vinyl grommets

[John L]

For those in the leather strip camp, I have some rich Corinthian leather salvaged from a Chrysler Cordoba. If you have to ask how much you can't afford it.

[journeybear]

If one of them goes flying off and hits a groupie, it could take out an eye! (see sense of humour)

Right - a mandolinist with groupies - now that's funny!

Well, it could happen. Leastways, I keep hoping ...

My understanding is this is the only official Gibson-approved grommet:

[JEStanek]

For those in the leather strip camp, I have some rich Corinthian leather salvaged from a Chrysler Cordoba. If you have to ask how much you can't afford it.

I'll take your Iacocca era Naugahyde and raise you actual Ricardo Montalban strips. very exclusive. (Too soon?)

You hear a difference!

Jamie

[greg_tsam]

I'd better be careful. If one of them goes flying off and hits a groupie. It could take out an eye! (see sense of humour)

haha... I used to tell my friends that I'd know when I got good on the mando when I had groupies!

[if6was9]

Personally, I feel that the unmuted ringing of strings between bridge and tailpiece is part of the sound of a mandolin. That opinion notwithstanding, I do use a wedgie pick holder on my mandola in that position because it is the most convenient place to put a wedgie on a mandola and I need someplace to stash my Blue Chip TAD-601R when my right hand is occupied in non-picking tasks (e.g. drinking water). The wedgie incidentally provides muting similar to a grommet.

http://www.wedgie.com/pickholders.html

[Ivan Kelsall]

For what it's worth,the last time i re-strung my mandolins a month ago,i left the grommets off & i've heard no difference in sound at all. Maybe some mandolins benefit more than others,
Ivan

[journeybear]

Another county heard from ... Not sure why NewsFetcher got involved, since this is hardly news. Perhaps because the poster misposted as a blog entry, and NF is set to respond to and relay these. Either that, or NewsFetcher had a HAL9000 moment, and is seeking control of the ship. We'll know if it starts singing, "Daisy, Daisy ..."

[MikeEdgerton]

If you don't hear any overtones then the grommets have no effect. You can use a piece of felt or leather (as Gibson did) under the tailpiece cover to kill them as well. Anyone adding them looking for an improvement in tone is kidding themselves.

[Tim2723]

Yes Ivan, that's a good observation and Mike is correct as well. Some mandolins simply don't need dampers.

[Pete Summers]

I have to admit, a guy with six years' membership probably shouldn't have used the word "tonally" in a post about rubber baby buggy bumpers, but it was only his 12th post after all.

With this kind of ribbing, I wouldn't be surprised if it was his last.

[trainmaster]

Of course THE best ones are those forged from Orc bones,deep in the heart of Mt.Doom,in the realm of the Dark Lord,Sauron. If you stick one of those up your nose,you'll disappear up your own sound hole 'precious'. But if you can't get them,the vinyl ones will be ok,
Ivan

Ivan,, didn't realize you came from Rivendell,,,,,LOL

[Ivan Kelsall]

"Ivan,, didn't realize you came from Rivendell,,...". Yes,Elrond's a good mate of mine.Can't play to save his life though. Off to the 'Grey Havens' Bluegrass bash in a week or so.The only trouble is that once there,you don't come back !!!. ''Trolling'' takes on a whole new meaning in these parts,
Ivan

[JEStanek]

The unicorn hoof trimming works best on strings made of mithril.

Jamie

[greg_tsam]

I bet the OP never knew all this information was available about vinyl grommets. Truly, the Mandolin Cafe is a resource of the Ancients.

[trainmaster]

The unicorn hoof trimming works best on strings made of mithril.

Jamie

I thought only elvish mandos had "mithril" strings......

[JEStanek]

I know a dwarf...

Jamie

[Steven Stone]

Late to the string, as usual...

I've been selling natural rubber grommets, "Steve's Silencers" for over ten years now.

I've never had a return...but mine are natural rubber, which I'm sure makes a huge difference

If you have an advanced dry chop technique and a mandolin with a vintage style Gibson tailpiece you will hear a marked difference with Silencers installed. If you play with a lot of sustain or have a new-style Gilchrist tailpiece you won't hear any difference with Silencers installed.

Silencers are a tool. Some players can use this tool, some don't need or want it.

As always YMMV.

[journeybear]

I dunno what all the fuss is about. Chewing gum works just fine. Good enough for airplanes, good enough for mandolins. Then when you go on break, and it still has a little flavor - there ya go!

[MikeEdgerton]

I'm trying to determine if attaching the strap to the headstock or the scroll on my mandolin has a bigger effect on the tone.

[Tim2723]

I dunno what all the fuss is about. Chewing gum works just fine. Good enough for airplanes, good enough for mandolins. Then when you go on break, and it still has a little flavor - there ya go!

There's a song in that somewhere. "Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the endpin overnight?"

[greg_tsam]

"Tiny grommets, On my tailpiece. Makes me feel funny. Makes me feel fine. Tiny grommets..."

[George R. Lane]

Duct Tape

[terzinator]

Duct Tape

Either you're on something, or you're on to something.

[George R. Lane]

One never knows.

[Steve Ostrander]

[QUOTE][I found some vinyl grommets at Radio Shack (now simply the Shack). Are these ok tonally speaking? Are other materials better?
/QUOTE]


I was going to suggest virgin vinyl, but this is a family show...