Do you use a Tone Gard?

[Dan in NH]

Well do you? And why/why not?

[MikeEdgerton]

Well do you? And why/why not?

Yes, it's the only mandolin accessory that I recommend with no reservations.

[Dan in NH]

Currently I do. When I decided to buy my first mandolin I sent to mandolessons.com, and Baron Collins-Hill had videos of him using a Tone Gard on his mandolin. I decided that if he purported himself to teach beginners, and he used a Tone Gard, then it must be worthwhile. So when I ordered my mandolin from Elderly Instruments, I ordered a Tone Gard along with it.

Pure monkey see, monkey do.

[Dan in NH]

Yes, it's the only mandolin accessory that I recommend with no reservations.

My KM-250 came with a gig bag, and I find that I can fit my mandolin into the gig bag with clip-on tuner, arm rest, strap, and Tone Gard all still attached. I'm currently looking at some nicer mandolins that have very form fitting hard cases.

Do you find that mandolins don't fit into their hard cases with a Tone Gard attached?

[Kirk Higgins]

Yes, I use it primarily to protect the softer varnish finish on the mandolin back from my belt buckles.

[Sue Rieter]

Don't have one and don't know enough about the utility of them to fully have an opinion. I feel like the usefulness might depend on one's physiology.

[urobouros]

I have one on every mandolin but for the GBOMs. I find it's more common than not that they fit in the case but I have a couple that don't.

[nultylynch]

I do. I like the sound of my mandolin more when it's one. I also find it makes it a bit more stable on my body.

[Dan in NH]

Don't have one and don't know enough about the utility of them to fully have an opinion. I feel like the usefulness might depend on one's physiology.

Sue, it that a fat joke?

[tmsweeney]

I do on most of my mandolins, especially if I am playing in a group, but even solo or just by yourself the difference is noticeable.
If you have a mandolin with no tone of volume, the tone guard may not be enough to make a noticeable difference, but for a decent instrument its worth the small investment IMHO.

[Sue Rieter]

No, it's not, Dan, that wouldn't be my style. Just my impression from what I've heard. I could easily be wrong.

[Bill McCall]

If you hold your instrument against your body, you probably diminish the sound somewhat. If you hold your instrument at a 45 degree angle from you body, with the back not against yourself, it doesn’t seem necessary.

But like many things, people defend either position vehemently.

btw, I heard they make them for banjos too. You place them on the front side.

[Tjspahr1]

There are several case options that accept a Tone-Gard with no problem. I have a Northfield Tura and a Hoffee case, both of which have no issue accommodating an instrument with a Tone-Gard.

[Jeff Mando]

Very simple. Some people like accessorizing and some don't. Which one are you?

[urobouros]

No, it's not, Dan, that wouldn't be my style. Just my impression from what I've heard. I could easily be wrong.

I think you're exactly right but can really only speak for my own girth

[seankeegan]

I've one for each mandolin. If I bought another mandolin, I'd order another tonegard straight away.

[Central Joe]

Ordered one last Fri., supposed to be here today. I thought if nothing else, it would protect the back of my mandolin. joe

[mandrian]

Hi,

I use one and think it works. My observation is that the majority of top professionals use them and I think that speaks for itself.

Regards,

[Mandobart]

This is a perennial question here. I have one on every mandolin except my Mandobird VIII and my 1930's Stahl Banjolin (although since it has a full size pot a banjo tone-gard would fit it.)

Back when you could get them custom made I got one for my 10 string mandola and for my F4 octave mandolin. I'd have one made for my 10 string mandocello if custom gards were still an option.

I got one for my HD-28 too.

Not really necessary for me if I only played sitting down, but I know the tone-gards keep the instruments off my body when I play standing up.

[Mainer73]

Hi,

I use one and think it works. My observation is that the majority of top professionals use them and I think that speaks for itself.

Regards,

That might be a bit subjective. A good many top pros I've seen don't use them. They're a lot like shoulder rests for fiddles.

[cayuga red]

That might be a bit subjective. A good many top pros I've seen don't use them. They're a lot like shoulder rests for fiddles.

Well stated.

[Nashville]

No. Tried it for a couple weeks. Sold it. Hated it. I tend to hold the mandolin slightly away from my body anyway, so I really didn't notice an improvement in tone or volume but what I did notice was the feeling of hard metal. I did not like the feeling of metal whereas I do like the feeling of smooth wood. It was day and night for me, I will never use one again.

[Mitch Stein]

The bands I play in are raucous bar band music. At home, I can adjust my position to juice all the tone I need. At the shows I play, nobody would hear the difference. I should protect the beautiful back of my baby but she likes to run around naked as possible.

[mandrian]

That might be a bit subjective. A good many top pros I've seen don't use them. They're a lot like shoulder rests for fiddles.

Hi,

I was just thinking of my personal favourites, David Grisman, Andy Statman, Chris Thile, Mike Marshall and John Reischman. They all use them, but you’re right I’m sure there are some top players that don’t. Each to their own.

Regards,

[musicofanatic]

Being a cheapskate I rarely purchase anything new/full price, but found someone dissatisfied like Nashville a coupla comments up, and bought one used. I enjoy controlling the amplitude of my old D-18 by varying the contact with my torso, but because of being so much shorter than a guitar, the same technique did not easily transfer to the mandolin for me. My first reaction to the tonegard on my mandolin was that it made it noticeably heavier, but I have come to appreciate the heft, and slightly added dimensional depth of my instrument with the thing attached. And now I'm loud all the time(!), with pick attack as dynamic control. The entire mess fits fine in my Pegasus case, but since I purchased the case used, and they are individually made to fit a specific instrument, I have no idea what the case was initially made to fit...just lucky, in my "case"...