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Thread: Mudflaps

  1. #1
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    Default Mudflaps

    I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I'll show my aesthetic bias here and most may give a rip, but what is the history, and original purpose of, the giant pick guards Gibson originally put on their F-5's, and why the heck do they and others still put those smothering and less than attractive things on mandolins. Tradition?

    Were they originally sized because mandolin orchestras, originally unamplified, had to play very hard, sometime with big strums? Abbreviated pick guards, for those who like them, now seem to do fine.

    Thanks for any background.

  2. #2
    Gummy Bears and Scotch BrianWilliam's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mudflaps

    I like turtles

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    Registered User almeriastrings's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mudflaps

    Finger-rests..... not 'pickguards'....
    Gibson F5 'Harvey' Fern, Gibson F5 'Derrington' Fern
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  5. #4
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mudflaps

    I've often wondered why the original finger rest design was so large. I actually like finger rests,but not the large ones that the OP means,the only reason that i removed the one from my Lebeda mandolin is that it was decidedly unattractive,certainly less so than the top wood that it covered. The 'abbreviated' finger rests that are available these days are very nice - but expensive,
    Ivan
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  6. #5

    Default Re: Mudflaps

    Quote Originally Posted by Luna Pick View Post
    Mudflaps

    I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I'll show my aesthetic bias here and most may give a rip, but what is the history, and original purpose of, the giant pick guards Gibson originally put on their F-5's, and why the heck do they and others still put those smothering and less than attractive things on mandolins. Tradition?
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    Tradition and beauty
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  8. #6
    Registered User dustyamps's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mudflaps

    I like mudflaps.
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  10. #7
    Registered User Russ Donahue's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mudflaps

    This is heading into rough territory...
    Make America Grateful Again!

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  11. #8
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    Default Re: Mudflaps

    The abbreviated rests are nice looking, but I don't rest my fingers on the guard/rest I slide them and it's a pain sliding off the rest. I want it large enough to function. Guess if you plant the abbreviated ones are ok. I have never noticed a lack of volume, or change in sound, from adding a finger rest.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  12. #9
    Registered User Hendrik Ahrend's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mudflaps

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    I'm quite sure, it's not the classical players, who scratch their F5s.

  13. #10
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    Default Re: Mudflaps

    Yes, I was thinking of the reason for their original design and size. Maybe it was related to the use and playing style and setting of the 1920's, and is the reason for still making them that large based mostly on tradition? Seems even Gibson might reduce their size based on current playing styles and finger rest preferences.

    Anyway, thanks for your input on the matter.

  14. #11
    Registered User sblock's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mudflaps

    What has been said is correct:

    1) installed fingerrests, a.k.a. mandolin pickguards, do not diminish the playing volume. They were once assumed to affect volume, but tests have shown that this assumption is incorrect.

    2) abbreviated rests work just fine, and look terrific, and so the larger ones are not really necessary.

    3) many folks who remove their rests still "brush" the top with fingers often, or contact it more directly (but infrequently) with picks or fingernails or both. Over enough time, this infrequent contact can lead to serious finish damage in the top, regardless! There are countless examples of blemished tops in cases where the guard was removed (see pix above, for example), even with players who don't necessarily "plant" the pinky on the top.

    4) folks who are used to having no pickguards, and who plant or brush the top, tend to hate having to learn to reposition their hands, and therefore tend to have trouble adjusting to mandolins with pickguards.

    5) for those folks who tend to ouch the top from time to time, or who brush, installing a pickguard can actually improve the right hand position, by forcing the fingertips away from the top. But see the previous point!

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  16. #12
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    Default Re: Mudflaps

    Quote Originally Posted by sblock View Post
    What has been said is correct:

    1) installed fingerrests, a.k.a. mandolin pickguards, do not diminish the playing volume. They were once assumed to affect volume, but tests have shown that this assumption is incorrect.
    2) abbreviated rests work just fine, and look terrific, and so the larger ones are not really necessary.
    3) many folks who remove their rests still "brush" the top with fingers often, or contact it more directly (but infrequently) with
    picks or fingernails or both. Over enough time, this infrequent contact can lead to serious finish damage in the top,
    regardless!
    There are countless examples of blemished tops in cases where the guard was removed (see pix above, for example), even with players who don't necessarily "plant" the pinky on the top.
    4) folks who are used to having no pickguards, and who plant or brush the top, tend to hate having to learn to reposition their hands, and therefore tend to have trouble adjusting to mandolins with pickguards.
    5) for those folks who tend to ouch the top from time to time, or who brush, installing a pickguard can actually improve the right hand position, by forcing the fingertips away from the top. But see the previous point!

    Number 2. Yes a large one is needed if your hand falls off the smaller one
    Number 4. The same for someone that is used to a pick guard playing one without.

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