Mandolin tuning quirk

[Narayan Kersak]

I notice that when I take my mandolin out of the case and tune it, it is always sharp. I then tune it to pitch and play a few hours and put it away. Next time...sharp again. What the hell is going on?

By the way, I have an alvarez A-800 with a Mowry on the way! ; )

[bikebum]

Most of mine are usually flat on several strings. I thought maybe this would keep happening until the strings got stretched to a point where they would stabilize.

[Jim Broyles]

It is not out the ordinary for my guitars and mandolins to go sharp in reaction to changes in temperature and humidity. Have you tried leaving your mandolin out of the case and seeing what happens?

[James P]

My mandolin tends to go sharp in the case, too. #No idea why. # #

(Speaking of sharp, I saw that Mowry in the white. Very nice! I'm really hoping you'll post a soundclip!)

[Narayan Kersak]

I'll leave it out for a while and see...it just seemed to me that playing it and putting it a way would stretch the strings out a bit and actually make it flat rather than sharp.

Yes I will post a clip of the mandolin once I get it. Then I plan on recording a few songs with the irish group I play with which I will also post.

Have you seen it with some color?

http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....st=2250 (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=7510;st=2250)

It's on page 91 of that thread.

[allenhopkins]

Sounds like your instrument is being exposed to increased humidity wherever you put it away. I've noticed several of my instruments going sharp as the furnace works less, and the interior environment increases in humidity. I keep all my "toys" in my basement room, the dampest part of the house, to avoid dryness and cracking during the winter. Now my dehumidifier is running part of the day, and the instruments' wood is absorbing moisture from the air, and expanding slightly. The problems associated with higher humidity (short of actual condensation or exposure to liquid) are, IMHO, less serious than those associated with extremely low humidity. But a damper environment does mean retuning until the moisture content of the wood stabilizes at a higher level.

[Ivan Kelsall]

I have a similar problem with both my Mandolins from time to time,though not always.
I always keep them in their cases,but if i leave them in my front (colder) room,they mostly are out of tune one way or another.If left in my main living (warmer) room,they're usually ok.The humidity in both my rooms is pretty much the same (a humidity gauge in both rooms tells me so)so with my mandolins it's down to temperature alone.Last year when we had a spell of 'super hot' weather over here,even when left in my front room they were ok,
Saska

[Narayan Kersak]

It is kept in my study with my other instruments which is about 47-60% humidity from now till fall and then dropping to around 30% in the fall and winter. It's where I spend most of my time. when the humidity drops I put a humidifying sponge in the case of both my guitar and mandolin.

[bradeinhorn]

here in nyc and other places, i assume, it the exact time of year sharpness out of the case can happen. humidity is back.