesn´t it?

Fitting a pickguard to a mandolin does not change the tone like pouring construction foam into the mandolin body. It is my guess that the vast majority of people will not be able to hear any changes to the sound.

As an academic question it may get some more educated answers than mine.