Tonebar Bracing

[ab4usa]

Are tomebars symetrical? I would like to upgrade to a nicer mandolin but as a lefty my options are really limited. I know I would need to change the nut and bridge but am unsure what the effect of the conversion would have on the sound.

[sunburst]

Tonebars are usually not symetrical. You wouldn't know 'til you tried if a particular mandolin would sound different strung up lefty.

Some mandolins are X braced. Probably no sound difference strung up lefty.

[WoodyMcKenzie]

Buying an X braced mandolin is good advice. I also doubt that it makes much difference stringing up a tone bar braced mandolin as a lefty *if* the top is properly carved in the first place. I believe that the the top should be able to support string tension without the tone bars installed. Technically, they are not braces, but rather act as "plate stiffeners". #I also doubt that the tone bar that #is thinner helps the treble response and the tone bar that is thicker helps the bass. Actually, it seems to me that it should be the other way around, since the higher frequency response is dependent upon more stiffness. Some of you pros please weigh in on this, since I am only a hobbyist. I am a lefty though and have strung up more than one mandolin that way. (Notice I didn't say "backwards"! You can check out my lefty soapbox at mckenziemusic.com/lefthanded/)

Woody

[c3hammer]

I simply bought a Weber Absoroka that is X braced. They are symetrically braced and sound very good set up lefty. You can then sell it back some day as a righty no problem and you get the best of both worlds http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Before that I had a Kentucky KM150s that was symetrical and didn't sound any different strung either way. It actually wasn't all that bad, but the neck cracked from a very minor oops.

You could do like Woody and simply start making your own. His sound and look pretty cool! Someday I'll get one built too.

Cheers,
Pete

[Mandodan]

Mandolin tops in Loars are not symetrical and the tone bars are not placed symetrically either. If you are interested in a top of the line mandolin you should have a luthier build you one. It is not that hard to do.