keeping the mando off your stomach

[OldSausage]

It’s so hard to find a good mandolin-themed controversy.

[ColdBeerGoCubs]

I agree Jim. By the way, I almost used a capo on my mandolin tonight but I thought better of it as I was afraid someone from the Cafe might be at the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEZPA1p7tOk

[kjbllc]

thanks for the info

[Bob Buckingham]

Tone-Gard YES:
Chris Thile
Ronnie McCoury
David Grisman
Ricky Skaggs

Tone-Gard NO:
Sam Bush
Sharon Gilchrist
Marty Stuart
Mike Compton
Adam Steffey

Tone-Gard SOMETIMES:
Mike Marshall
Sierra Hull

Tone-Gard WHAT'S THAT?
Bill Monroe

Add John Reischman to the yes column.

[Bill McCall]

Add all the classical players to the ‘no’ column.

[Bill Baldridge]

Add all of the classical players who play with banjo players to the "yes" column.

[EvanElk]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEZPA1p7tOk

Bill's dance moves are awesome!

[Ranald]

What's essentially the same discussion is following two threads. On the other thread, entitled "tone guard" Mike Edgerton said: "Take your tenor and hold it up against your belly and face into a corner and play. Now hold it out like a machine gun away from your belly and play into the corner. Does it sound better to you? If not don't worry about it. Count yourself lucky that you can't hear it but don't assume nobody else can't hear it. Nobody incorporates it into the build because they aren't all that expensive and some folks don't like them. There are few well known users on the Tone-Gard website. I'll note that Monroe never used one because it hadn't been invented. He did hold the mandolin out away from his body at times when he was taking a break though." Thanks, Mike. I tried that experiment and definitely noticed the difference, though I realized that I usually play seated and don't have the instrument to my belly. (Bill didn't have a lot of belly anyway.)

Here's Bill playing. He generally angles his mandolin so that it has minimal contact with his belly, and, as Mike says, gives the mandolin a lift when he takes a break.

By the way, what does a Tone-Gard weigh?

If the links don't work, search YouTube for "Bill Monroe & The Blue Grass Boys - Uncle Pen (1965)".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeZPAQRl7TA

[mandroid]

Recently they are produced by CNC laser cut out, with no welding, that ended custom options..

but If you can weld, make one of your own, just for yourself..

of the Retail Cost, the seller has a business margin in there..

[Steve 2E]

Bill's dance moves are awesome!

Yes they are!!! And not to cause any further controversy, but that is absolutely the best way to keep a mandolin away from your stomach! And I love Doc’s capo confession! Great stuff!

[Bill McCall]

Add all of the classical players who play with banjo players to the "yes" column.

How do they fit bowlbacks?

[Mike Romkey]

I only used the word controversial because some people think they're anathema. : ) Paul Duff told me not to use one. But I did, and I love it. Some of it might be mandolin specific. I don't have one on my Red Diamond, but I don't notice much of a muting effect when I stand up with a strap with that particular instrument. I know a pretty well-known dealer, whom I respect, who says they're worthless, do-nothing accessories. Can't say I agree.

The other related item is are those clamp-on arm rests. I did notice a muting effect from my arm with the Duff. The arm rest helped, in my opinion. But it's not as if I feel either of those two items are indispensable to every mandolin. They might help on a certain mandolin for a certain player. Don't have either on the Red Diamond. I do have a tone guard on my A2Z. It has a noticeable effect on keeping the instrument from sounding muted when I stand up.

I haven't had any issues with mandolins not fitting in cases with a tone guard on.

[Br1ck]

Never mind the tonegards, it's the diet and exercise being the solution to everything that pisses me off.

[Bill McCall]

Never mind the tonegards, it's the diet and exercise being the solution to everything that pisses me off.

Give up kale, its liberating

and its cocktail hour now