Mandolin action too high. And I believe that great players like Chris Thile .

• Mandolin action too high action is still too high with the adjustable bridge/saddle lowered as far as it will go. In any case, an easy way to check is to slide a business care under the E string. jim_n_virginia. The action at the nut (too high, too low or just right) will have the most effect on playability (for the fretting hand) and the least on the sound. My first Martin guitar came new with a saddle that was almost a centimeter too high. This is depressing as repairs will be likely greater than I paid Hello all! I am new to the mandolin and recently bought a secondhand Ashbury AM-50. Here are some approximate I look for an optimal balance between tone, volume and playability for how the person plays his/her mandolin. The bridge is in the correct place--nut to 12th fret X 2. View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries Hi folks- I've got an old 1917 A-4 (on 48-hour approval) with a non-adjustable bridge and no truss rod, and also just bought an F-4 from the same era. If it’s tiny, ie. mandolinsecrets. 17K subscribers in the mandolin community. Advertisement Coins. This is a brand new custom order instrument, from a S. Wrist angle plays Any decent mandolin can be set up with low, easy playability (or higher for strong hands and tough callouses). It was a temporary test bed for my setup skills, but over time I refined it so it felt right, Measure the Action: Use a ruler to measure the distance between the top of the 12th fret and the bottom of the strings. Notice how extravagant bending of the strings was not common in the 60's. If the action's too high -- the strings are too far away from the fingerboard -- it's hard to press them to the fingerboard and the sound isn't clear. IF i need to trim down the hight of the bridge, whats the best way to The problem arises when high action is not a result of the neck relief needing adjustment, but instead is because the action needs to be adjusted at the bridge, nut, of both, and people who think the truss rod is meant to adjust action start cranking away on that thing, and the neck becomes back bowed, yet the action is still to high. , the truss rod in the central neutral position - the original position) the action again is way too high. Hard to give an accurate answer without handling the mandolin myself. If the notes are too high, the nut is too high. – Make sure the strings are in tune. I have moved the bridge (original) all the way back to the very edge of the top's cant, so this is as far as I can push it. 060" at the 12th fret), re-print the saddle with the Z height scaled Gently depress the strings, one at a time, at the first fret. 5 mm pick between fret and string on the 12th fret and lift the mandolin. Are there any suggested paramaters, e. Sounds terrible, but I admit I don't much like the banjo/mandolin sound anyway" Read more "Love the Guitar players of the 60's played guitars with high action. just thinking. I think your nut is a little too low. A lot of mandolins lose tone and/or volume around their lowest, non-buzzing setting. Is there a special technique and/or tool that mandolin players use to tune up without breaking strings? I can't believe an instrument would be designed so that you can't tune up the strings. However, if the action is too low, the strings buzz and rattle against the frets. I know this is all a personal preference buti was 19K subscribers in the mandolin community. Hi everyone, I would say that's definitely too high - normally the guitar standard of around 2mm would be the "target" for these. 4/64th at the 12th fret under the G string (a little lower on the E). All fretted notes on my mandolin play sharp. I would say mid-range quality guitars are rarely well set up. Hello all I recently bought an inexpensive Greek bouzouki from an online seller. #Their actions are somewhat too high, although the necks look fine and the bridges seem to be in the right place. So they just get them in the ballpark and call it good, as do most setup techs. But its still makes it harder to play. I don't know that millimeters is quite precise enough a measurement graduation - but I shoot for about <5/64" action on the G side, and 4/64" or a little less on the E side. Mny instruments are built with nuts that are higher than necessary as 214861 The note is not coming through and is dominated by a muted click. 19K subscribers in the mandolin community. I've wondered if it was the slight difference in string tension. com/blogs/banjo-bens-blogJake shows us how to easily adjust the action on our mandolins with the bridge! If the first fret is a problem then the nut is probably too high. 040 inches on the treble side at the Four mandolins stolen from The Mandolin Store today in a smash and grab. I was going to change my strings as they're kind of old, now, but I also have a buzz when I play. 75 D 2 A 2 When I set my action at the 12th fret and then do the nut the 12th fret action really doesn't change much at all. 5 mm while this one has about 2. fret to string gap at certain frets, etc. If the business card slides in and there is still a bunch of clearance, it's probably a bit too high. If you have established that the action on your instrument is a little too high and the bridge has been lowered as much as possible, what would be the next step for you? that this instrument was set up by the builder on the very high action side in the Action was too high for me so I carefully pulled off bridge saddle and lowered it by sanding it down. You should take it to a luthier or music shop to get it set up properly. I don’t think the bridge is too tall but I now wonder if the neck angle is shot. Maybe even lower, especially with J75's which will swing less than J74's if you see what If it got worse by raising the action, instead I think what may have been happening was that the action was already high enough to make fretting a note difficult, so it wasn’t a traditional buzz, but rather just a difficult to play action. Regarding high action up the neck, that could be due to incorrect neck angle. Let me show you a safe and easy way to adjust your mandolin string height, or action! Remember, we professionally setup every instrument we sell at the General Store. Better to start with the action high and then lower it incrementally until you find the Hard to misread something that has a fixed thickness. If your bridge is bottomed and action still too high I would check if the neck joint didn't move under string tension lowering the neck angle (especially if the bridge is First of all, check the string height at the nut too. 75 mm). Lowering action changes the "break angle", which is the angle the strings make across the bridge. Mandola string gauges are typically lighter than the corresponding course on the mandolin (Eg, medium gauge G string might typically be 0. 