#51 Does Your Pickguard Kill Your Tone? Hayes Griffin Weighs In

Join Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin as they discuss gear essentials, touring adventures, and what happens when you remove a pickguard from your mandolin.

Hayes shares his inspiring experience at Blue Ridge Guitar Camp with flat-picking heroes and his recent European tour backing Beppe Gambetta in Italy. 

Discover the community's favorite cleaning products—including the legendary Fast Fret string cleaner—and debate the pickguard question: does it really affect your tone? 

Plus, hear about Southern Flavor, New Camptown Races, and why the Punch Brothers' latest release is absolutely worth your attention.

Visit our website for more episodes:
https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

Show Notes

Topics Covered:

Blue Ridge Guitar Camp

• Hayes' experience at the prestigious North Carolina guitar camp
• Meeting and studying with Cody Kilby (six hours of instruction)
• Playing alongside bluegrass legends and instructors
• Leading jam sessions at the camp
• Collings Guitars video collaboration with Cody Kilby

Southern Flavor (Fiddle Tune Adaptation)

• A "deep cut" in bluegrass—rarely called at jam sessions
• Hayes teaching this tune to Magnus years ago
• The power of shared musical language and common repertoire
• Upcoming guitar and contest arrangement lessons from Hayes

New Camptown Races Project

• Magnus's detailed transcription and tutorial work
• Multiple versions and variations of the tune
• Jesse Brooks as an inspiration for "hero licks"
• Building resources for students: basic version + performance arrangement + hero licks series

Hayes' European Adventure: Italy with Beppe Gambetta

• Week-long visit to Genova, Italy with wife Quinn
• Three nights of concerts at the National Theater in Genova
• Collaborators: Trey Hensley and Maddie Denton (East Nash Grass)
• Theme: Jam band music focused on improvisation
• Hayes proposed to Quinn in Liguria, Italy (the region where Genova is located)

Community Music Choice: If You Could Only Listen to One Musician

• Chris: Steven Stills (solo), Fleetwood Mac (band)
• Jane: Cecilia Bartoli (Italian mezzo-soprano)
• Steve: Johann Sebastian Bach (composer/repertoire)
• Hayes: Jethro Burns (bridges country, fiddle, swing, and jazz)
• Magnus: Julian Lage or Chris Thile (contemporary, making new music) 
  • Recent discovery: Punch Brothers' new single "Song of the Water Kelpie" from their latest release
  • Recommendation: Listen to audio first, then watch the music video to see how they layer instruments

The Pickguard Debate: Does It Affect Sound?

• Magnus's experimental video comparing mandolin sound with and without pickguard
• Findings: Subtle difference in high-end frequencies and pick noise
• Hayes' take: More treble and pick-string contact without the guard
• Pickguard blocks part of the F-hole, affecting airflow
• Magnus removed pickguard from his recording setup to eliminate pick-strike noise
• Different instruments respond differently to pickguard removal

Community Pickguard Opinions:

• Bob: Removed pickguard immediately; lighter touch means no protection needed
• Kit: Pickguard fell off mid-gig; got scratches on varnish—pickguard necessary
• Tim: Questions impact of pickguard blocking F-hole
• Hayes: Keeps pickguard on Red Diamond (likes the look, minimal tone difference)
• Buas mandolins: Standard without pickguards (no protection needed with proper technique)
• Northfield: Uses thin, close-to-strings pickguards

Cleaning & Maintenance Products

Magnus's Essential:

• GHS Fast Fret - String cleaner and lubricant
• Daily use for non-coated strings
• Extends string life significantly
• Removes hand oils and residue
• Lasts about 1-2 years before needing replacement

Community Recommendations:

• Martin Guitar Polish (lemony scent, popular for wiping down instruments)
• Music Nomad Fretboard F1 Oil (fretboard maintenance)
• Elderly Instruments Microfiber Cloths (high-quality polishing cloths)
• D'Addario Fretboard Lemon Oil (string change maintenance)
• Jim Dunlop Cleaning Sprays and Fretboard Oils

Hayes' Approach:

• Uses coated strings most of the time now
• Appreciates Fast Fret for extending uncoded string life
• Has oily hands; strings would go dead after one gig without maintenance

Featured Music:

• Punch Brothers - "Song of the Water Kelpie" (from latest album)

People Mentioned:

• Brian Sutton (Blue Ridge Guitar Camp instructor)
• Cody Kilby (guitarist, Blue Ridge Guitar Camp instructor)
• Beppe Gambetta (Italian bluegrass/traditional musician)
• Trey Hensley (guitarist)
• Maddie Denton (fiddler, East Nash Grass)
• Jethro Burns (mandolinist, Hayes' choice for lifetime listening)
• Julian Lage (contemporary guitarist/composer)
• Chris Thile (mandolinist/Punch Brothers frontman)
• Jesse Brooks (mandolinist)

Resources:

• Blue Ridge Guitar Camp
• Chapman's Acoustic Shop (Buas dealer in US)
• GHS Fast Fret product
• Elderly Instruments (quality cloths and maintenance supplies)
• Mandolin Secrets Academy (video version of this episode)
• Guitar Club (Hayes' online courses)