Mandolin Set Up

[MDSMITH]

I just got a MK Legacy Deluxe a couple of months ago. I changed the strings, and lowered the bridge to get a lower action. My question is, how important is it to get a professional set up? I mean, is there much else to do to it except adjust the neck(which looks straight to me)? I know with a banjo there's just too much to adjust, and a pro set up can make all the difference in the world as far as sound and playability. I just wanted to check before I drop 50.00 on it.

[Fretbear]

http://frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/GenSetup/NutAction/nutaction.html

[Ravenwood]

There are really three points to setup: nut height and spacing, bridge height and spacing, and setting the distance from nut to bridge. Messing around with the bridge height on an adjustable, and its distance from the nut (and any angle) is not hard. If you are raising the bridge, just make sure to back off the tension on the strings first. If you can't turn the adjustment wheels easily with your fingers you have too much tension. Loosen the strings a little even if you are trying to lower the action.

As to changing the nut height, I would suggest a qualified luthier.

There is a lot of good information on the net. http://www.frets.com is a good place to start. Also, there is an excellent builder's forum here where you can get advice from some people who know a lot more about this than I do. :grin:

[MDSMITH]

Cool, thanks fior the info guys. I guess I can try taking it to the repair guy to see if he can tell me if it needs a set up or not, although I'm thinking he'll say yes either way. I'm just getting started playing, and I figure I want to have as much going for me as possible as far as playability goes. Like I said on another thread, I'm thinking of going with some lighter strings too, which from my limited understanding, could warrent some adjustment.

[Fred Keller]

I respectfully submit a 4th and 5th aspect to set up: truss rod adjustment to put in/take out a little arch to the neck; and fret height. Of course this last item (i.e., do frets need dressing or replacement) is not likely a concern for a newer mandolin.

MDSmith: Setting up a mandolin is tantamount to adjusting things for your personal playing style. I've just been through 2 separate rounds of it this year mostly driven by worn down frets.

It's important for you to have an idea of what you want the mandolin to feel and sound like when you play it before you take it in for a set up. There isn't one perfect way to set up a mandolin and every repair person I've met so far has their own particular set up preferences (e.g., "I like a perfectly flat fingerboard" vs "I like to see a slight relief in the neck").

If you don't know what you want yet, I suggest waiting and playing until you do know. When you do know, a pro set up job should greatly enhance the instrument's voice. I've never been disappointed though I have had to go back to my repair guys once or twice for final adjustments and little tweaks (I've never been charged for this so feel free to be persnickety in what you want)

[Randi Gormley]

I just had my first professional set-up done this past week. When I set up my Kentucky when it first arrived a couple years ago with bridge down and strings barely attached, the only thing I sort of knew about set-up was the bridge should go where the center of the f-holes was ... although I did have my 'set-up' checked with a mando player who was much better than I once I put the instrument together. My set-up worked just fine -- the Kentucky stayed in tune, mostly, and let me bang away at it making music -- but after reading about the benefits of a professional set-up in the Cafe again and again, I had it done when I had my new pickup installed. The luthier called me to say he saw a lot of fret wear and gooves and asked if I wanted to have the frets leveled while he was at it. I figured I might as well, and I got the Kentucky back yesterday, pickup installed, frets leveled and the action incredible. Now, any issues with my playing are my own (!) I was perfectly happy for the first few years not knowing anything, of course, but I'd err on the side of getting everything done right the first time. You can modify from there if you don't like it.

[Big Joe]

Another step in a pro set up is fret dressing, adjusting the nut slots and saddle slots, ensuring the bridge fits properly to the top of the instrument, the frets are down tight and the bridge is on right and in the right place. All these things can make a REAL difference in the way a mandolin plays and sounds. It is well worth it to have a great setup by someone who knows what they are doing. Just understand most repair people are well experienced in guitars, but not mandolins. They are not apples for apples. Just because they can set up an electric guitar does not mean they could set up a mandolin.

[MDSMITH]

Good point Joe. Luckily I have a local bluegrass shop that does repairs, so I assume they know how to do mandolin set ups.