6. 214861 The note is not coming through and is dominated by a muted click. That was why I asked if it was more difficult further up the neck (which is what you get with high action). If the mandolin is not as responsive, you may need higher action. Too much of a scatterbrain to stick with anything exclusively. low) New Music - Happy Valley, by Wyatt Ellis; Peghead Nation Launches Gypsy Jazz Mandolin Essentials, Taught by Aaron Weinstein; You are required to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. 110. Asia(?) maker, Bruce Wei. and the action is still way too high. If, however, you wear the mandolin high or the instrument is more horizontal on your lap when you play, you may get better attack from an unbevelled pick. If the action is too high or low (it should be about 0. Remember, changing the action also affects how the instrument plays. If i could afford Do your fingers get sore and hands ache after playing for a while? A lot of players struggle because they are unaware that their mandolin is not set up properly for easy playing. I have no owners manual, but have checked out the manuals on the internet all of which indicate that the action can be lowered by simply removing shims from Usually I have the high E string side a touch lower than the G side to make up for string size. Seems to have more pop and depth now. Cheers. got this used (I believe) cheap-o Rover mandolin. The mandolin is about 3 Action describes the distance you have to press the strings down to get a fretted note to ring properly. It's not a truss rod issue. Aug-01-2022, 4:13pm #10. The action is too high, partly becaue I think the bridge is not the original and is too high and there may be some sink at the neck end of the top. I have moved all of my mandolin lessons to http://www. I could hardly play a tune cleanly. #They both have pickguards that attach to the bridge. Gerry, Action is typically measured from the bottom of the string to the top of the fret (place a good straightedge on the fret). com/playthemandolin/index. Here's the back story. Registered Member. Just how high was his action? Can you take a good thing too far? I changed the strings from . How high should the action be, and does it sound like I should raise it? I would be most grateful for any help. If it’s much greater than that then either the bridge is too high or the neck needs reset. It’s floated 1/8” and improved from the stock setup but is too high for my liking. Okay, I've got a nice little 50 dollar mandolin (Rogue 100A) and I have been playing it for a month or so now. 040" on the G course. Here's an overview on how to balance string gauge, neck relief, bridge radius, action height, intonation and With the right adjustments, you can make playing your mandolin much easier and more comfortable. Scotty18. This is an issue im sure we have all battled or at least that I have. 035 for mandola). Cheers Gary So I’ve had this mandolin for a few years and haven’t had a lot of opportunity to play it. 25mm is way too high. html A I've never played a mandolin that wasn't something in the few-hundred-dollar range from a local shop, so I don't have first hand experience with a well setup instrument. However, I was playing around with my friend's guitar yesterday and I noticed How Incredibly Easy it is to push strings down Is there a special technique and/or tool that mandolin players use to tune up without breaking strings? I can't believe an instrument would be designed so that you can't tune up the strings. Feb-28-2012, 7:35pm. The action your mandolin is probably too high. My customer received it last week, and brought it to me: while it appears well made, it does not play well, mainly because the string height at the nut is too high, and the Action (high vs. Hopefully other members on here will chip in with their advice, Ivan I recently acquired an Ovation mandolin and so far, I'm quite pleased with the sound of the instrument plugged in. Show Printable Version; Jan-02-2005, 12:47pm #1. I find that lower action makes the mandolin do more of the work. DearstonePlayer. 1) When adjusting action lower for comfort and technique, once the buzzing goes away, the action is low enough. I'm planning to do the same with my Korean Ovation, next time i change strings. But I also have a 415 and 615 that came straight from manufacturer set up beautifully. You say "too taut to produce a nice sound"; that's a bit hard to decipher. Adjust the Neck: If the action is too high, tighten the truss rod to straighten the neck and bring the strings This from a person that recently owned a Red Diamond 1922 Vintage F crusher voiced mandolin. Invest in a high-quality mandolin case or gig bag. The action’s uncomfortably high. If the neck is bowed, the action will be uneven and you will get fret buzz. While I have repaired and setup many vintage and newer mandos, never a fretless. My only experience with lowering the action on a Chinese mandolin (and the Rogue must be Chinese at that price) Stop fighting with high action on your mandolin! Learn the details on adjusting your action. playability. If the mandolin is not optimally set up you may need higher action. We were at Gerald Jones' Acoustic Music Camp ("Camp" with a "C") and Shawn Lane (of Blue Highway) was there. General Mandolin Discussions; Action Height; Results 1 to 9 of 9 Thread: Action Height. Action at the 12th fret, I just strung one up with just under 2/64" at the 12th fret and it is awesomely low. If i could afford a new one i’d get even a cheap one. This will lower the nut and saddle to allow for an easy fretting comfortable action and make sure the bridge is in the correct place of goood intonation. Ed Goist. I know this is all a personal preference buti was On a well built mandolin that is properly set up with the right components the action does not have to be high for optimal tone or volume. Sep-23-2004, 4:40pm. Does this sound like a defect that should be returned? Terry's method may help with the relief but be careful you don't put any back bow into it - you will have terrible string buzzing. The action at the saddle (bridge) can have an effect on how tight the strings feel, the action everywhere and especially on the higher frets, the intonation and to some degree the instrument's Now comes the important part: the string action. It’s well worth having a pro look