View Full Version : How to make a Johnson MA-100 Sound Good?
Unseen122
Jun-21-2004, 6:01am
In order to save money I want to improve my MA-100 instead of buying a better instrument any suggestions on what to do? I need to change the tailpiece and file the extra nut plastic that is coming of on to the neck. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
I was in the same boat a few years back, I had a cheapo and it was very hard to play and sounded very dead.
The biggest improvement in sound was made when I "fitted" the bridge to the top and lowered the action on the strings.
You could change the tailpiece,(it will probally cost more than the mando) and get some tone change.
Dave
Play with a banjo picker http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Dru Lee Parsec
Jun-21-2004, 1:30pm
Check out my post On this thread (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=14069;hl=foam) I talk about all the stuff I did to my Johnson mandolin to make it play close to correct. After all that work it still sounded like a Johnson. But it might help you get closer to where you want to be.
Unseen122
Jun-21-2004, 2:51pm
I have the option of that stuff or what I could do is since I am going to a HUGE guitar show this weekend bring it along and see if I can trade it in/pay less for something decent I am thinking the Fender A acoustic/electric anyone know if they are good I have played on them a few times and it seems good value. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif