set up

[newblue]

I'm sure this threads been around before. A professional set up is often recommended on this board. especially for pac-rim mandos. What is involved in the set up and are there any that come from the store nicely set up?

[pathfinder]

Rather than re-invent the wheel with a new thread, I suggest you go over to the "General Mandolin Discussion" Forum and click on the current thread by "brandontmilan" entitled "new mandolin, needs set up.." http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[sunburst]

are there any that come from the store nicely set up?
The short answere to that question is "no".
Having done set up work on various instruments for years, It seems to me that the only fretted instruments that are "perfectly" adjusted are those that are just finished and still on the bench. Even if manufacturers set their instruments up perfectly before shipping (they don't), after shipping and unpacking and being placed in inventory, things move. Wood movement is a fact of life.

So it's the store, not the manufacturer, that is to blame if you get a new instrument that is badly in need of a set up.

A good music retailer will have a good setup technician, and will set you're instrument up when you buy it. You don't get a service like this from Marrs or whatever discount outlet. It's not such a bargain to save a few bucks and then have to find your own set up tec.

[c3hammer]

If you care to tinker for your self, you can go to:

http://www.frets.com

Then click on the mandolin owners manual. It has many set topics including, adjusting the action at the nut, bridge intonation, buzz diagnostics, etc......

The nut and bridge height (action) are the most important things to work on. Worst case scenario is that you'll need a new nut and/or bridge top made down the road.

I have had great luck with the info from frets.com. I've done all the above including a radiused finger board and fret job myself.

You can't ruin your instrument with any of these adjustments, but you can learn an incredible amount about how it works and how to fix for yourself.

Doing your own setup comes highly recomended. The frets.com site makes your odds of success go up by orders of magnitude.

Cheers,
Pete