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Thread: keeping the mando off your stomach

  1. #1

    Default keeping the mando off your stomach

    I just found out how much better my mando resonates when off my body. is this a thing most people know and I am just finding out>?

  2. #2

    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    Tone gard!!!

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  4. #3
    Registered User mbruno's Avatar
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    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    100% agree on Tonegard. I have one on both my acoustic mandolins - the difference in volume alone is impressive.
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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    +1 Tone-gard. Tony is a member of the Cafe.

    https://sites.google.com/site/thetonegard/Home
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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  7. #5

    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    +1 more for the tonegard. When I started playing mandolin, I read somewhere (probably here at the Cafe!) about holding the instrument away from my stomach. I could notice a difference as a player, but I asked my violinist wife if she could hear a difference as an audience member. She said that it was very noticeable, so I bought the ToneGard and have kept it on my mandolin ever since.

  8. #6
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    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    My BMI are 17.9, my pointy ribs keeps the flesh inside and the mando free of the body
    jensh

  9. #7

    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    bummer he does not make one for mine,

  10. #8

    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    I'm not a ToneGuard fan, for the looks, weight and other reasons. However, it does to what it purports to do. I use a strap over the right shoulder (Monroe style) which orients the mandolin such that only the end edge is touching my body. I started that way just because it's what Monroe did, but ended up having other benefits.

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  12. #9
    Registered User MellowHoly's Avatar
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    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    I am playing mandolin for less than a month but that was one of the first things I saw on youtube lessons, though. Thanks for the information, though. Bet some people will find it useful!

  13. #10

    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    I bought a tonegard and was a big fan for a while. But it adds considerably to the weight of a mandolin, and although they are well designed, it is nonetheless easy to damage your mandolin with them through user error. One day I took my tonegard off, and since then I have felt free as a bird, and I learned how to hold the mandolin properly.

    For the first few years after I started out I tended to clamp the mandolin to my body, probably just out of general timidity. Once I stopped doing that, everything improved. Now I am rich and successful and have published several bestselling self-help books*.

    *not actually true

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  15. #11
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    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    no two ways about it, tone guard makes big difference in volume and I think in tone as well,
    they are not expensive and yes there is risk of scratching or damaging the finish,
    my attitude is always -I did not purchase the mandolin to view in a display case, I purchased it to play it.
    I do notice this is less of problem on larger instruments like octaves or cellos or even my mandola.
    I agree with OldSausage, we often start out holding the mandolin too tightly to our bodies and with the left hand, relaxation is important.
    instead of self-help I went with self-destructive books - haven't made a dime yet, turns out most people don't need guidance on this...
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  16. #12

    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    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

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  18. #13
    Fingers of Concrete ccravens's Avatar
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    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    Quote Originally Posted by kjbllc View Post
    bummer he does not make one for mine
    I was going to say that he makes them custom to order, but then saw that he stopped doing custom orders at the end of 2018.

    Max Girouard sent him the specs for my mandola and he made one especially for my instrument.

    Guess I got it made just in time..
    Chris Cravens

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  19. #14

    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    Did you call him? What kind of mandolin do you have?

    Quote Originally Posted by kjbllc View Post
    bummer he does not make one for mine,

  20. #15

    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    yes I did its a rigel, and he does not make custom rigs anymore

  21. #16
    Registered User Mike Romkey's Avatar
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    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    I know they're controversial but I am a fan of Tone-Gards. If you're playing sitting down you can keep your body from muting the mandolin. If you're standing and playing with a strap, they can make a big difference. I have to say I have not noticed the added weight is at all noticeable to me.
    '20 Ellis A5 Tradition, '09 Gilchrist Model 1, “July 9” Red Diamond F-5, '12 Duff F-5, '19 Collings MT2, ’24 A2-Z, ’24 F-2, '13 Collings mandola, '82 D-35, Gibson Keb Mo. http://www.bucktownrevue.com

  22. #17
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    AFAIK the main difference is sides of Rigels are curved so bend the mounting points, to suit. then slip the tubing sections over them again ?
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  24. #18
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    You could always sit down.. use a chair, .. set your mandolin, (say on your left knee, if right handed) , a little ways away from your belly...
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  25. #19
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Romkey View Post
    I know they're controversial but I am a fan of Tone-Gards.
    Why are they controversial? Anyone who wants to use one should do so or if you don't, then don't. Who cares what others say.

    I have one and the only reason I rarely used it was because it didn't fit in the case while on the mandolin. With my current favorite I started using it since, for some reason, it fits in the case so i just leave it on.

    Now, tone-rite is controversial...
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  26. #20
    Registered User Charlie Bernstein's Avatar
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    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    It's harder to hold a mando away from your stomach than to hold a guitar away. That's because with mando, your left wrist is supposed to jut left, violin-style, instead of angled straight to your left elbow. So pushing out the headstock away from yourself means sticking your left elbow way out in front.

    Tone Gards are supposed to work. But I solve it by not worrying about it.

  27. #21
    Registered User Charlie Bernstein's Avatar
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    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    Why are they controversial? . . .
    Because it's $75 for a few little pieces of stuck-together steel rod.

  28. #22
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    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    Get rid of that beer belly ! ��

  29. #23
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    Quote Originally Posted by Charlie Bernstein View Post
    Because it's $75 for a few little pieces of stuck-together steel rod.
    Why is that controversial? No one is forcing you to buy one. Neither are they forcing you to buy a brown piece of plastic for $35. So what is the problem?
    Jim

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  31. #24
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    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.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  32. #25
    Registered User MarkusSpiel's Avatar
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    Default Re: keeping the mando off your stomach

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    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.
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