new mandolin, needs set up...

[brandontmilan]

I'm extremely new at this Mandolin thing and recently bought a new Kentucky 340s that needs to be set up. I have a couple of questions...

1. Does anyone know of a repair shop or music store in the Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina area with someone who can set up my mandolin for an affordable price? Even somewhere like Hendersonville or Asheville, NC would be alright...

2. Is it bad for the mandolin to play it without it being properly set up? It sounds good right now, the only problem is that the action is a little high, and I'm sure the bridge isn't quite in the right place... in other words, I'm pretty busy for the next few weeks and its going to be really hard for me to get out anywhere to take it.. so is it safe for me to play it like it is for a few weeks, until i can get it somewhere?

Thanks for your advice.

-brandon

[bjc]

Brandon,

Playing the mando without a good set-up will not harm the mando (nor any farm animals)...Folk of The Wood has a good link for showing a novice how to set the bridge in the correct position so that it will be properly intune.

http://folkofthewood.com/8ppmandobridge/sld001.htm is the link...as for somone to help with the set up I don't know your area, so I would call around, but BE SURE they know what a mando is first...

[brandontmilan]

I got the bridge set in as correct a position as I could get it, but I'm sure that a proffessional could do a much better job... the problem with getting it adjusted is, it seems that many of the instrument dealers around here hardly know anything more than electric guitars or school band/orchestra instruments... there has got to be someone in Western North Carolina that I could go to, its only a 45 minute or so drive to Asheville...

[A9cp]

I know your up the road from Columbia actually in Cayce but at Bill's Pickin Palor they can set it up. Its an all bluegrass shop, good music. Everytime I am up in Columbia at stop by. Nice folks.

[wolfsong]

I use Bishops violin here in Asheville. Mr Bishop is a really great guy and doe's good work. IMHO He is also a mandolin player which I like.

[brandontmilan]

Thanks for the advice, I'll have to check into one of those...

[mandonewbie]

Brandon,

Did you call Susan at Fifth String Music in G'ville....Her store is taylored to the bluegrass crowd and she has her own bluegrass band....she could probably tell you who to call....I'm in the simpsonville area....You in G'ville or Spartanburg?

[stinsc]

I would recommend 5th String Music on N. Pleasantburg Drive, also. Susan Snyder is the owner. She uses a local luthier named Dick Young who has done work for me and I definitely recommmend him.

[Fstpicker]

Have you tried Phil's Music in Mauldin? Or Music Maker in Easley? I second the suggestion about 5th string also. Pecknel might have someone also. Also, there's a large music store off of I-85 in Gaffney that may have a luthier as well.

Hope it works out. I used to live in the G'vl. area for 15 years (Easley actually) and learned about every music store in the area.

Jeff

[brandontmilan]

I'm living at North Greenville College, so I'm closest to Greenville, but my house is in Spartanburg, so I know my way around both... I haven't checked with 5th String Music about getting mine set up, I did go by there when i was shopping around, however, and they had a Kentucky 150s for the same price I bought my Kentucky 350s... but I'll probably check with them...

Most of the other Music Stores in this area specialize in School Band and Orchestra instruments and/or strictly guitars and accessories, including Pecknel... so they don't know what to do with a mandolin... and the store on 85 in gaffney is Hames Music... and I refuse to do business with those guys, as far as I've seen, they have no interest in helping their customers out, only in making a dollar or two...

but 5th string music sounds like it may be the place to go...

[brandontmilan]

one more question...

How much is the average price on a set-up/adjustment job on a mandolin... I haven't stopped to think, yet, whether or not its in my budget...

[mandonewbie]

It should be less than $100 bucks, but I'm guessing based on a guitar set-up I had done....by the way..I'm only a beginner, but would love to find someone to get together and jam with...if interested get in touch @barryflht@aol.com.

[Exude]

In Spartanburg, you could call the guys over at Hames. They are always friendly as well.

[brandontmilan]

I've got another question...
What all actually goes into a mandolin set-up job? What all do they adjust?

and another question, will the gage of the strings make a difference in the adjustments which they make?