A Tone-Gard Open Back Banjo (11") by Tone-Gard, featuring a decorative black metal swirl design, rests on a beige tufted surface with its wooden frame and metal hardware clearly visible.
Close-up of the inside rim of a Tone-Gard Open Back Banjo (12) by Tone-Gard, highlighting metal hardware and wooden body details. The Acoustic Shoppe logo is visible in the lower right corner.
Close-up of the Tone-Gard Open Back Banjo (12) by Tone-Gard, highlighting the wooden frame, metal brackets, and plastic head—offering protection similar to a mandolin back protector. The Acoustic Shoppe logo appears in the bottom right corner.
Close-up side view of a Tone-Gard Open Back Banjo (12) by Tone-Gard, highlighting the wooden body, metal brackets, and drumhead with a blurred background and Acoustic Shoppe logo in the bottom right corner.
A Tone-Gard Open Back Banjo (12) by Tone-Gard with a light wood finish and black spiral metal design across the clear drumhead rests on a wooden stand. A patterned rug and The Acoustic Shoppe logo appear in the background.

Tone-Gard Open Back Banjo (12")

Sale price$89.99
14-day return policy Not what you needed? Return it within 14 days in original condition.
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Most items usually ship within 24 hours. Exceptions will be noted below.

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Every one of us plays. Virtual demos available on request.

Description

The Tone-Gard™ is designed to isolate the back of a mandolin (or any similar instrument) from the player's body, producing more volume and enhancing the tone.

You can test the concept right now without a Gard. Play your instrument normally, while facing a wall about a foot or two away, allowing the sound to bounce back directly so you can hear how your instrument projects. After you are used to the sound, hold the mandolin by the neck so that the back of the instrument is a couple of inches away from your body. Now try playing some chop chords. Go back and forth, against and away from your body, and you will notice a difference. You will hear a difference just hitting one chop and letting it ring while holding against you, then away. (If you don't hear the difference, it's time to visit an audiologist — no kidding.)

An extra benefit is protecting the back of your instrument from wear, dings, and scratches. You can and should leave the Gard on the instrument all the time, not take it on and off. It fits in almost all cases.

Preëminent mandolinists — such as David Grisman, Mike Marshall, Chris Thile, Ricky Skaggs, Andy Statman, John Reischman, Chris Hillman, Roland White, and many others — use and recommend the Tone-Gard™ to get the best possible sound. A Gard improves anything from starter instruments to Loars.






Thanks for checking out The Acoustic Shoppe's Online store. We are one of the nation’s largest authorized Eastman dealers. All new instruments & accessories come with their full manufacturer’s warranty & every instrument goes through our shop to assure that they are player ready. With 25+ years experience in the acoustic music industry as The Chapmans, our goal is to provide you with the best customer experience possible so we can be your music store for life. Voted NAMM Top 100 Dealer in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & Top 3 Emerging Dealer in '17, ’18, & '19.

Specifications

Why Choose The Acoustic Shoppe

Inspected & Set Up On-Site

Every instrument gets our 23-point professional setup by our in-house repair techs before it ships.

Warranty Handled For You

Authorized dealer for every brand we carry — we deal with warranty concerns on your behalf.

Musicians, Not Salespeople

Our whole team plays. Virtual consultations and honest recommendations — we know you by name.

NAMM Top 100 Dealer

Voted a NAMM Top 100 dealer for over a decade — a small shop trusted worldwide.

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Four people sit around a wooden table with microphones, laughing and talking in a cozy, rustic studio. Musical instruments and vintage decor are visible in the background, including a large sign that reads TAS.