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Hello. After seeing some discussions on the topic and googling around, it seems that locating a floating pickguard to purchase is not that simple, so I have a question:
is there such a thing as a floating pickguard that doesn't require drilling holes or glue?
Coming from the violin world with it's shoulder rests with rubber feet, and chin rests with clamps. it makes sense to me that it should be possible.
Mike Myers in the Love Guru had a flying carpet he rode around on......it was later revealed to have little wheels hidden from the camera view.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Dv
they would have to be small wheels to work on a mandolin pickguard, however, IMHO.......
The abbreviated pickguards (fingerrests) found these days on many A5 and F5 model mandolins only require two tiny holes (1/16") drilled into the bottom edge of the fretboard extension. These two small holes are not visible to folks viewing the mandolin in the normal playing position, nor are they visible from the player's own perspective while picking: they are unobtrusive. The pickguard is held in by friction from two pins that go into these holes, and easily removed, if desired. Glue is not required. Some mandolins, like Northfield, use two small screws instead of friction pins, but the idea is the same.
In my opinion, you should not be troubled about mounting a (normal) abbreviated pickquard. Drilling the two mounting holes will not diminish the value of your instrument. It will not change the aesthetic, either. If you decide you don't like the pickguard, you can take it off any time.
Thanks for your comments, do you have any recommendations on where to get one? I had some trouble finding good sources.Quote:
Originally Posted by sblock
I say don't bother.
I always remove the pick guard first thing.
If you have good right hand technique, you don't need one.
Try Hill Country Stringworks and Cumberland Acoustics. You'll still have to drill the holes yourself or take the instrument to a luthier.
Diff schools of thought on 'floating' pickguards. Charlie Derrington crafted this one; he was a firm believer in a side bracket, even on abbreviated guards.
Do I see a screw drilled into the side of the body? If so, somehow that seems to defeat the purpose. If it was simply a clamp that would be what I am looking for.Quote:
Originally Posted by AlanN
I think this is better than what I am looking for, since it is not permanent, I wonder if there is one for mandolin, maybe it can just be cut to size:
Attachment 180927
Try the Ellis/Pava shop.
I would strongly urge you to avoid those (glueless) adherent clear plastic pickguards for a mandolin! The unreacted plasticizers found in most of these clear sheets (like the ones sold by Taylor guitars, and many others), which serve to keep them flexible and slightly sticky, slowly leach out over time. These plasticizer compounds can react with nitrocellulose instrument finishes and swell them, cloud them, soften them, or otherwise damage them. They also react with many types of varnish finishes (but not all). They are only safe when used with cured polymer finishes, found on some factory guitars -- but not many mandolins. Believe me, I speak from direct personal experience, as well as practical knowledge.Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Dv
If your right-hand technique is such that you NEVER touch the mandolin top, of course, you don't need a pickguard on a mandolin with an elevated fingerboard, like the F5 model. But if you plant your pinky, or even if you brush the top occasionally with fingers, then it's a good idea to have a pickguard for protection of the instrument. Otherwise, you will wear through the finish over the long term, and possibly into the wood, as well.
The modern, "abbreviated" pickguard for the F5/A5 uses two pins (or screws) to attach to the fingerboard extension, and it does not require a bracket going to the side of the instrument. These are perfectly stable. Charlie Derrington's guards were rare exceptions (as noted in post #7), but you certainly don't need to drill a hole in the side of your mandolin, in my opinion, for a bracket.
Being an amateur builder and a reformed pinky-planter, I have installed narrow wooden floating finger rests on my 3 personal instruments. Bluegrassers that pick them up generally hate them. For me, they keep my pinky off the top and give me a subtle reference point- my fingers just brush the rest. I prefer ebony for the silky feel. For floating finger rests, I would recommend you have a luthier install one. The holes have to be drilled spot on, requiring a jig and the tension just right. I found for myself, narrow, high quality unfinished ebony, and angle down about 15 degrees is perfect. Everyone is going to have differing preferences.Attachment 180960
I had not heard of this before. Would you happen to have some links to material I could study into this further? It is quite intriguing.Quote:
Originally Posted by sblock
The musician that inspired my interest in mandolins, Hamilton de Holanda, is a pinky planter, which I suspect partially helps explain his speed in picking, this often seems smaller than wrist movement, in one video it almost seems like only thumb and index finger are moving in some passages.
If the issue is only the pinky planting, I would think wearing a finger cot made of rubber, silicone, or some other material would be a better solution than putting anything on the instrument, though my concern is also possible pick damage. I suspect pinky planting is intended to prevent that.
I am an experienced musician (multiple instruments), but not much of a mandolin player just yet.