If hat, then shoulder. Otherwise neck. Neck is much better for when I forget to hang the onto instrument.
Tone Gard apparatus is definitely effective. I use one on my standard mandolin. I do not use it on my mandola, nor on my Mandonators (five-string resonator mandolins). Mainly because they're somewhat costly. But they do work well, I think. My belly is pretty ordinary. Somewhere between a six-pack and a pony keg. I think any volume belly will mute the back from vibrating. Whether that matters to your mandolin or to your ears is strictly up to you! Along these lines, what kind of strap do you use? I use a leather bootstrap on my standard instruments and a smallish leather guitar strap on my Mandonators. I wanted to use the bootstrap but they are a little too heavy for that to be comfortable. Bootstraps are really cheap and always fit in the case with no fuss. Topher On Fri, Mar 27, 2009 at 3:13 PM, Robin Gravina <[email protected]> wrote: > Sorry folks, nothing raunchy here: strictly mandolin content > > A few months ago, I realised that I was clamping my mando against my > ever-increasing belly and thus stopping the thing from making sound, so I > bought one of those Tone Guard things - the apparatus as Mr. Tater kindly > referred to it. I definitely got better tone afterwards, but perhaps that > was psychological, rather than anything else... > > I used to sling the thing over my right shoulder, but changed to a full, > over the neck, strap position, which does give control, and seems to be > recommended by many, but from a purely selfish showmanship point of view, it > doesn't give you the opportunity to assume good sexy poses onstage, as well > as keeping air around all sides of your mandolin. Also, there seems to be an > advantage in pointing the neck away from you, Monroe machine gun style, when > giving it some with the tremolo. Also, more importantly, if submitting a > video to tatertube, I would like the mandolin and whatever disguise my > daughter gives me to be seen, by having the think up by my chest. > > So, what do you all use - over the neck, or right shoulder only? Has anyone > moved from one to t'other? Apparatus yes, or apparatus no? Full belly or > six-pack? > > I'd rather be practising than writing this, but the house is sleeping > Robin > > > > > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
