Tuning down.

[357mag]

Does anyone do this? For whatever resaon. I do it with all my guitars because of the Dang arthritus, but I never tried it with the mandos. I suppose I could just do it and see what happensb but was wondering if anyone has any experience doing it. Thanks.

[Celtic Saguaro]

As long as you are playing by yourself, I don't see a problem. #I don't really check the absolute pitch when I'm practicing, as long as the relative pitch is good. #When the relative pitch gets really bad, I tune it up again properly.

I used to have a difficult-to-play (shallow nut slots) Harmony Florentine. #I fought with it forever, but rarely played it. #The sound wasn't particularly good enough to go to the expense of geting it fixed. #I had another mandolin that played and sounded fine, so fixing it wasn't even necessary. Finally, I decided to tune it as low as it would go without buzzing (about E-B-F#-C#) and played it that way. #It worked great. After a few weeks of steady playing, it opened up. #At that, I decided I really did have a second mandolin. I got some files from Stew-Mac and fixed the nut, myself. #When I ended up trading it in a few years later, the guy from the store complimented it on its tone and playability. #Not bad for an instrument, I'd basically given up on!

So, yes, I'd say if you need it for your hands go ahead and tune it down. It won't hurt a thing! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[arbarnhart]

Why not try ultra light strings instead? If you got the sets intended for the old 13" scale bowlbacks at low tension, they would be really low at 13 & 7/8".

Have you tried the Martin silk and steel on the guitar? I have those and when I put them on it was as if I had just had the action lowered. Not a subtle difference. They are very light strings, besides being softer. They sound good also.

[250sc]

I've always been a proponent of heavy strings and real low action.

[glauber]

Why not try ultra light strings instead? If you got the sets intended for the old 13" scale bowlbacks at low tension, they would be really low at 13 & 7/8".
Isn't it the other way around? Longer scale, more tension, string gauge and tuning being the same. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[grandmainger]

I have the book of mandolin transcriptions from 'O Brother where art thou?'. Every one of them requires the mando to be tuned down 1/2 a step in order to have the same tone as the soundtrack CD. It actually says so in the book... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[arbarnhart]

Why not try ultra light strings instead? If you got the sets intended for the old 13" scale bowlbacks at low tension, they would be really low at 13 & 7/8".
Isn't it the other way around? Longer scale, more tension, string gauge and tuning being the same. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Doh! My brain needed more caffeine I guess. But those bowlback sets may still make sense; they start with a .009 for the E, lighter than my light set for a standard scale mando.

[angrymandolinist]

I tune mine down a whole step unless I'm going to be playing with others (a rarity). It's a bit easier to play and sounds a lot better on my little pacrim.

[siren_20]

I've kept my second mando (Breedlove Columbia) tuned down a half-step for playing with a singer-songwriter friend of mine. The main problem with this is that the A string has a tendency to get really, really flabby. The best solution I came up with was to replace the stock A strings with .017 plains. This beefed up the tone, and gives a rather unique character as well.

[fiddler]

Using light strings (like TI's lightest) and tuning down half a step should produce a sweeter sound and much easier playability (and probably a bit less volume). At one time the "standard" A was about a half step lower than it is today so there's nothing "incorrect" about doing this.

[357mag]

Ok thanks folks. That legitimizes things a bit. Im gonna give it a try tonight. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Keith Erickson]

Does anyone do this?
Hey there Howard,

It depends on the song. Just off of the top of my head, I know that some Led Zep, Guns & Roses and Van Halen ( w/ David Lee Roth ) is tuned down a half step.

I've heard both the live and studio versions of "That's the way" from Led Zepplin. There is something about the ½ step tune down on the studio cut that always give me the chills.

Just my two cents..... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif