My tone gard trial

[bgmando]

I tried out a Tone Gard on my Flatiron F-5 last night, with mixed results.
The gard did make a big difference. Gave it a bigger, fuller sound with a little more sustain.
I liked it somewhat.
But when I took it off, I liked the old tone better.

I decided it let a lot more low-mids reverb in the instrument.
Without it, the back muffling made the highs stand out more and made the instrument sound more balanced.
In other words, this instrument's most pure voice may not be its best voice for my tastes.
But I'll keep experimenting with it.

On the other hand, I next put it on my 1917 Gibson A-1.
The change wasn't as dramatic.
But it simply made the good parts of the sound better and
louder.

Interesting piece of equipment, though, and I'm glad someone invented it. I think it will help a lot of instruments.

[bjc]

I think it's one of those things where when you hear the "new" tone (whether it be when you put it on or take it off) it's different and since the mando already sounds good our ears tell us it's "better."
It happens to me all the time with guitar amps..."this is the best sound..." until I dial in the next one...tee hee

[250sc]

bgmando,

If you decide it isn't for you, you shouldn't have any trouble selling it.

[bgmando]

Another drawback is that I like to feel an instrument vibrating against my chest, be it mando or guitar. Even though I know that's a volume and tone killer.

But I'm going to give these a good long experiment in different situations on a few different mandolins.

I do admire greatly their design and purpose.

I suspect they might make a medium instrument sound more medium and a great instrument greater.

I'm betting Lloyd would have admired them.

[SternART]

Another feature not to be overlooked is the protection it offers, keeping buttons etc from contact with the back...or sweat in the hotter more humid times of year. I've seen sweat damaged varnsh. IMO the Gards makes all my mandos sound better too. It took me years to get Grisman to use one, but now he uses a custom one on his Loar all the time, even for recording. I'm a BIG fan.

[bgmando]

I tried this again over the weekend. Started without. Missed the bigger tone. Put the gard on, liked it.
I wish my mando would fit in its trusty old case with it on.
But I'm afraid of forcing the issue and busting a top.

[david blair]

The protection added by the tone guard is nice. I left my mando with the tone guard on, and plugged into the amp on the kitchen table recently. Well, my dog got caught in the cord on his way to the water bowl, and I came back into the room to find him loking really bummed, and tangled in the cord with the mando on the floor! Not a scratch, chip, dent, or an issue at all!
I use the case all the time now!

[Mike McCoy]

By this time I don't think there's any doubt that the ToneGard works. What each individual experiences is bound to be different for obvious reasons. After 3 years of use on the same mandolin I'm as happy with the results now as I was in the beginning. It's hard to argue with the results I have gotten, count me in as a BIG fan as well!

[jaco]

I have to agree with Art as to the protection issue. I feel a lot safer at a festival with the guard on. I did notice at Suwannee Springfest last week that none of the featured artist seemed to be using them . (Mike Marshall, Ronnie McCoury, Josh Pinkham ) I still feel a lot safer regardless of the sound debate.