Pick Guards.........good or bad?

[bbaker2050]

I've never played a mandolin with a pick guard. Do you all like them or not? Thanks!

[avaldes]

I think with where the strings are relative to the top on a carved instrument, the pick does not come close to the top in normal playing, so the pick guard in not needed to protect the top. I understand some players use the pick guard to anchor the pinky, but I think that's probably a restrictive technique. I also think that an instrument without a pick guard looks cleaner. Just an opinion.

[barry]

I like them, but don't need them. My fingers don't touch the top when I play. My knuckles do occasionally brush the pickguard. I prefer to know it's there. Just an optional "depth gauge".

[Bill Baldridge]

I have mandolins with and without. I like them as it keeps me from digging into the strings, as Barry wrote, "an optional depth gauge."

[JeffD]

If the mandolin came with, I keep it. If it did not have one, I refrain from adding one. They make little difference. My preference is slightly towards having the pickguard, because they look so cool.

[Paulindrome]

I have a question to add to this: Do pick guards affect the tone at all? I would expect them to, since they're usually right above part of an f-hole.

[Bill Baldridge]

Pick guards have no effect on tone or volume.

[Eric C.]

Pickguards are not just for "pinky planting" I don't plant my pinky when playing, but i do occasionally get the "flailing fingers" when playing. My mandolin has considerable wear on the top of the mandolin due to this. A pickguard would've prevented this.

[Ray(T)]

I tend to use them as a guide (fingrs brushing but not planted) and find one helps to keep my right hand in the correct place so I prefer a mandolin with one.

You'll find that some people who use them who say everyone should and some who don't that no'one should but I'm firmly in the "if it helps - do it" camp.

[Atlanta Mando Mike]

I think they are a great design element but they've never had a practical use to me. I love the way they look though.

[mandroid]

FAQ , If it matters to You , it will..

Playing Classical Italian and Other Classical era Music
The tremolo and solo-Duo technique has different needs ,

than trading Blows with the Banjo player in Bluegrass bands ..

[Mark Wilson]

I kinda like one now that I have one. Before that I prefered the cleaner look without.

I had a 'floating finger rest' style installed to protect the satin top from my pinkie. I don't think I would have installed the full sized one if it was only option

Feels right to have it but it's not something I would add if I didn't have the need for it.

[Mark Wilson]

Also with the finger rest - if you decide you don't want anymore it it would be really simple to uninstall and maybe not tell it was ever there.

[Joey Anchors]

I like them on A-styles. F-style mandolins look better with out them IMO.

[Drew Egerton]

I personally hate the look of them and wouldn't buy a mandolin with one unless it was a killer deal, but that's me.

[Tobin]

I like mine. I use it more as a finger rest, and lightly brush my fingers over it. I think it can help with technique and pick angle. Like many things, it's a tool with a purpose. Some will want it and use it, some won't. But I do think it helps the value of a mandolin to have it. It's easily removed when not needed. But difficult to add if it was never equipped with one.

[sblock]

I personally hate the look of them and wouldn't buy a mandolin with one unless it was a killer deal, but that's me.

This seems to me like a very silly position to take, given that the pickguard/fingerrest on most A- and F-models is so easily removed! Furthermore, it's hard to imagine any circumstances where it would "kill" a deal by indicating your desire to remove the pickguard. We're all entitled to hold an opinion, but this expression of antipathy seems over the top.

[Dick Hutchings]

I personally like the look but if it's installed with the angle bracket, well, that's going to leave a hole. I can see pilotdrews position on this.

[Bertram Henze]

I have a question to add to this: Do pick guards affect the tone at all? I would expect them to, since they're usually right above part of an f-hole.

It's a common myth that sound comes out of the sound holes.

[Dick Hutchings]

What's the purpose of side ports then?

[Bertram Henze]

What's the purpose of side ports then?

There has been a thread on sideports and their function here not long ago; if I remember correctly, the upshot of it all was that some players hear a difference and some don't. The changes are not dramatic in any case. If there were, an open back banjo would punish its player more than the audience...

[leotsou]

If there were, an open back banjo would punish its player more than the audience...

As a banjo player, I resemble that remark....haha

[Paulindrome]

It's a common myth that sound comes out of the sound holes.

Oh, for real? Then what are they there for?

[allenhopkins]

Oh, for real? Then what are they there for?

They are there to prevent the body of an instrument from being a closed box, which would cause the un-vented air inside it to compress and un-compress, dampening the vibrations of the top, back and sides. With a "vented" top this is less of an issue.

Although it's correct that the instrument's sound doesn't "come out of the sound holes," their size, shape and placement do significantly affect the sound of the instrument, both in volume and quality. And the instrument's sound varies by whether it's sampled just in front of the sound hole, or elsewhere. Most guitarists are aware of the more "boomy" sound when a microphone is placed right in front of the sound hole, as compared to a less bassy sound when the mic is near the bridge, or in front of the upper bout.

Plus, sound holes make many repairs easier -- a "side" benefit, even if they're not on the side of the instrument...

[LongBlackVeil]

Oh, for real? Then what are they there for?

A mandolin will stay make sound with no holes at all, it's been done. However, it's very muddy with less projection, a sound hole changes the resonant frequency of the top though. The top is where you get most of your sound production. Generally, a smaller hole (or no hole) will give you a more bassy sound, bigger holes, more high end.

Think about a speaker box with no hole, you'll hear the sound, but it's not ideal

I'd be suprised if someone didn't hear the difference with a sound port on the side, I've tried guitars with sound ports and covers, you can definitely tell the difference. It's not enough to change the tone really, but you get more feedback for sure.