Tone Guard on a Collings?

**FrDNicholas** · May-25-2012, 10:54am

I am thinking about getting a Tone Guard, but have some questions: How do I ensure the one I buy will fit on my MT? The mandolin fits snugly in the case; would I have to remove the tone guard each time I put the mandolin in the case, which is more than once a day as I play it? If so, does putting it on and off scratch the instrument? Thanks for help on this one.

**pjlama** · May-25-2012, 11:00am

A tone guard will fit an MT in the case, I have one and it lives in the case with toneguard.

**SternART** · May-25-2012, 11:15am

I had case that was a smidge too tight for the mando w/Tonegard on the sides.......I was able to modify the three points where it hits, by taking the side of a pencil & pressing it into the case .......making small grooves.

**Rob Fowler** · May-25-2012, 11:23am

I've got one on my MT and it fits just fine in the standard Collings A style case.

**FrDNicholas** · May-25-2012, 11:34am

Great, thanks. Now for the first question: Are tone guards standard size? Will any of them fit the MT? Where is the best place online to purchase one? Or, who has the widest selection, and what should I look for if anything particular when buying one?

**250sc** · May-25-2012, 12:10pm

All your questions are answered here http://tone-gard.com/

**disguiseglasses** · May-25-2012, 12:45pm

I really like the Tonegard- it's one of those accessories that actually performs as advertised. It's a little tight in the Collings A case, but I've learned to live with it. A minor inconvenience for a great addition to my sound.

**Newmexmandoboy** · May-25-2012, 7:39pm

On the topic, I just ordered a tone gard today. It says they shouldn't be used on instruments with varnish finish, which mine has. I wouldnt have a problem with little marks, but would like to know if anyone has tried it and what the results were.

I have an Eastman md 815v.

**SternART** · May-25-2012, 11:22pm

If the varnish is a few years old it might be fine, and not leave marks. With new instruments, the varnish might be a bit soft and possibly the Gard will leave a mark. From my experience these marks can buff out.

**SternART** · May-25-2012, 11:27pm

If the varnish is a few years old it might be fine, and not leave marks. With new instruments, the varnish might be a bit soft and possibly the Gard will leave a mark. From my experience these marks can buff out. I'm a fan of the ToneGard, makes every instrument I've put one on sound better!

**Mark Richardson** · May-29-2012, 6:17pm

I have a Tone Gard on my varnished F5. The mandolin was made for me and I allowed the varnish to harden one full year before I added the Tone Gard. I see no ill effects to the finish when I remove it, though I rarely remove it. I own the mandolin to play, not as a museum piece so a little marring would not bother me anyway.

**Newmexmandoboy** · May-29-2012, 6:43pm

Thanks. I also own it to play it, so wouldn't mind a little marking. But it has only been 5 months, and I didn't want to make a mistake if putting a tone gard on at this stage would cause serious damage. Would you wait a full year?

**Mark Richardson** · May-30-2012, 11:06am

Is that five months since the varnish finish or five months that you have owned the mandolin? I waited a full year because that was the advice someone on this forum gave me five years ago. I know that I really babied my mandolin the first couple of years. I had it custom built and it cost me a good amount of money. Through the years since it has just become my mandolin. It has dings and scratches and wear. I really do not think about any possible smudge marks under my Tone Gard. It no longer matters to me. That said, I would probably wait the full year post-finish again.

**Newmexmandoboy** · May-30-2012, 11:13am

Five months of ownership. Don't know when it was varnished, but I bought it new so probably it hasn't been varnished a year yet. Since it is not a high priced custom instrument (not "low priced" either, really ... $1500) I think I'll just go for it and see how it goes.

**terzinator** · Jun-04-2012, 9:10pm

Originally Posted by Newmexmandoboy

Five months of ownership. Don't know when it was varnished, but I bought it new so probably it hasn't been varnished a year yet. Since it is not a high priced custom instrument (not "low priced" either, really ... $1500) I think I'll just go for it and see how it goes.

Collings + Varnish + New = $1500? Do tell!

**mandobassman** · Jun-04-2012, 9:40pm

Originally Posted by terzinator

Collings + Varnish + New = $1500? Do tell!

Newmexmandoboy never said HE had a Collings. It was the OP who asked about a Tonegard on a Collings.

**terzinator** · Jun-05-2012, 12:02am

ah, thought all the responders were Collings owners! (I now see up a bit that he has an Eastman 815V!)

anyhoo, I have an MT with a TG and it fits in the case AOK!

**kilowhiskey99** · Jun-15-2012, 10:52pm

I have an MT2 with the Collings/TKL shaped case. I also have two tonegards. One is older which uses felt pad bumpers and one is newer which uses rubber tube bumpers. The Collings will fit in the case with the older tonegard but not the newer one. I also have the same issue with a Larrivee mandolin and it's case. So the older tonegard I use for the Larrivee and Collings and the newer one I use on the Weber, it fits it's case with the newer one just fine.

Kraig

**greg_tsam** · Jun-16-2012, 12:20am

My TG was pretty tight when I got it and my case fits tight in the first place but I noticed the "rubber" pads weren't flush with the mando so I made some minute adjustments and it fit much better.

**gda(v)e** · Jun-18-2012, 6:47pm

My experience is different from kilowhiskey99. I have an MT2 with the Collings-supplied TKL case and a newer-model Tonegard with the rubber feet. It fits fine in the case.