All fair points, but the beauty isn't at all obliterated by the TG, you still see it. You are also protecting that back, if the preciousness of it is the main concern, and lastly,
It has nothing to do with being loud. In fact,
I prefer to play quietly, and that's where the difference is greatest. Nice, fat tone without having to go for volume.
Have you ever tried a TG, or are you just opposed in principle? Honest question, I'm curious.
I often get the feeling that people can get too hung up on being for or against some bits of kit.
I like what these let people do and how they can overcome issues people have with letting the back of the mandolin become damped due to their hold. My personal preferences tend towards eliminating any unnecessary clutter and bolt-ons from my mandolins. These just wouldn't have a purpose with my hold, just like a strap wouldn't make sense for me to use. But I'd no more be set against their use than against someone using a stick to help them get about. Heck if it overcomes an issue without having to relearn how you hold use the mandolin then it's surely worth using if you can get the instrument singing out better. I see these being about leting the instrument resonate as musch as it can rather than volume. The small complex overtones that give a fuller sound seem to be the first to go if you damp the back, getting them back is like night & day. I'm just happy I don't need to use one and that they aren't necessary to achieve that, even though they are a quick fix way to get it.
I wonder what comments the guy adding a second string to the earliest mandola had to endure, surely doubling up on strings would have looked like the weirdest & most wasteful addition ever, until the first strum & that sound came out.
Eoin
"Forget that anyone is listening to you and always listen to yourself" - Fryderyk Chopin
I am pretty good at holding the mandolin effectively away from my body, sitting or standing, for a period of time. But after a while, (it takes longer when sitting) I get tired, but still want to play.
After say two hours playing, less if it is a rip snorter of a jam, the tone gard becomes essential to me.
Another player had added another clamp -leg to his, Tone guard..
It holds down the set cue card, to remember songs and key its in..
writing about music
is like dancing,
about architecture
writing about music
is like dancing,
about architecture
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