JC JACK
Aug-08-2006, 1:55pm
Is there any rule of thumb on how often a mandolin should be checked by a luthier-repair person for necessary maintenance and upkeep? #Is the sound quality the only guide, or do other guidelines exist?
Assuming consistent play, how do most players handle this?
Greg H.
Aug-08-2006, 9:44pm
I think ease of playing is the primary determiner (for me) of when to take it in for setup work. That said, I generally deal with action and intonation myself. However, if any part of the mandolin needs to be replaced or modified (e.g. new nut, fretboard scooped or sanded etc.) then I take it to someone more qualified than I. I realize that some setup work would change the tone (such as a new nut or a better fitting bridge) but I generally look upon such things as improvements rather than maintenance (semantics I know, but in the one case it's making the mandolin better while in the other it's just making it playable).
I guess what I'm trying to say is, if it's comfortable/easy to play and you like the tone (and there are no cracks or other disturbing developments) there's no need for it to go anywhere. In the last 5 years I've taken one mandolin to a luthier to have a small crack patched, a fret job, and have a shim put under the nut. That's all the work that anyone's done on my instruments in that time frame. I have one now that needs a fret job, and another that I want to have the fretboard scooped, but neither of these are pressing needs. If, however, you feel uncomfortable adjusting action/intonation by yourself you may need to take it in more often.
Sorry for the wandering monologue. .. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif