Brand new capek f-mandolin

[Oliver Fuchs]

Hello,

got my brand new (4 days) custom made Capek F-style (similar to his top model "Sophia" but without all the fancy inlays...).

It sounds nice but not great (yet); almost a little "damped" and lacks sustain, bass and responsiveness. Do you think it will "open up" distinctly? And if yes: how long do you think it will take (if I play about 1 hour a day)?

Oliver

[JEStanek]

Was it freshly set up when you bought it? If it was mailed to you things may have wiggled during shipment. I couldn't offer a guess for when or if it will open up. I would start with checking/adjusting the things that are known to cause lower performance in an instrument (other than my lack of talent!). If you bought it in a shop, if the strings are old that may be a source too.

Jamie

[John Flynn]

There is no hard and fast rule, other than it should improve gradually over time. "Opening up" is a process, not an event. It varies greatly by the instrument and how you play it, not just how much. Some mandolins don't open up at all.

[billkilpatrick]

try this:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4KB29agLAQg

... be sure to cover the mandolin with a handkerchief or something to protect its finish.

(added later) ... or if you don't have one of these vibrating gizmos, try humming into the sound chamber. if you run up and down the scale you will hear that one note resonates more than the others. in another thread this was called "tuned to the wood" - or its natural note.

hope you enjoy your mandolin.

[Tom C]

There are no guarantees. It does not sound like you are happy with the mando. Maybe contact the builder.

[MikeEdgerton]

Before you make yourself crazy try some new strings. Try J74's to start with. Make sure you're not affected by some dead strings before you try the other things.

[billhay4]

Definitely new strings, but check the setup too. Make sure the bridge is properly seated and placed. Check the action. Etc. All of this can get messed up in shipping and will affect the tone.
Bill

[pjlama]

Break-in has a lot to do with how heavy your right hand is. If your mandolin is made well and I suspect it is because of the positive reputation of Capeks just play it as much as possible and it should star to happen although checking the set-up and fresh stings should help too. Try some J75's for a kick.

[Greg H.]

I agree, strings will make the biggest difference. Try it with J74s, Sam Bush (strings, though having Sam play it will also make it sound good #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif), Bill Monroes, J75s, TIs, and GHS Silk and Steel. These tend to be the favorites among the folks I've talked/picked with and they can make a dramatic difference in the sound of your mandolin.

[Jason Holmes]

I'm sure it's tight being brand new, assuming the setup is good, strings are fine, etc. I got my Newell near a year ago now (just built and strung up), and while I liked its sound to begin with, it was after about 8-9 months when I had that "wow" moment when it had clearly tonally changed, and I'm sure it still has a long way to go. My Eastman was the same way, it was somewhere within the first 6-12 months that a change became really noticeable. I'm sure it happens gradually, but has to pass certain thresholds before one can really discern differences. So I'd think that a brand new, well built solid wood instrument such as the OP's will most likely open up some. Like everyone says though, there's no way to guess exactly when that would happen to a degree that the OP would notice it. Slow change can be the hardest to gauge.

[Oliver Fuchs]

Thank you very much for your comments!

It was shipped directly from the builder. It came with a new set of GHS PF 270 M. The setup needs some fine tuning of course (e.g. the action of the e-strings is a bit high compared to the other strings). The bridge is well placed and fits very well on the top but it appeals that the contact area to the strings is quite large (maybe this dampes a little?).

It doesn't sound bad of course (I payed over 4 k). Very clear and articulate (in this aspect much better than my Eastmann 515) but sadly also very "tight".

Of course I played other high end Capeks before and they all sounded great or even fantastic. So it should have the potential to improve distinctly (I hope so)...

[Ivan Kelsall]

Give it time Oliver. You could indeed try changing the strings for D'Addario J74's,they're a good all round string. The strings on your mandolin may be 'new' ie.not having been played,but they could still be months old & overstreched. When i got my Weber Fern,it sounded very good straight out of the case.I changed the strings,adjusted the string height & it sounded better. Now,after 18 months of daily playing,it sounds as good as any mandolin i've heard. Your mandolin will improve,& one other thing,it does take awhile to become accustomed to a 'different' sound that the one you're used to. I used to compare on a daily basis,the sound of the Fern against the mandolin i'd had for 12 months prior to me getting the Fern - does it sound better,more open,louder,more subtle in tone etc.. As the Fern 'opened up' with playing,the difference became absolutely apparent - it was in a class of it's own compared to my existing mandolin,which,in it's own way was also very nice,
Saska

[mandolirius]

This is probably not what you'd like to hear but my feeling is that two full years are required for complete break-in. Some maybe faster, depending on the finish but I had a brand new Givens with a very thin varnish finish that didn't settle into it's sound for at least 18 months. Up until that time, it was like a different mandolin every day.

[lubomir]

Hi Oli,
As I'm Capek's F5 #300 (of 2005) owner and have had similar issue with my mandolin let me share my experiece. I tried different strings: Monel, J75, J74, GHS, EXP75, John Pierce. The best one are EXP75 (my personal view). It opend up a little and together with EXP75 sounds much more better but still there's lack of responsiveness, esp.G string. A good friend of mine Adrian Minarovic (Hogo nickname), a very good and knowledgeable luthier, after observing it mentioned that tone bars are too high (stiff). The top itselves (thicknes) is ok. Maybe it's your issue as well. Check this. I'm thinking of scooping.
Lubomir

[Oliver Fuchs]

Hi Oli,
As I'm Capek's F5 #300 (of 2005) owner and have had similar issue with my mandolin let me share my experiece. I tried different strings: Monel, J75, J74, GHS, EXP75, John Pierce. The best one are EXP75 (my personal view). It opend up a little and together with EXP75 sounds much more better but still there's lack of responsiveness, esp.G string. A good friend of mine Adrian Minarovic (Hogo nickname), a very good and knowledgeable luthier, after observing it mentioned that tone bars are too high (stiff). The top itselves (thicknes) is ok. Maybe it's your issue as well. Check this. I'm thinking of scooping.
Lubomir
Thank you Lubomir! Mine is #371. Next month I will ship it to a trusted luthier for a setup and let him check the tone bars too.

Btw. my G-strings sound relatively good (got more problems with the A-strings).