First time player

[decad1]

Both of my brothers are good guitar pickers. I just finished my MBA after working on it 4 1/2 years part time, and told them I would either learn to play the mandolin or start a drug habit. Since the latter is illegal and bound to cost more, I decided on the first option. Lucky me. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif Anyway, (for better or worse) I just bought a Michael Kelly FSE yesterday online.

I'm wanting to know, when I get it, what should I look for to set it up? How do I know if I could tweak it to play better for me? How can I tell if the action could be lowered, etc, and what other things need to be checked out? I'm just a poor old country boy that needs a few pointers. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

David

[Kevin Briggs]

David,

First off, if you are just starting with mandolin, you should know that setup is a very precise process. I also play guitar, and can do my own setups, but mandolin is much different. You have a removable bridge that has an adjustable height, a different fretboard length, and so on.

All you can hope for is that it sounds nice and solid, almost round, and that it hums a bit. It certainly should stay in tune, and sound in tune all the way up the neck. Most mandolins will exhibit some of these qualities, if not all, with a good setup. Then, it should be easy to play. You can get most mandolins to play very easy with the right guage of strings, bridge height, truss rod adjustment, fret dressing, nut cut, etc. MKs are great starter mandolins, so they are designed ot have a comfortable neck, and some good aesthetics. Pricier mandolins may often have bulkier or wider necks, but your MK is designed for comfort, first and foremost.

You may live in a good spot for luthiers, but if you don't it's important to find a good setup guy. Any person at a music store will often say they can set it up, but many of these "repair men" are really guitar guys, and usually electric guitar guys.

In what city or town do you live?

[decad1]

I live in Columbia, MO.

[Kevin Briggs]

I think there's a good store called Mass Street Music near Columbia. It's in Lawrence, Kansas. These people know what they're talking about.

Try this: http://massstreetmusic.com/

[decad1]

Thanks, I'll check it out.

[allenhopkins]

I would either learn to play the mandolin or start a drug habit. Since the latter is illegal and bound to cost more, I decided on the first option.
Little does he know, snicker, snicker...

[Alex Fields]

It certainly should stay in tune

I didn't know they made mandolins that could do that. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Kevin Briggs]

Lol!

What's worse, FINANCIALLY: MAS or drug habit?

Mandos that stay in tune, surely they must cost in excess of $20,000.

Seriously though, I find it hard to joke about drug habits, just so it's clear. I don't want to sound like a know it all or something, but I've come to terms with any desire to be intoxicated. I'm relieved to know I don't see the point anymore.

[John Flynn]

I think there's a good store called Mass Street Music near Columbia. It's in Lawrence, Kansas.
ratherbpickin, no offense, but that is spoken like someone from the East, LOL! Why is it that people in the East seem to think every two points in the Midwest are near each other? Mass St. Music in Lawrence is about the same distance from Columbia as Mandolin Brothers in Staten Island is from you in Lancaster, PA. There are good luthiers in or near Columbia. Big Muddy Mandolin Company and Andrew Poe are in the area. Even if they don't do repairs, they will know who will.

If you do need to drive, St. Louis is closer and has great luthiers. "Jomando" here on the Cafe' is great, and his shop is in West St. Louis County, about 1:45 from Columbia, nearly an hour closer than Lawrence.

[Kevin Briggs]

Lol!

you could also check out Dale Ludewig, I believe he's just around the corner in Michigan. Don Paine is just up the hill in Colorado. That's all somewhere in the middle of th country, isn't it? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif