tonguards ..do they really work?

[RustyMadd]

All great thoughts to ponder...i am thinking now
I may hold off on purchasing the tg for a few months..first the ellis came in a tkl case.
I highly doubt it will fit.i am having a case
Made for it by wayne perry from aus. He is scheduled to start in june..not sure how
Long that takes...but time is good to let it
Cure. I could always play it like a rock star.
Like that guy from the steeldrivers. A long enough
Strap and i could hold it under my craft beer investment. t
There is a marked difference in tone as well as vol.
When i hold this instrument away from me. A tribute to its fine light and responsive construction.

The thing is that we have established beyond a reasonable doubt that it would improve your tone and volume, and that it actually works. And so logically, you will probably not get one at this time because of a case issue that isn't proven to be relevant to your situation. Alrighty then.

[dhergert]

All great thoughts to ponder...i am thinking now
I may hold off on purchasing the tg for a few months..first the ellis came in a tkl case.
I highly doubt it will fit.i am having a case
Made for it by wayne perry from aus. He is scheduled to start in june..not sure how
Long that takes...but time is good to let it
Cure. I could always play it like a rock star.
Like that guy from the steeldrivers. A long enough
Strap and i could hold it under my craft beer investment. t
There is a marked difference in tone as well as vol.
When i hold this instrument away from me. A tribute to its fine light and responsive construction.

This may not help your decision making at this point, but both my Gibson and MK F-styles have fit in a standard TKL case with ToneGards (and armrests, and pickguards) installed.

[Dave Hanson]

Does anyone know where I can buy a toneguard in the UK ?

Thanks, Dave H

[V70416]

Got an email from Tony. The new tubing he uses is 3350 lab-grade,platinum-cured silicon. He was led to using it by a mandolin-playing
chemistry prof. at Stanford U. The new stuff is completely inert and microscopically non-porus. A 50 foot roll costs $100. The older black vac hose
tubing is $16 for same length.

Tony says"nothing is perfect". Some do not like the milky white color,saying it looks cheap. Also,some have said it tends to grab onto the case lining
more than the black stuff.

I will always have a ToneGuard on my mandos and ukes.

PS:My apologies. I replied before reading Tony's post explaining the new tubing.

[sblock]

I suppose this is a pet peeve of mine, but people: the tubing on Tone-Gards is made of SILICONE, not silicon. Silicone is a polymer, consisting of a polysiloxane elastomer. It's a part of the synthetic rubber family, and it can be used for making things like elastic tubing, breast implants, and seals. Silicon is a chemical element, and a semiconductor. It is commonly used for making transistors, photodetectors, computer chips, and so forth. Stanford University is in Silicon Valley. Las Vegas, you might say, is in Silicone Valley!

[Eric Platt]

Received my vintage model yesterday and put it on my 1929 A Jr. Wow. What a difference! Sorry, but I am now a huge advocate. Really opened up the sound. And the instrument still fits in the original case. A bit tight, but it fits.

That, along with the changing of the tuners yesterday has made this instrument ready to go for any upcoming engagement.

[MontanaMatt]

I got new silicone tubes from Tony for my Weber, old style black tubes had been on for about 10 years. I was ready to see damage in the varnish, nope? There was a small ridge of goop from drinks, sweat, pick dust, and string vapors. It wiped clean with a damp cloth. In addition to improving tone and projection, it has kept the back very well protected, and I play lots.
Don't doubt the gard, protect your tone!

[MandoAblyss]

I've had a Tone-Guard on two varnish Collings. After two years I took it off, anticipating a finish mess. Nope, not a sign it was ever there. And I'd consider the Collings finish to be somewhat reactive, at least to tuners (permanent imprint on headstock) and arm rests (cork adhered to finish).

As for tone, I can hear a clear difference and much prefer the sustain, clarity and projection with the Tone-Guard. Even holding instrument just by the neck, it sounds better with Tone-Guard. Maybe the increased mass around the air box does something. Add less important but useful features such as back protection and better balance/reduced neck dive and I think Tone-Guard is a no-brainer.

[RustyMadd]

Curious if the OP actuall followed through and got a Tone Guard eventually? Well, did you? If yes, what do you think of it now?

[yankees1]

I used one a number of years ago but not now. The way I hold my mandolin I didn't notice any increase in volume with the tone guard. Plus, there is more of a chance to scratch the mandolin so a no go for me ! Others swear by it however !

[Steve Ostrander]

I have one on my Breedlove. It does make it louder. Not WAY louder, but noticeably louder. BTW, it fits in its Breedlove case with the TG on the back. Same with my F9 in it's Travelite case.

[B381]

I know mine works.....did the "corner test".....lol

[Dave Greenspoon]

Yes. Both the Rigel and Eastman 515 wear one at all times, along with a Longhollow Softy strap. The 515 also sports a McClung OTP arm rest between the 'Gard and the wood.

[MandoRock65]

It works on my Flatiron! It made quite a noticeable difference in volume for me. Thanks to TG peeps!

GJ Project

[Br1ck]

This is one of those things that depend entirely on how you hold a mandolin, and how much beer you have consumed.

If there is a lot of back surface resting on your beer inhanced stomach, it will make quite a difference.

[colorado_al]

Short answer - Yes!
Long answer - not everyone needs or likes one, but most who have tried one use them all the time.

[DHopkins]

Short answer - Yes!
Long answer - not everyone needs or likes one, but most who have tried one use them all the time.

Good answer

[Rick Jones]

If there is a lot of back surface resting on your beer inhanced stomach, it will make quite a difference.

This no doubt explains the noticeable tonal improvement when I have the ToneGuard in place.

[colorado_al]

This no doubt explains the noticeable tonal improvement when I have the ToneGuard in place.

When the situation calls for subdued playing, I find it useful to have a built in mandolin mute, honed by years of drinking. I also find it useful to have a tonegard for every other time.

[mandroid]

A lot better than damaging the varnish, holding the mandolin against the Sweaty T shirt,
you may be wearing..

[yankees1]

Had one and didn't like it it ! Probably by the way I hold my mandolin but I got just as much volume without it as with it !

[Dave Martin]

I like mine.

[JeffD]

If you already play with the back of the instrument away from your body, it won't make any difference.

[vince f]

I have a Flatiron A5, I am extremely skeptical of tone improvement gimmicks, but the Toneguard works as advertised. If you think of the instrument as a combination of vibrating pieces, it makes sense that dampening vibration with your belly would dampen the sound of the instrument. I do not agree with the notion that all that matters of the back plate is the REFLECTION of the sound back out to the front. The back has much more impact than that. it's ability to freely vibrate affects the tone in a notable way. You may notice some old timers (Including Bill Monroe when soloing) holding the mando away from their body with only the tail anchored on their chest. Before the toneguard, this is how people would free up the back to vibrate.

The idea that it only affects the sound for the player makes little sense. Something that is resonating freely is going to have a different sound. It may be less noticeable the further away you are, it might be more noticeable with a close mic, and less noticeable with plate mounted pickup, but there will be some effect.

Don't buy a knockoff. The real ones are not that expensive.

[MediumMando5722]

Look at the list of people using them. Now email the guy that makes them and ask if he pays them anything. The answer should shed some light on whether they work or not.