Flatty Mandolins and tone guards

[CookieMeister101]

So i'm about to receive a brand new Big Muddy M-2 (with a radius fretboard, and mike threw in a Adirondack red spruce top for free!) tomorrow, and i was wondering if flattop/back mandolins get affected by being held against the stomach. if so, how much? I'm kind of a tone freak, and i like my instruments to sound their best.

Thanks!

[MikeEdgerton]

You can hear what effect the muffling of the soundboard by your body is. Stand and play into a corner with the mandolin held against your body. Now hold the mandolin out away from your body in what has been called machine gun style and play it again. You'll get an idea of the change when it's muffled.

[CookieMeister101]

yea i've done that with a few arch mandolins and the effect is huge. ill have to try it tomorrow when i get it.

[Erok]

You can hold it close and push it out for a cheap phase-shifter effect.

[CookieMeister101]

Got the mando early! tested the "machine gun style" tone thing. Definitely a huge difference there! so ill be going for a tone gard, unfortunately tone-gard is a bit backed up with orders so ill have to wait. thanks for responses tho!