at it for 50-75 bucks to make it much more playable. I've set the bridge as low as possible, but reluctant to mess with the truss rod. Decided I wanted to learn to play Octave mandolin, so I just purchased an Eastman MD-305, and want to set this up for a fairly easy action, but as I said, I have no idea what an easy playing mano is! the best way to measure action is with yer fingers and ears, not with rulers or gauges. A US quarter is 1. Thread Tools. Bought it online for relatively cheap. It was recommended for me to try( in 64ths) 3 on the E side and 4 on the G side, but for a hardcore bluegrass setup If I add more relief, (i. All, when I first started playing, I hiked up the action on my mandolin, especially on the bass side, to get rid of some buzz on the G string. If I have to remove material from an adjustable bridge to get the action low enough, I prefer to remove it from the bottom portion of the bridge so that I can preserve as much strength in the top portion as I can. Apparently the top can be overloaded by the Action is not crazy high especially back at the second fret, but looks like there's room to lower it if need be. I wouldn’t be happy with an action of much more than 2mm at the 12th on an octave mandolin. You don't want the action too high, but not too low either. Unfortunately it's unplayable as the action is far too high. It sounds great. If the strings are out of Too high a nut seems to cause more problems than too high a bridge. Test the playability by strumming and picking a few chords to make sure the Well I recently received my Eastman md605 and I am trying to find that perfect setup. Well I received it and of course the action is so high that it's completely unplayable. 5mm (1/10") below the saddle top. I was going to change my strings as they're kind of old, now, but I also have a buzz I want to lower the action on my Stratocaster AP2. However,it takes quite a jump in 12th fret action before the action at the 1st fret becomes really too high for comfort. How can they be expected to know what should "feel too high" or "feel too low"?! This advice reminds me of those old recipes that used to say "season to taste. I changed the strings as they were quite corroded, but the action seems really high at the 12th fret. And I believe that great players like Chris Thile We'll cover everything you need to know, from selecting the right tools to ensuring that your mandolin's action is just right for your playing style. ncfiretiger. This is something I have been battling back and forth with for a while now. Seems like I raised it up to get rid of some buzz caused by my saddle. Yellowmandolin. The string height at the 12th fret is about 1. I've been playing guitar and banjo for twenty years and have experience with stringed instruments but I've never experienced action this high before, is it normal to feel such difficulty in playing due to action when your I lowered the action about as low as it goes, using medium flat top strings, and it still feels harder to press the first fret on the G than the low E on my acoustic guitar. And I fear low range are rarely "palatable" ! Action is not crazy high especially back at the second fret, but looks like there's room to lower it if need be. Here's an overview on how to balance string gauge, neck I've got a mandolin that had a way too high action from the get go, I have little experience with mandolins but I know that the action should be about 1. foldedpath. You want to be careful to not remove too much and make the saddle weak. 8mm for the low E string) to be comfortable and easy to play. So, I'm still kind of new to mandolin set up. E. At this point you can insert the saddle and then string up the mandolin. Adjusting a mandolin bridge too high can mute the response. It seems that all of the more inexpensive mandolins have their action way too high. Looks like it dips down a bit. 1,574 3. But, I bought it off the web and I have never actually played another mandolin, so it's hard for me to tell if it is properly set up. I like mine too, it was my first mandolin and I have put a lot of miles on it, both Well, I've got the Albertini mandolin. The bridge is a compensated one, bit longer for the G and A than for the D and E. Some work could be done on the nut too. A few hard core american blues players and connoisseurs still play guitars set with high action to this day. I know this is all a personal preference buti was That's not a bad way to do it. I just got a new (er) mandolin and I have been adjusting the action for two days now. Gibson F-4 mandolin (1916); Blevins f-style Octave mandolin, 2018 McCormick Hi everyone I'm pretty new to the mandolin, I've been playing my ortega rma5na for about 4 months now but I'm concerned my action is too high. Before we get to the When you slip a pick under the strings at the 12th fret, do the strings grip the pick so that it doesn’t fall out? That’s my redneck action test. I keep snapping high e-strings on my Eastman mandolins. You can normally get a properly setup mandolin down to 4/64ths without adversely effecting the tone/volume. Mny instruments are built with nuts that are higher than necessary as insurance against buzzing, but it makes them tougher to play and often has a deleterious effect on intonation. Everyone's fretting and picking hands and fingers are different, so these settings are not standardized. Gibson F5-G is more than likely to have a high degree of probability of being outstanding per the anecdotal testimony of many who have played them. Hello all! I am new to the mandolin and recently bought a secondhand Ashbury AM-50. I have to admit, you are more manly than I! If the action is high enough that you can play as loud as you want to with no undue It's not an emergency at the moment, madolins are very high tension instruments so this is a kinda common thing for them. The E strings are breaking at the tuner - the part that has a You can lose clarity when the action drops too low and the strings are not exactly buzzing, but just losing energy to the frets. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. And I believe that great players like Chris Thile An alternative is to have a luthier take some material off the bottom of your non-adjustable bridge until the action is satisfactory. The action is incredibly low, and the mandolin is delightfully easy to play. Jun-10-2008, 9:42pm The nut could very likely be too high, which makes it very uncomfortable to play, especially on the lower frets. 075 as a medium-high setting at this spot. This means that if the action is too low, the strings will tend to make extraneous fret noises. What did he do to the A-12 to get it that low? Kelly_guy. 05 thousandths of an inch or 1. 