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Thread: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

  1. #51
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Honestly - for the very life of me,i can't imagine a scenario where my pick or fingers could cause such damage - that's what it is,it's not simply ''wear'' IMHO. However,all folk aren't the same. The top on my 11 year old Weber is still like new,apart from a very,very slight 'bloom' on the top where my arm rests, & you even need to look at that spot in the correct light to see it.

    My 3 look ''as good in the wood'' as in this pic.,although the previous owner of my Ellis didn't seem to be too careful with it. It has a few scratches,but they're not too severe,
    Ivan
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  3. #52
    Registered User Billy Packard's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Hear! Hear! Montana Matt and others that find the FR/PG a nuisance and in the way. Chris Thile has PERFECT right-hand techniquehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FB2oZdNlwM

    I have no marks what-so-ever from my right hand on ANY of my mandolins. (...ok, a tiny, tiny bit on my oldest guitar!)

    Before I removed the PG/FR's they were in the way and required adjustments to avoid hitting them. Once removed, issue resolved!

    BY ALL MEANS USE THEM IF YOU NEED THEM TO TO AVOID MARING THE MANDOLIN.
    "Finger Planting" may be something some pickers need to do but damaging the mandolin doesn't need to happen, use the FR/PG to protect your lovely mandolin.

    Billy

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  5. #53
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    I've concluded that my mandolin doesn't sound much different with or without the pickguard, and as far as what feels better I don't feel any difference. So now it really just comes down to what looks better...
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  7. #54

    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Quote Originally Posted by Demetrius View Post
    I've concluded that my mandolin doesn't sound much different with or without the pickguard, and as far as what feels better I don't feel any difference. So now it really just comes down to what looks better...
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    If that's how you feel then leaving it on will likely make your mandolin look better over time.

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  9. #55
    Scroll Lock Austin Bob's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Kotapish View Post
    I believe Gibson always described them as "finger rests" rather than "pickguards," and that what I use mine for--it's more about the mechanics of picking than about protecting anything from the pick.

    The pick never touches it, but my pinky sits there lightly and brushes along the abbreviated, unbound rest. With out the finger rest, I tend to anchor on the top by the f-hole and I don't feel like my hand is in the right place. After nearly 40 years, it's not likely that I'm going to relearn my right-hand technique to float freely.

    And although the pick doesn't do any damage with the finger rest/pickguard off, no matter how short I clip that pinky nail, there's some wear and tear on the top where that little finger brushes.

    In terms of the looks of the thing, I actually prefer the look of the instrument without a finger rest, so I prefer it to be as small/invisible/unobtrusive as possible.

    I've never noticed any perceptible difference in tone with it on or off, and I'm one of those guys who does notice a difference with a Tone-Gard.
    Paul, I was going to reply to this thread, but when I went back to reread the post, you already said what I wanted to say about right hand technique, except that I prefer the way a mando looks with the pickguard. And by the way, that's what Cumberland calls them, so that's good enough for me.

    I've tried to relearn my right hand technique to not touch the top, but old habits die hard and I sometimes find myself playing that way, especially when I'm playing live and concentrating on other things.

    I debated for weeks on what to put on my new Apitius mandolin currently under construction, I finally decided on the abbreviated model since that can always be repaired to be unnoticeable that it was ever installed. But I still like the look of the full, old school version slightly better.
    A quarter tone flat and a half a beat behind.

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  11. #56

    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Mr Monroe discusses his absence of 'pickguard' (5:05") https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/c...bson-The-Video

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  13. #57
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Quote Originally Posted by Demetrius View Post
    I've concluded that my mandolin doesn't sound much different with or without the pickguard, and as far as what feels better I don't feel any difference. So now it really just comes down to what looks better...
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    Nice Gil! Like the dark burst. That is a lot of pg. I guess he likes the traditional LL look. If it were mine I'd prolly want the pg but a smaller modern one.

    To each his own. Fwiw, I'd sure like to have your dilemma

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  15. #58
    Registered User Matt Bowe's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

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  16. #59
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Quote Originally Posted by Demetrius View Post
    I've concluded that my mandolin doesn't sound much different with or without the pickguard, and as far as what feels better I don't feel any difference. So now it really just comes down to what looks better...
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    D,
    I think it looks wonderful with out the Pick Guard/Finger rest or whatever anyone wants to call it.

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  18. #60
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Quote Originally Posted by Matt Bowe View Post
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    One player - three different mandolins
    There's a definite danger to non elevated fingerboards! Poor lil feller. That's why most every guitar has the big skid plate. Is there even room on a design like the first one to have a guard?
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  20. #61
    Registered User Doug Edwards's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    I prefer the look and feel of the pickguard. I tend to brush it with my fingers as I play and not plant.

