View Full Version : Top pushed in
daniel_beban
May-04-2004, 8:31am
The top of my fairly cheapish flat-back mandolin has been pushed out of it's natural arch shape directly between the f-holes. I looks like it's been pushed in about 5-10mm. I assume it's a problem with the bracing cracking or coming adrift on the inside on the body. It means the action is too low, buzzing notes around the 6th fret. Is there a way to fix this?
Bandersnatch Reverb
May-04-2004, 2:12pm
It all depends if you can get the back off. Since it a flat back... you MIGHT want to consider wasting the back and making a new one. It would be a great project to learn on.
There's some things to see over on www.frets.com
Look there.
I have a Kentucky "A" that did the same thing. Here is what I did, to my surprise there is only one tone bar and it had come loose and dropped down on the head end allowing the top to sag under string pressure.
Working with a small snake light and a maple leg with a "V" cut in the top, I finally got it trimmed to the right height wedged it under the tone bar and pushed it back in place(after removing string tension).
Then I dripped thin CA glue down to it on both sides.
Let it set over night and strung it up the next day, I've been playing it daily and it sounds great.
It worked out well but, working through the "F" holes with a flashlight and mirror is quite a challenge.
Good Luck,
Dave
Dave, you're not an ob/gyn by profession are you? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Bandersnatch Reverb
May-05-2004, 6:03pm
Better that then a proctologist!
Yea, after that,a ship in a bottle would be a piece of cake !
I am currently working on #1 with Siminoff's new book, first thing I found I need is more tools, many more tools.
Oh did I mention many, many clamps too....
But really, the feeling of creating this instrument from scratch has become an obsession !
Dave