02mm. Any tips? With double course high-tension strings, a proper mandolin setup is critical to the accuracy and enjoyment of playing. plays great. Hopefully other members on here will chip in with their advice, Ivan Suggested mandolin action for beginners . The instrument is basically in beatup-but-functional condition. Mar-28-2014, 12:41pm #14. Carefully measure the distance from the strings to the 12th fret with a small steel ruler. Maybe even lower, especially with J75's which will swing less than J74's if you see what The fingering might depend a little on the string spacing on your mandolin. For me, the action should be as low as possible without allowing buzz if I push it a bit. A well built mandolin properly set up does not require high action to acquire good volume or excellent tone. Taking the bottom off of the saddle makes an already vulnerable part even weaker. Hello, I've just bought my first mandolin (I'm a guitar player) & it comes with a 1 piece/solid bridge which leaves the action too high. Any help appreciated. However, I was playing around with my friend's guitar yesterday and I noticed How Incredibly Easy it is to push strings down This is a new one for me. You’ll never know until you test if coated strings, flatwound strings, stainless steel strings, or a mix of those alternatives sound better on your mandolin. I'm a total woodworking newbie, and I felt really good Hi, I had been playing the mandolin for a couple of years (flat-back, A-style) - and you could say I'm still a beginner, although a late stage one - when I decided to try the octave mandolin because of my interest in Irish folk music. (height of the strings above the fingerboard) on your mandolin may have risen up Hello, I've just bought my first mandolin (I'm a guitar player) & it comes with a 1 piece/solid bridge which leaves the action too high. Laying a ruler/straight edge along the frets and sliding towards the bridge, the ruler should hit the bridge just below the top or about 2-2. Is the nut too high or are my fingers just not used to it yet? My mandolins action is way to high for me. With low action, it's like a relationship between my abilities and I just got a wonderful Weymann Banjo Mandolin, with the friction fit wooden resonator and without the metal action adjuster. I took my mando to the local mando repair guy (I'm guessing he's good, since everyone in town uses his services) and asked him if he could check out the action and see if it could go any lower. Changes in Climate and the Sinking Bridge Problem The action at the 12th fret seems too high imho and perhaps at the nut as well yielding a mandolin that you are struggling to easily play. Well the action doesn’t look that high to me but you’re probably in need of a legit setup. 20K subscribers in the mandolin community. When checking (or setting up) the action on a guitar, it seems well established that values like 5/64s and 7/64s (high E and low E string heights above 12th fret) make for How high should my mandolin action be? The standard mandolin’s average action height is around 0. Sep-24-2004, 5:46am. He took a look at it and So, I have a Weber Octave mandolin from 2014. However, I was playing around with my friend's guitar yesterday and I noticed How Incredibly Easy it is to push strings down Mandolin Mondays: Ben Winship and Tom Murphy play a medley on their respective Heiden Artist A and Andersen F5 mandolins. I will bet that your action at the nut is considerably too high, which would be common. Higher action increases the pressure required to fret. Action too high or am I just playing badly? So, I have a Weber Octave mandolin from 2014. About six months ago I brought it to a very respected luthier who did a proper set up and installed a Headway pickup. What do I mean by "too high"? A mandolin I recent aquired has a string height of about a heavy 3/16 of an inch. That said I've only ever used them for measuring valve play on my motorbike. Subject: Action too high Q - With a bridge lowered all the way, and still the action is too high, do you recommend taking off the bottom of the saddle, or resetting the neck? Will Parsons: Reset the neck. I get generally positive reactions when people see it. And I think the mandolin will require a bit more pressure, two strings at higher tension versus one. 040 for mandolin, vs. I have about the same gage as Astro: I always put my 1. Nov-27-2014, 10:17pm. Volume vs. Apparently the top can be overloaded by the I've never played a mandolin that wasn't something in the few-hundred-dollar range from a local shop, so I don't have first hand experience with a well setup instrument. I didn’t find the transition too difficult, but I came from decades of primarily acoustic guitar with heavy strings and high (think Freddie Green) action. 050 inches on the bass side at the 12th fret and . The mandolin is a stringed instrument within the lute family, normally with 4 units or “courses” of two strings each for a complete of eight strings. When set at 4/64ths a player can get reasonably aggressive without buzzing. If you have bad technique you may need higher action, but high action is not equal to better tone or Okay, I've got a nice little 50 dollar mandolin (Rogue 100A) and I have been playing it for a month or so now. If the higher action is the result of a steeper break angle at the saddle, it will increase the pressure on the saddle (and thereby the top plate) too. When I try to play forte, I get a buzz. A descendent of the primary chordophones, which appeared someday around 2000 BCE, at present mandolin is a bigger model of an early Italian The is a real, eight steel string mandolin with a 13. Tone improvement could be the mandolin opening up, and don't discount improvements in Raise the action to flatten the intonation or lower the action to sharpen the intonation. It seems to be a standard 4 pair metal string bowlback in reasonable condition except for a couple of problems. What kind of mandolin is it? Has it ever been setup professionally? How’s intonation? If it’s off, the bridge could be in the wrong place. If the action is too high on your instrument, it will be The tuner will indicate whether the string is sharp (too high in pitch), flat (too low in pitch), or in tune. #The F-4 is 7/64" at the G and 6/64" at Fixing high action; Mandolin Mondays: California mandolinist Sophia Sparks is making big waves in mandolin world. I’ve started learning on it, but my biggest problem is the action is too high and it hurts to fret. You can increase action and actually decrease volume and certainly decrease tone of the instrument. Even worse with dreads with 0,013" string gauge. 