upgrading components on a starter

[jose250]

I've been learning a ton on this site and one of the things I've been noticing is people keep talking about getting their mandos "set up". I understand only to a degree. Couple of things here (that will lead into some other questions that I have).

I've got an A-style Alvarez mando (got it for $225). I just changed out the string to the Sam Bush strings and it sounds soooo much better than the factory strings that were on there before (and easier on the fingers, too).

Would a nut/bridge (same thing, right) make it sound better? Mine's a piece of plastic that's not attached. Plastic I know is bad, and if $30-$50 bridge would make it sound better (and it's not too bad right now--at least to me--no real frame of personal reference), I'm all for it. I think it's a good instrument for me to learn on (never played an instrument in my life) and as I get better, it'll be a good camping, beer drinking and fall over at festivals mando.... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Also, picks..... I'm using a dunlop xh. Good? Bad? Indifferent? any suggestions on something else to try and why you would try a different type? Understand, you're talking to a guy that just figured out how much different a real set of strings make.

One more thing, what is MAS??? mandolin A. S. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif? I know it's the fever for a new mando, just curious on acronym.

Thanks, everyone for all your help so far. Like I said before, you're helping me a ton.


Kelly

[mandroid]

just dont leave the strings on too long, the fresh set will usually sound better than old crusty ones. hard to guess how long the originals were onn.
Aka [mandolin aquisition syndrome]
when deprived of gigs I can always play for #the assembled mandolin crowd. # # #
...the 7 dwarves...
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Bill Snyder]

Nut is at the peghead end, bridge is what the strings rest on between the f holes as the strings approach the tailpiece.
MAS - mandolin aquisition syndrome.

[jose250]

See. I knew I was an idiot. So, would replacing the plastic bridge be a good thing for this? And how does moving the bridge to a different spot make a difference? Are you supposed to leave it in a standard spot or is just up to the player?

[John Flynn]

The best "upgrade" you can do on a $225 mandolin is take it to a good luthier for a complete setup. Upgrading components on a $225 mando is a very marginal use of time and money. The only thing that I would consider is new tuners, if and only if, you have tuning problems and the setup did not solve it. BTW, I doubt you have a plastic bridge. You may have a plastic nut. The bridge is likely rosewood. For that mando, they are fine the way they are. The bridge has a correct spot to be placed, for proper intonation, which means so all the notes are in decent tune up and down the neck. You can find out how to set one yourself on frets.com, although a luthier would do that, and several other things, in the course of a setup.

[grandmainger]

See. I knew I was an idiot.
The idiot is the guy who did not ask.


So, would replacing the plastic bridge be a good thing for this? And how does moving the bridge to a different spot make a difference? Are you supposed to leave it in a standard spot or is just up to the player?

All you will ever need to know about bridge placement is covered on the most excellent frets.com's mandolin owner manual (http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/OwnerManual/manmando.html).
Go to the section about changing strings, and you will find the info on page 3. Simply excellent.