General Mandolin Care?

[Howard33]

I'm a brand new mandolin owner and would like to know if there is any reading material or advice on general mandolin care? For instance, anything about taking the mandolin from a nice warm environment to a frigid one? Like from your home and potentially leaving it in the car when the outside temp is 20 or below?

or taking it from a frigid environment like a car during cold weather into a 70+ degree room?

I just want to make sure that I keep my instrument in the best working order possible for as long as possible baring the normal wear of simply using it daily for practice and such.

[Patrick Sylvest]

No acoustic instrument likes extreme temperature changes.....as you seem to be aware.

If you live in an arid climate, high altitude or out west in the desert, you may consider a humidifier for your case...or get a case with a humidifier and hygrometer. No such problem here in Louisiana.
We just go play outside and the muggyness seeps right in. I've never heard of an instrument cracking from dryness here. ymmv.

One thing I do is carry a microfiber polish cloth in my case, and wipe off the strings, fingerboard, and the whole mandolin after playing. I don't do it every time, but I do it enough that my strings last a bit longer and the finish on my mandolin looks nice.

[allenhopkins]

I have repeatedly recommended the Taylor Guitars "tech sheets" (http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/reference/techsheets.html) as a good source for instrument care recommendations. While targeted to guitars rather than mandolins, they have useful information regarding temperature, humidity etc. considerations.

One thing I do recommend is to keep the instrument in its case when you're not playing it. I know many people like to keep their mandolins out on stands, hanging on the wall, or some such, so they can pick them up and play them whenever the impulse strikes them. The other side of this, is that the instruments are exposed to being knocked over, bumped into, played with by kids or other immature persons, and other hazards. Plus, if you are trying to control the instrument's humidity, that's easier to do with in-case humidifiers or desiccants, than by controlling the entire room in which you keep it.

High temperatures, over 100º, can soften certain kinds of glue joints, and can make mahogany instrument necks flexible enough to be warped by string tension. Instruments left in cars in summer sunshine and heat, can suffer damage. Cold temperatures in themselves don't really damage instruments, but rapid warming of an instrument from below-freezing to room temperature, can result in finish damage: the finish layer and the wood below expand at unequal rates as they warm up, and the finish can stress-crack in the pattern often called "lacquer checking" or "alligatoring."

Good rule of thumb, is that your instrument is generally comfortable if you are. Keeping the mandolin relatively clean, in a comfortable environment, and protected from hazards in the environment, covers most of the "care principles."

[Howard33]

Thanks for the information from both of you. While I have no real experience with stringed instruments persay, I have common sense and an decent understanding of the potentially temper nature of wood in general.

Its nice to know I'm not completely geeking out by carrying a soft cloth as well. It just seemed right to wipe down the strings, neck and body of the mandolin after playing, especially as I am one who's hands have a tendency to sweat some.

As for storage between sessions, I am working on the habit of always putting it away in the case when I am done. I have no problem taking a few extra moments to take it out and put it away when I want to practice.

Thanks again for the info and the understanding that I am already doing some things right. Oh, I live in Southern Indiana so really high humity is not really an issue as such. But it is the "winter" season and currently the temp here is in the 20's or so.

[mandroid]

My guitar has finish cracks in it from my time living in a very hard to heat basement apartment .
could not heat the whole foundation Concrete with my glorified toaster heater within my winter spiked electricity budget.

opening the case did it . the plush blanket laid on top of the instrument inside the case ,
when opened , and then delaying taking off the blanket may have helped that , live and learn..

[Pastor Bill Pawlyshyn]

Hi all
regarding the finish. Can one buff out the less than 'polished' areas on a mando (have the "F" style) from hand wear? The mando (Rover 75) is a few months old, just want to get started on preventative care - or am I being a bit vain with appearance? I already wipe the strings as well as the body after playing. Did search the 'Tayolr site' and didn't see anything therefore leading me to this question
thanks and have a great new year!!!

[Sean Greer]

Bill, there was a period when I really wanted to keep my Fern looking "brand new" and I searched the board high and low and found that many people recommended Mequiar's products for polishing mandolins. Specifically, the #17 Clear Plastic Cleaner and #10 Clear Plastic Polish. I tried it on a small area on my mando (foolishly above the front point) and felt that it may have "clouded" the finish. I contacted Weber and they said they use a 3M product to polish each mando prior to shipping. I haven't bothered to locate the product and have taken the words of Michael Lewis (or at least I think it was Michael Lewis) to heart: "They're only new once."

Now I simply clean it with a microfiber cloth and appreciate the wear it's accumulated through the many, many hours of playing. If I ever sell it, I will be clear that its a players instrument and has been "pre-distressed" free of charge. :mandosmiley:

[earthsave]

Like a new car, once I got the first ding, it was actually sort of a relief.

When I sweat I will wipe down my strings. I figure it makes them last longer and makes them less stick in the future, same with the neck. If I spill anything on it, I tend to wipe it off. I kinda like the used distressed look. I'll wipe off built up dust.

I always put mine in the case to avoid people sitting on, tripping over, knocking over, and I latch it to avoid the dreaded pick up by the handle and dump scenarios I have read about.

As mentioned above, temperature differences can cause finish checking, which is just cosmetic from what I understand.

[man dough nollij]

Some folks have done well distressing the top with a fireplace poker! ~:>

[Pastor Bill Pawlyshyn]

thanks for the input. . . yes, just like my new 1967 mustang, I would polish it every day, after the first fender bender . . more time behind the wheel than polishing the tires.

[GTison]

Whip it like a mule!