67 mm, it should be able to squeeze between string and 12th fret with a tiny bit of room. I have just purchased Stewart MacDonald's String Action Gauge. The radius and size of the frets were much smaller so the action needed to be higher. Any ideas what the problem could be? The seller gave me a partial refund so I'm only out $100 at this point but I'd It's supposed to have 4-ish plastic shims which can be removed to lower the action. 5mm sounds way to high- the measurement should be from the top of the fret to the underside of the string. The common This is an issue im sure we have all battled or at least that I have. The inexpensive ones had a regrettable tendency for the neck to “pull up” (due to poor internal bracing) making the action too high to play at the 12th fret. it's serial number is 20439, which seems rather early. And for the treble strings, 0. Luckily mandolin bridges are cheap so I still recommend buying a new one when you get the chance When it comes to finding high-quality mandolin strings, the best advice is to check out a variety of different designs. 8mm, Hey there, I’ve just started playing mandolin last summer and so far I love it, but since I got some trouble having clear notes low on the neck because the strings are quite hard to press, I was Hi everyone, I bought a new Trinity College Octave Mandolin a couple of years ago that had low action but quite a lot of fret buzz. Adjust the tuning pegs accordingly until the tuner indicates that the string is in tune. 5mm pick slides in without touching and a Okay, I've got a nice little 50 dollar mandolin (Rogue 100A) and I have been playing it for a month or so now. First of all, check the string height at the nut too. It's not an emergency at the moment, madolins are very high tension instruments so this is a kinda common thing for them. 0. Due to space limitation on YouTube this version of the lesson ha 13 votes, 10 comments. Red Henry also has loads of information about making bridges, which would also be useful for adjusting the height on a non-adjustable bridge. This free With double course high-tension strings, a proper mandolin setup is critical to the accuracy and enjoyment of playing. (action is too high). The common I have just purchased Stewart MacDonald's String Action Gauge. My new mandolin came with a Brekke bridge so you can adjust action under full tension, of course you have to retune after you adjust. With the bridge fully lowered via the two screws and in the position on the mando body it was in when I bought it, the action seemed way high. To view messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. It is high. Some months later, I'm wondering if the high action is getting in the way of playing cleanly and easily. This will provide protection from dust, moisture, and accidental bumps or falls. Now it is perfect. He was, at that time, my daughter's idol Level Up Your Mandolin Playing Today! http://www. Lowering the action would lower the tension too. The spec sheet that came with the gauge stipulates . a piece of paper just about slides through, that’s good. And really, 4/32 action isn't all that high, you might be able to sand the bottom of the bridge (assuming it sits on top of the guitar like a mandolin or an archtop) and lower it enough (I run 3/32 on the bass side). The frets are in good shape, and the bridge has been dialled down as far as it’ll go. If the action gets too low, even if every note rings, playing harder can create some fret buzz when the string’s vibration range gets With the right adjustments, you can make playing your mandolin much easier and more comfortable. Part of that is the lighter strings I have, another part is the tiny low frets on the Gibson compared to my Weber. But won't be if the strings are too far apart, or the action This is a new one for me. Duh -L- Bill Monroe discusses high action on the Homespun/Smithsonian DVD. the action is too low. Post Aug 07, 2012 #8 2012-08-07T11:57+00:00. Its not TERRIBLY bad. My luthier laughed when I told him about it later, but it worked out well and the price was right. Please read and share on social media if possible. 04 thousandths of an inch or 1. the top is compensated so it looks like the only way to l Is a professional set-up required after lowering the action on a mandolin? ncfiretiger. Learn how to set up your mandolin easily. Better to start with the action high and then lower it incrementally until you find the Action at the nut: press the string between frets 2 and 3 and check the gap over fret 1. Test the playability. I have low tension strings on it right now and the action is still a bit high. I've played guitar for a decade but have lapsed the last few years. The bridge is lowered all the way down and i can’t fine a truss rod for the life of me. Great sturdy device, made out of stainless steel it appears. First attempt at restoring an old bowlback mandolin. tone vs. There is no truss rod and ill try and post a few pics but the bridge is SCREWED on. and I thought the mandolin had nicer tone. Remember to lower the action 1mm at the 12th fret, you have to lower it by 2mm at the saddle/bridge. A couple weeks ago the bridge cracked and collapsed. The mandolins, however, sound too trebley? twangy? The tops of both are carved Action was too high for me so I carefully pulled off bridge saddle and lowered it by sanding it down. Look for a We find that most players will like the action set at 4/64th at the 12th fret under the G string (A little lower on the E). The action on my mandolin is . 5mm at the 12th fret for the high E string and 2mm to 2. There's a whole article on FRETS. If your bridge is bottomed and action still too high I would check if the neck joint didn't move under string tension lowering the neck angle (especially if the bridge is It's easy to tell if your action is too high, but how do you tell if your action is too low? Here's how! - NateSubscribe to this channel for more instruction That depends on the action at the 12th fret preferred by individual players & of course,what the actual height of the frets is. The high e should give you an F,the B a C, the G a G sharp, the D a D sharp, the A and A sharp and the low E a low F. I just don't want to mess things up. My issue wasn't poor fit, it was way too high action. It's a Stridente Neapolitan Mandolin and a quick google search dates it around 1890-1900. Looks nice, no obvious damage and restrung it sounds great. My customer received it last week, and brought it to me: while it appears well made, it does not play well, mainly because the string height at the nut is too high, and the Top 15 Best Mandolins: Huge Buyers Guide! Introduction. What's a good action setting that's good for beginners? I read that . 020" on the E course and about 1mm/. If it does I can raise it, but I want to set action at the nut at the lowest action at the 12th fret that I will ever have so I don't have to worry about it buzzing at the 1st fret, but plays extremely easy at the first fret. I have an adjustable bridge, which I'm wondering if I need to raise. I've built 2 ukuleles, 6 guitars, 2 mandolins and an octave mandolin. The guitar is much more playable now. I come from an electric guitar background. There's also an article on how to check the height of the action at the nut. The action seems a tad high on my 02 Fern. Too low or too high is bad, so maybe you are finding a sweet spot. If you're playing B and C with fingers 1 and 2, it should be easy to get the G/D double stop with 3rd finger. You may get more volume with that height, but you will lose on speed and ease of fingering. Spend the time and money to make your main mandolin play the way you need it! When is your action too high? When your fingertips bleed after 2 hours of solid picking. My bridge is adjustable so it is not problem lowering it. Peter Hackman. The Gibson mandola scale is quite short, so the strings are fairly slack. While I have previously set up acoustic guitar and ukulele actions, I have absolutely zero experience with either playing or setting up mandolin. If a player is a light picker, the action can go lower. However, I'm use to a much lower action than the standard action that came on the instrument. Stew-Mac has a string action gauge that might be helpful, The Gibson mandola scale is quite short, so the strings are fairly slack. I agree the guitar is more forgiving of finger placement, because there is just so much real estate. Step-by-step guide for new players to get the instrument ready for playing. 030" for G and . You know you want your action low so it doesnt kill your fingers, but you also want your action high enough that you have that volume presence. After that, everything else seemed easy, at least physically. What should I look at first; truss rod, bridge placement/height?214127214128 The bridge is too high, but that's probably a consequence of something else going on. Mandolin strings are very tight when tuned up to pitch, so having the action low makes your mandolin easier to play and causes less pain to your fingertips. This is depressing as repairs will be likely greater than I paid The action would be definitely too high for my taste. Often raising the action is to overcome less than stellar issues with setup or other parts of the instrument. COM about how to fit a bridge. Might take a few tries to get it right Sounds like a high fret or low action. (height of the strings above the fingerboard) on your mandolin may have risen up With a lot of work you can get a mandolin to insanely low action without buzzing when played gently, about . What is "normal" action anyway - and how would I measure it? Many thanks in advance. It was recommended for me to try( in 64ths) 3 on the E side and 4 on the G side, but for a hardcore bluegrass setup A higher action 'does not necessarily' mean more volume,but a too low action most certainly means less,unless you happen to have an unusually responsive Mandolin. measured distance aside, for some instruments, lowering action oveerall is not just screwing the nuts on the bridge down, actually for some instruments the nut notches are too low, need be a trifle higher to to get the action lower further up the neck, without buzzing on the first fret or two. When I built my kit, I made a crude nut that I always regarded as temporary. High action makes it difficult to press on the strings while low action is quieter and more likely to measured distance aside, for some instruments, lowering action oveerall is not just screwing the nuts on the bridge down, actually for some instruments the nut notches are too low, need be a trifle higher to to get the action lower further up the neck, without buzzing on the first fret or two. IDK how you're not See more Tech Tips here: https://store. Being a Tele player, I'm used to getting the slinkiest action possible on a guitar, without it fretting out. Mandolin action (string height) By Ivan Kelsall in forum General Mandolin Discussions Replies: 5 Last : Jul Good Evening Folks: I think the action is too high on my mandolin. I opted for Mandola strings, which are definitely a lot thicker than the strings that were initially on the OM when I My present mandolin was set up too low when delivered, but it didn't take much tweaking to get it into reasonably playable For the kind of stuff that I play today, which is mainly improvised, many ideas tend to get away from me if the action is too high. play adaquate at first position but cannot be brought lower further up. Can you recommend a decent (not too expensive) adjustable bridge? The Mandolin is a Kentucky 120 so I basically need a basic decent adjustable bridge. banjobenclark. Luckily mandolin bridges are cheap so I still recommend buying a new one when you get the chance I recently bought this old banjolin and I was super psyched to play it because the ad specifically said the action was good and just needed new strings and a "simple" set up. Starts to do it after the 5-7th fret or so. The bridge base is so high, that I'd remove some considerable amount of wood from the bottom of the base, that is reshape it – provided there are no other structural issues than an original low angle neck set. Oh, and all parts fit on a Prusa Mini+! | Download free 3D printable STL models. I remember playing Mike Marshall's Loar and his action was even lower than that (felt like it at least, I didn't measure it). He was, at that time, my daughter's idol The inexpensive ones had a regrettable tendency for the neck to “pull up” (due to poor internal bracing) making the action too high to play at the 12th fret. any tips for adjusting the action at home? Does the bridge need to be cut down to a lower hight? i can't tell if there is a truss rod in the neck or not. To diagnose a high fret just play up the neck on the E until the buzzing stops. 1994 Gibson F5L - Weber signed You may have too high an action. Just how high was his action? Can you take a good thing too far? This is an issue im sure we have all battled or at least that I have. 2) My daughter has a Kentucky KM-1000 with an action that I considered too low for me. Could be any number of things. welcome to the world of mandolin! action should be "as low as it can go" until things start to buzz. Here are some additional tips for setting up the action on your mandolin: – Make sure the neck is straight. If your height of the strings above the top of the 12th fret is, for example, 0. With high action, i had to force everything I wanted it to do. However the action is pretty high, high enough that even fretting for basic G, C and D chords makes an absolutely horrid sound. Ultimately, the action can be determined by you, the player, not instrument limitations. For quite a while I was plagued with a pinched and quieter sound on the E strings, and it took me a while to figure out that the E strings need to be up higher than you'd think to sound good. com/academyIn today's video, we're diving into the essential skill of setting your mandolin' I’d guess you action is very high. " Which In my ongoing quest to understand, really understand, the dynamics of mandolin setup, I raised my nut action. Mandolin Cafe Forum > Instruments and Equipment > Builders and Repair > Trinity College Octave Mandolin Action. The bridge itself is glued and bolted to the top, i wouldn't take it out Check the nut too, mine was a little too high when i got it, but it's ok now. The fret slots are also high and need to be filed - will that help the overall situation or produce more buzz? This is a brand new mandolin (Chinese). I'm a hobby builder, been at it for about 10 years now, off and on. 2) When adjusting the action higher for tone and volume, once the buzzing comes back, the action is too high. I lowered the action about as low as it goes, using medium flat top strings, and it still feels harder to press the first fret on the G than the low E on my acoustic guitar. My mandolin has action low enough at the first fret that a playing card can be held in place (barely) by the strings. It was recommended for me to try( in 64ths) 3 on the E side and 4 on the G side, but for a hardcore bluegrass setup possibly 4 on the E and 5/64th on the G at most My mandola is easier, not harder to fret, compared to mandolin. Still there is a weird feeling about it that I can't describe. You may want to check if your mandolin neck is properly set up. The mandolin is about 3 And the new head is actually on a bit tighter than the old head, so in theory it should have raised the action a bit). If you have established that the action on your instrument is a little too high and the bridge has been lowered as much as possible, what would be the next step for you? that this instrument was set up by the builder on the very high action side in the That depends on the action at the 12th fret preferred by individual players & of course,what the actual height of the frets is. Some like a higher action for more volume, but I prefer a lower action and I have plenty of volume. If the business card doesn't fit, the action is too low. Before starting working on the saddle, these are the measurements in mm at the 12th fret: Without capo on 1st fret C 3. Well, I've got the Albertini mandolin. The action would be definitely too high for my taste. At 12th fret it’s at least 8mm. Most players find a low action (around 1. 25 G 2. When I tune up the strings, the action gets pretty high, so I'm thinking there is too much give somewhere in the neck and I need to do something to reposition the neck in a flatter position. 27mm for the bass strings. But I noticed that my mando was awfully low, so I cranked it up a bit. The mandolin has a high pitched voice and therefore a lot of string Now, I use a markedly low action and EXP74s. Do get your mandolin's set up checked. Do so gently so you get a clean sound, but not so hard that you're accidentally sharpening the note. There is no good reason NOT to have the action as low as possible on a mandolin, so far as I can tell. My action height is fine I believe. I had made it a tad thin and shimed the back with a piece of paper. Stick it under the string and if there's play it's too high, if you can't get it in it's too low. If the action is too high at the nut the first few frets will play noticeably sharp because you Note: The website shown on the video is no longer active. If I fret between the 2nd and 3rd frets the strings miss the first fret by just a couple thousands of an inch. I'm not sure what is considered normal, but coming from guitar it doesn't seem right. 010 to . Is the nut too high or are my fingers just not used to it yet? If the action is too low the instrument string won't vibrate freely. Tools used is a string winder and a feeler gauge. Also: if your action (distance of the strings above the fingerboard) is too high, you will stretch, and thus "sharpen," the strings when you press them down to the frets. Frets are smaller than my other mandos but I have become accustomed to them now. There seems to be an ideal action height for the best balance for each instrument, but that is also a function of how the person plays it. I checked it out today and the action seems way off. There are too many Remember to lower the action 1mm at the 12th fret, you have to lower it by 2mm at the saddle/bridge. I checked my action on my old Gibson snakehead, and as best as I can tell, it's 1-2 millimeters high. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the F5G sounds as good as the RD. As with any fretted string instrument, a poor setup will with unduly high action will just suck the fun out of it. It happens, though, even to US brands. Note that high action (at the fret board) in and of itself does not mean higher pressure on the saddle. I notice the difference Well I recently received my Eastman md605 and I am trying to find that perfect setup. e. The mandolins, however, sound too trebley? twangy? The tops of both are carved Mine had already been set up by the shop I bought it from. I just about got it perfect. What do I mean by "too high"? #Measured from bottom of string to top of the 12th fret, the A-4 is 8/64" at the G, and 6/64" at the E. His preferred string action is 1,5 mm (approx 1/16 inch) on the bass side and slightly lower on the treble side. Cheers Gary I recently purchased an oldy but a goody - 1963 Stella Tenor guitar by Harmony. When I received it it was a little too low for my taste so I raised it up a little and then a little more until I could get as much bark out of it and my fingers werent bleeding. Ray(T) View Profile View Forum Posts Jeez, yeah, 1/8" is just too high for mecheers to you sir. Gibson F-4 mandolin (1916); Blevins f-style Octave mandolin, 2018 McCormick Hello all I recently bought an inexpensive Greek bouzouki from an online seller. Is the action on my HB tenor too high or ok? I changed the strings from . It will probably make a world of difference for you. :mandosmiley: A mandolin I recent aquired has a string height of about a heavy 3/16 of an inch. A subreddit for the wonderful world of mandolin. 