Mandolin Top Tip

[Bret Roberts]

As I tuned my mandolin last night, I was thinking how easy and quick it has become now that I have started tuning from the higher strings first. I remember reading on the Café that this was the best way due to the higher tension. #Now I’m sure that we have all learned many things from reading this forum, so what I would like to know is this. What is your all time favorite # “Mandolin Top Tip” # that that you have learned from the café? That one small little piece of knowledge that just needs to be passed on to other players.

[JEStanek]

If you have cats... keep the mando in the case!

Jamie

[ChrisWallace]

Actually, the "tune from highest strings" could be it for me. I'd never heard that but I'll most certainly give it a try.

Thanks!

[blacksmith]

One thing that I found useful was to slide an empty string envelope under the tailpiece so that the sharp end of the string hits it instead of into the finish and scratching it. Also, if I have trouble picking up the string end to run it up the pegs, I just slide the envelope to one side and it aims the string end out to the side. Not much but it helped me.

[Tom C]

When using the Shertler pu. You can talk into the holes of your mando. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[arbarnhart]

As I tuned my mandolin last night, I was thinking how easy and quick it has become now that I have started tuning from the higher strings first. I remember reading on the Café that this was the best way due to the higher tension.
Oddly, my experience doesn't seem to concur with that particular tip. No matter what string I start with, the Es almost always seems to be last; tightening any other string more than the tiniest bit seems to cause the Es to go flat slightly. My mando stays in tune very well. When kept indoors (no weather variations) it will stay in tune for several days being played daily. Anyway, I read that before and tried it even though it really didn't make sense to me. I ran a tension calculator (here is a good one (http://www.greenmanhumming.com/html/StringCalc/Multistringcalc.html#the%20applet)) and entered gauges for a few common sets and found tension pretty well balanced and often the G has the most.

My tuning tip would be to get everything close before you bother getting any string exact. That saves me a lot of time. When I first started, I would get every string exactly in tune all the way across and then start over because the tension changes had thrown the first one slightly off.

[cooper4205]

that you could buy grommets at the hardware store for $.18 each

[jefflester]

If you have cats... keep the mando in the case!
And close the case while you are playing, unless you like fur in your case and/or want to contribute to the long-running (though not lately) thread in the picture section.

Cats in cases thread (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=12943)

[fishdawg40]

Great idea for a thread.

Regarding restringing. #After I put a new string on and get it relatively tuned, I push/pull the string (where I usually play) up and down for a bit with my pick. #It works rather well getting the tensions right.

Also, I change one indivudal string at a time so the weight on the top stays pretty consistent. #I hear it's not good to take too many off at one time so I just go the safe route. #

Oh yeah, don't let your estranged girlfriend in the same room as your mandolin when you are not around. #
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Lee]

The vast majority of mandolins are not returned within the 48 hour approval period.

[mando_toss_flycoon]

Looking for an inexpensive, well-made, nearly lint-free cloth for cleaning strings and mandolin? Go to your local Sears hardware department or Wal*maht automotive department and look for polishing cloths.

[Dena Haselwander]

I'm sorry I don't remember who said it, but the wrist motion of tremolo was likened to that of shaking out a match. That helped me tremendously.


Dena

[jim_n_virginia]

best tip I EVER got off the Cafe was to go to frets.com and learn how to lock the strings on the tuners instead of just wrapping them around a bunch of times.

My mandolin (and guitar) stays in tune a lot more and I have less tuning on stage inbetween songs and sets.

Been changing strings on instruments for 30 years and only learned this tip a few years ago. Since then I have shown a bunch of people how to do this. It is a little tricky the first couple times you do this.

[DMC]

Fishdawg,
I was told the complete oppostie regarding changing strings... I was told that changing only one string at a time means you can't re-set the bridge and the strings start to pull it forward as you tighten them up one at a time. I have no idea btw this is just what I was told (by a luthier)

[Celtic Saguaro]

DMC, I don't think your luthier actually thought about it hard enough. Yes, you have to loosen (not remove!) all the strings to move the bridge, but with 7 strings holding the bridge in place while you change one, there is little chance the bridge can significantly move. The more strings you take off at once the more chance the bridge could creep forcing you to have to reset it.

[arbarnhart]

Lots of folklore out there. I heard that "E strings have more tension" many times before I happened to check string tension calculator. You could make an unbalanced set where that was true, but for the off the shelf sets I checked they were pretty even and usually the G had the most by a little (in some of the bluegrass specific sets, the G has substatnitally more). If there is a mandolin out there that will suffer damage from having all the strings off at once, I don't want it. Sure, the bridge might get a tug when you tighten but what happens when you loosen them to take them back off?

Oh yeah - I tried that tremolo trick and dang near started my mando on fire... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[MikeB]

How about this one? (I got it from Brian Dean, but indirectly it came through MC). When you DO change, or have to remove your bridge, when you put it back on, put the bottom E string and the top G string on first. Then check intonation on both of them (easy to correct with so little tension on it--it moves around easily). If those two strings are correctly intonated, all the rest have to be right as well. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[mangorockfish]

Get an Eastman. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[DryBones]

Ditto what Mike B. just said.

[gnelson651]

Get an Eastman. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Ditto for me!

[mythicfish]

Don't wipe your strings with a brick,

Curt

[DryBones]

visit Frets.com (http://www.frets.com/) at least once a week for tips and info http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Dave Hanson]

Stop talking ####, PLAY.

Dave H

[John Flynn]

Another tuning tip: Always tune up to a note, never down. If the string is sharp, tune it flat, then up to pitch. Your mando will stay in tune more reliably if you do.

[Santiago]

When you take your mando out of the case, hold the lid open with one hand, then close the case. When you put your mando away, put that one hand back on the case lid. This keeps the case from chomping on your mando. I scratched my custom Gibson guitar that way (thank God for plastic pick guards).

[mangorockfish]

I think I read this in Acoustic Guitar magazine: Always carry you case with the lid next to your body in case it falls open.

[Grandude]

Use flush-cut wire cutters. No prick point protrusions.

[Frank Russell]

Don't ever assume that your end pin is safely fixed at all times. Check it once in a while. I've had two go out while I was playing standing up, and the strap just slips off. Very scary. No real damage either time, just to my blood pressure. Both times, the end pin had been tight as a drum just days before. Frank

[Larry S Sherman]

1. Don't leave you mando on a chair when you leave the room. It can tip and fall, or worse yet someone might sit on it.

2. Keep a pick with you at all times (the Jazzmando keychain is handy for this).

3. Wipe down the mando before putting it away.

4. Keep it in the case when not playing it.

5. Turn your body sideways before going through a doorway while playing.

6. Don't use bug spray if you're going to play your mandolin.

7. Don't get alcohol on the finish.

8. Make or buy a humidifier for your case if you live in a dry climate (like this one. (http://humistat.com))

9. Take lessons if you can.

10. Have fun...don't worry that you're not Bill, Thile, or the Dawg.

Larry