Between the bridge and tailpiece?
Attachment 190135
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Between the bridge and tailpiece?
Attachment 190135
I would call that a noise over-killer/wrist shredder. :disbelief:
It looks like someone seriously overthought a way to kill the overtones that are sometimes heard in mandolins. A strip of leather threaded through the strings would do as much if not more and wouldn't destroy your hand in the process. I'm guessing they lost the little strip of leather or felt that goes under the strings on that tailpiece. That thing is frightening. If you want something that attaches back there a Weber Wood Nymph would do a better job and be much more elegant.
Thank you. I bought this A4 with this part on it. It will be coming off.
I believe these are called "sleeve guards," which explains their intended function. They show up from time to time on vintage instruments, and are after-market additions.
Please correct me if I'm in error.
Let me put in a different guess from overtone reducer (possible) and sleeve guard (unlikely). I am guessing that it is a slide-on mute. I am also guessing that that brown lab is rubber and it clamps down on top of the bridge. That must be a super-loud mandolin to require such a thing. And I am guessing that the previous owner has the scars on the underside of his/her forearm to prove it.
I agree with Jim and was just going to post such. It looks like you can loosen the screw and slide it up over the bridge for a mute, and back it off when not needed.
I might buy the mute idea if it wasn't for that screw sticking up in the air. It sure as hell isn't a sleeve guard that's for sure. Slimt should be happy that screw wasn't pointed down.
I agree Ill have the mando here on Friday. It past through customs yesterday. The item just struck me as a odd feature. Ill post more when it arrives. I was told its a 21 A4. I dont imagine there much difference from the 16 and 1920 I once owned.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton
Thanks everyone.
Slimt, the first thing I would do is, remove it.
I don't know, Skip. Unscrew that screw and his tailpiece might fall off.:))
Definitely a mute; a fiddler I used to play with (now deceased) used to have/use one. That was a simple wire affair, part of it with a piece of narrow tubing, which slid up and down the strings and produced a slightly mellower tone - not that he really needed it on a fiddle that was built circa. 1750!
I would also say it is a mute. I have one for a tenor banjo which also has the screw to lock it in place. It fits between bridge and tailpiece. The tenor one is not such a big piece of metal, more like a simple bar with a second below it sandwiching the strings, and the screw tightens to hold it in place.
Beautiful mandolin, btw.
Thanks everyone. Much appreciated.
I got the A4 today. I guess the part is a developer. I also got the mute one as well.
Attachment 190358
Attachment 190359
"Roller Mute" patented by Dennis Hartnett.
http://www.mugwumps.com/ephemera.html
Thank you. Thats pretty neat.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton