String dampers

[oldieone]

I bought a flat top mandolin for my daughter, that needed string dampers, due to the very low break angle.
The local Ace Hardware had just what I needed, small rubber gromets. The grooves holds the gromets securely in place, half way between the bridge and the tailpiece .
The gromets noticably improved the clairity.
walt

[MikeEdgerton]

Here is a search string discussing using grommets to dampen strings that returns dozens of threads on the subject. Folks have been doing this for years.

[Bill Snyder]

But there is always value in a mention of it again for those that are not up on all of their threads.
Welcome to the Mandolin Cafe oldieone, glad you took the time to participate.

[kdavis1109]

I bought a flat top mandolin for my daughter, that needed string dampers, due to the very low break angle.
The local Ace Hardware had just what I needed, small rubber gromets. The grooves holds the gromets securely in place, half way between the bridge and the tailpiece .
The gromets noticably improved the clairity.
walt

What size grommets did you purchase? Th
is seems to be a well kept secret...

[Phil Goodson]

Grommets are fine and do what they're supposed to do, but I've always thought that they look a little out of place with the nice wood and steel parts of a beautiful mandolin.
I've always used a dark piece of leather bootlace threaded throught the strings and then pushed down near the tailpiece. To me it just looks more "natural" and blends in with the materials of the mandolin. Just my aesthetic taste! Each to his own preference.

[SanzoneGuitar&Mandolin]

I love the hardware store fix! Props

[Bob Clark]

Grommets work great, but I like the look of the Wood Nymphs from Weber or the nice dampers Doug at Hill Country String Works is now selling. Doug's appear to be an inexpensive fix that really dresses up that part of your mandolin.

[bmac]

I have found workable rubber dampeners at Radio Shack. Don't know what they are called but if you take the mando inside and explain what they are used for they may be able to help you.

If the vibration is coming from under the tailpiece it can be cured by inserting a bit of felt under the tailpiece cover to press against the strings. The felt from Wallmart has stickum on it to hold it in place, but you really don't need stikum as the pressure of the strings will do the job. This will probably do the job so you won't need the grommets and the felt will be invisable.

[oldieone]

The OD is aprox.5/16": the depth of the groove spreads the strings just enough to hold the gromets securely in place.
The reduction of stray harmonics make a huge improvement.
Walt

[Willie Poole]

Using grommets? Be prepared to chase one all over the floor if you break a string, I have some thin foam under all of the tailpiece covers on my mandolins and I have never seen where the grommets made any difference when I tried them, but everyone to their own choosing, some things just make a difference in the pickers mind, or so I have been told...

Willie

[Mandobart]

I like and use grommets on several instruments, but they're so inexpensive. I'm waiting for someone to make grommets out of a space-age polymer for $30 each....

[fishtownmike]

I use these grommets too. I bought a bag of them since you loose some of them when you break strings. They are hard to find when that happens.

[David Houchens]

I bought mine at MSC. I think I got a hundred for several dollars( its been several years). lots of sizes though, so you'll need to know what you want. Some folks might not realize these grommets were made to protect wires running through sheet metal. Some times knowing other uses will help source the item more economically.

[AlanN]

Was it Steven Stone on here who sold them? Cool little gizmos.

[MikeEdgerton]

Was it Steven Stone on here who sold them? Cool little gizmos.

Steve sold them for years as "Steve's Silencers". He might still sell them. The Radio Shack product used to be sold with several sizes in one bag. You could usually use two or three of the sizes that were in the bag. They were cheap, less than a three dollars. I'd rather resolve the issue of harmonics at the tailpiece, I've never cared for the grommet, wood nymph, or leather laces look.

[MikeEdgerton]

Radio Shack Part #64-3025

In a normal situation these will not touch the finish on the mandolin but be aware that vinyl can absolutely eat up a lacquer finish on an instrument. Don't throw the extras in the bottom of the case or anything. Take a look at this page on Frank Ford's www.frets.com

[kdavis1109]

Thank you for the information @MikeEdgerton! You may have just saved me from another life lesson down the road...

[fumblfingers]

I went to the craft section of Wally World and found a card with 3 different colors of braiding cord used in making children's crafts. I braided apiece long enough to weave in and out across the strings and tied a knot in each end. It is not fastened in any way but the knots keep it from coming out. For about 3 bucks for the cord I could probably make 100 of them. I'm tight!

[Grommet]

In the Mandolin For Dogs book it states that grommets can be used to dampen the strings, but I just use a wet paw or lick 'em.

[MikeEdgerton]

There you have it ladies and gentlemen, the final word on grommets from the world's most qualified source.