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  22. #62
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Quote Originally Posted by Matt Bowe View Post
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    One player - three different mandolins
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  23. #63
    Registered User Mike Snyder's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    No issues with the armor-coated F5G, fingernail scratches and some wear around the treble f-hole. The Mike Black is varnish and immediately began showing tiny dents from my pinky fingernail. Got some very thin scratch guard stuff online that sticks by surface tension. Almost invisible. First became aware of it when Scott T very graciously offered his Nuggett for a few tunes. Good stuff, very protective. Got it on both mandolins now.
    Mike Snyder

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  25. #64
    Registered User f5loar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Bill Monroe prefered the pickguard............ that is until they fell off. Click image for larger version. 

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  27. #65
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Demetrius - I prefer your Gil. with it's pickguard,although it looks nice without it as well. Personally,i'd always opt for an 'abbreviated' pick guard fitted to the neck without the mounting bracket screwed to the mandolin side - as per Ellis mandolins & others.
    That's purely my personal preference. I think that an appropriate pickguard design can add a lot to the appearance of a mandolin. I'd have them on my Lebeda & Weber if i could source good ones in the UK. I could easily make one for my Lebeda,using a similar mounting bracket to the one on the 'guard that used to be on it,but i couldn't do the edge binding - never mind !,
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  29. #66
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Straight from the horse's mouth (FRETS, May/1979):
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  31. #67
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Quote Originally Posted by billkilpatrick View Post
    … also, screwing holes in my mandolin is a no-no.

    No tailpiece, then?

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  33. #68
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Quote Originally Posted by Demetrius View Post
    Sierra and Thile no risk of scratches? You're kidding right? Have your seen thier mandolins? All of Thiles mandolins have had a good amout of scratches and wear. I owned Thiles Dude at one point and it had scratches everywhere, the treble f hole was all chewed up from the pick.
    And Sierra, I've played Sierra's mandolin on many occayions and believe me it has pick scratches and arm wear. Granted it's factory distressed but I've seen it along the way and she's put a lot of that wear on it all on her own.
    Assuming the mandolin lying on its back on a table the horizontal distance from the e-strings to the f-hole is 4-5 cm, the vertical distance about 2.5 (one inch). It's hard to imagine the pick ever coming into contact with the f-hole, especially since the ring finger and pinky usually are closer to the top than the pick. I've seen several videos of Thile´s playing, and even in his most vigorous moments of rhythm playing the pick never seems to leave the area of the strings. Scratches and marks can arise in many ways (esp. outside the playing situation); I have some very enigmatic scratches on my guitars, e.g., a long one starting just below (in playing position) the pickguard. Problably from hitting a piece of furniture or something.


    As for Sierra Hull I believe she started out with a Steffey-like brushing/planting technique, but judging from videos she's changed lately.

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  35. #69
    mandolin slinger Steve Ostrander's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    I don't use a pick guard. They seem to inhibit my strumming. But I'm not a pinky planter either. I don't see how they could not inhibit the projection of an f-style.
    Living’ in the Mitten

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  37. #70
    Registered User Hendrik Ahrend's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    A pg keeps others from scratching my mando. No difference in sound, with or without pg, as far as I can tell. Kevin Lynch is even convinced his Loar sounds better with pg on.

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  39. #71
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Never tried em before, till I put one on my latest. LOVE pick guards now.

  40. #72
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Quote Originally Posted by ralph johansson View Post
    Assuming the mandolin lying on its back on a table the horizontal distance from the e-strings to the f-hole is 4-5 cm, the vertical distance about 2.5 (one inch). It's hard to imagine the pick ever coming into contact with the f-hole, especially since the ring finger and pinky usually are closer to the top than the pick. I've seen several videos of Thile´s playing, and even in his most vigorous moments of rhythm playing the pick never seems to leave the area of the strings.
    Am I the only one who remembers this tweet?

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  42. #73
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Quote Originally Posted by pheffernan View Post
    Am I the only one who remembers this tweet?

    https://mobile.twitter.com/christhil...81458952744960
    Could be, I never visit Twitter. Of course, the post I commented on referred to the treble f-hole, naturally since the subject of the thread is pickguards. On the ceiling side of the strings there is of course much greater risk of the pick, not the fingers, reaching the top at the end of a vigorous strumming segment - that has happened a couple of times on my Runeson oval hole.

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  44. #74
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Quote Originally Posted by pheffernan View Post
    Am I the only one who remembers this tweet?

    https://mobile.twitter.com/christhil...81458952744960
    Hmmm, with damage like that, I'd think that such a well known performer should just get a new mandolin.

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  46. #75
    Registered User Sherry Cadenhead's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickguard or no pickgaurd?

    Admittedly, I didn't read every single post in this thread, but did read all responses in a more recent thread. In any event, I didn't see 2 issues I'm wondering about.

    An abbreviated pickguard appears to be preferred. Why is that?

    Will the attachment of a pickguard potentially damage the instrument?

    My teacher says I need a pickguard on my new (to me) Weber Gallatin oval A.

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