Replacement for Gibson pickguard clamp

**Matteo** · Jan-26-2022, 3:17pm

Hey y'all! Long time since I posted on here - hope everyone is well!

I was wondering what people use to replace those old pickguard clamps on their Gibson A mandos.
I don't want to drill a hole in the side of the mandolin to use a standard pickguard bracket. I read on older posts that some people use violin chin rest clamps, but some modifications are needed...and I'm not very handy with that sort of stuff...

Any help? If someone currently builds a bracket that could work, I'm glad to purchase it.
Thanks guys!
Matt.

**jim simpson** · Jan-26-2022, 8:01pm

Here's a thread with a photo of one I made for a missing clamp on my (then) F-4:

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...1912-A4-Gibson

**gtani7** · Jan-27-2022, 3:28am

The new style mini are attached bya couple pins in the neck only, unless they need support at the bridge end where I've seen an unobtrusive support pillar padded with felt or leather or something to protect the finish (ok, probably look odd on a vintage Gibson but...

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...ted-pickguards

**Matteo** · Jan-27-2022, 4:27am

Originally Posted by jim simpson

Here's a thread with a photo of one I made for a missing clamp on my (then) F-4:

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...1912-A4-Gibson

Jim, this looks very good and sort of what I was going for. Fabricating that plastic piece with the cork under it is what my main issue is...how did you got about doing it? Do you have the possibility of doing others?
Thanks!
Matt

**jim simpson** · Jan-27-2022, 1:31pm

Matt, the plastic piece was intact on my pickguard so the metal loop threaded into it. I wonder if you could glue a similar sized piece of wood, stained dark, then drill end to receive the threaded rod?

**Matteo** · Jan-27-2022, 1:41pm

Originally Posted by jim simpson

Matt, the plastic piece was intact on my pickguard so the metal loop threaded into it. I wonder if you could glue a similar sized piece of wood, stained dark, then drill end to receive the threaded rod?

Yeah I might try to do something like that...
Thanks!

**jim simpson** · Jan-27-2022, 1:49pm

Paul Fox has offered replica mandolin pickguards with similar hardware in the past. You could contact him to see if he could provide some or all of the pieces that you need.

https://www.fox-guitars.com/