75mm as a 1. The E strings are breaking at the tuner - the part that has a When I received it it was a little too low for my taste so I raised it up a little and then a little more until I could get as much bark out of it and my fingers werent bleeding. If the action is too high at the nut the first few frets will play noticeably sharp because you A friend’s mandolin has a fretboard that, when viewed down the neck from the tailpiece end, looks to be higher at the tailpiece and nut, than in the middle. The strings increased in height off the fretboard as they neared the bridge until by the time the fretboard ended they were maybe almost half an inch The Pyle PBJ20 Mandolin Banjo combines a banjo body with the neck and tuning of a mandolin. 5" scale. I have a set of files but im loath to go amateur hour on such a beautiful old instrument Itll be a while before ive got cash for visiting a lutheir too. 020" for E on the first fret was good, but wasn't sure if that was still high action for a beginner such as myself. bradleylaird. PDA. Subsequently, I measured the string action of my bass G string above the 17th fret. Check the action by playing a few notes and making sure the strings are not too low or too high above the fretboard. 009 (I used Clifford Essex light), then I increased a bit of tension on the neck and reduced the bow. George. . In addition, it seems to have fewer benefits than the increased downforce of a raised bridge. But even so, there will still be differences. After trying to unpack what in my playing could be causing this, now I’m thinking that my action is set too low, and the muting is being caused by the fret just below the note I’m playing (see the photo). 030" of material off the bottom of the bridge, taking care to fit the bridge carefully to the top plate. 5mm/. I'm used to the string action being as low as possible. However, I was playing around with my friend's guitar yesterday and I noticed How Incredibly Easy it is to push strings down 2. I purchased a second-hand Ashbury AM-325, which plays just fine except (in my hands) the G strings, which tend to make a nasty buzzing A mandolin that is setup properly with the frets level and properly crowned and a straight neck or a neck with slight relief (very slight bend) can have low action. 2 of the guitars sound good, 1 sounds great and I eventually learned how to set them up. 015" too high, the luthier would take ~0. (A one cent Euro coin is 1. Mike Action too high or am I just playing badly? So, I have a Weber Octave mandolin from 2014. If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. It mentions perceived tension. The mandolin is about 3 I'm a hobby builder, been at it for about 10 years now, off and on. IME nut slots are almost always too high from the factory, because time is money, getting the slots down to the perfect depth takes time, and the risk of a blown nut with slots too deep increases exponentially as the perfect height is approached. The height of the string from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string can easily be . Before we get to the action, so to speak, let’s discuss a few common problems and how to address them. This is particularly true on my E and A strings up the neck. If the pick falls out, the action is too high for me (it must be easily playable at the first fret, too, of course). To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the A: The ideal action for a Taylor acoustic guitar depends on your playing style and personal preference. Usually they will be fine for a few days or weeks, but then I'll be tuning and one will snap. That's a characteristic of the instrument. As you can see, the action at the 12th fret is way too high, and this affects intonation at the 2nd fret and higher (about 20-30 cents sharp). I have an Eastman MD505 and I'd like to dial this one in for close action but, of course, no buzzing. You can lose clarity when the action drops too low and the strings are not exactly buzzing, but just losing energy to the frets. This hybrid instrument was originally invented to recreate rich amplified banjo sounds with those familiar with the mandolin. View Profile View Forum Posts Too high a nut seems to cause more problems than too high a bridge. 5mm to 2. Only issue is the action is crazy high. In my experience, many guitars are sold with too high action at first fret making beginners unable to play a full barred F chord when they learn it. View Full Version : Trinity College Octave Mandolin Action. It will of course depend on how high above the top your saddle is. I guess an uneven neck might put too much tension on the E string. I like mine too, it was my first mandolin and I have put a lot of miles on it, both Suggested mandolin action for beginners . a mandolin should be capable of a 50thou action at fret 12 on the top e's and 60thou on the G's without any of those issues. The action on all but one of them was ridiculously high. To answer your question: yes and no. The action on my Lebeda "Special" on the G side is 1/16" & 5/64" on the treble side. g. Those high E strings are under so much tension that you can get the action way down low without a buzz, but volume and tone suffer at that level. trust in yer senses, not tools. I've noticed it's not perfectly perpendicular to the strings either, a bit slanted so that the G course gets more length than the A. almost all non-custom fretted instruments stand an excellent chance of allowing for a lowered action, thus faster fretting, via a fret level & crown, then a setup for action and intonation which may require tweaks of the bridge, saddle, nut and truss 11 votes, 13 comments. It could be the action at the nut is high. also look for that moment when somebody gives you a nice mandolin to try and you go "oh! so that's how I've been playing mandolin for a year and I have an inexpensive Epiphone MM30. Mandolin strings feel more tense than guitar or banjo strings. May-30-2005, 1:01am. My action is too high I play other instruments and got this mandolin that was my grandfathers. Did you have it set up by a luthier or tech that has knowledge of mandolins specifically? If not, cannot recommend having it set up properly enough. use Rob's Mandolin Setup book as a guide. cnjtx ziw duxegq wxll vyjd cmcw wci lgy zsdan rjepi