String Height

[TEC]

I'm a new mandolin player so please excuse what is probably a dumb question. Is there an average height for strings above any given fret? I've played a banjo for years and a generally excepted string height is 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch above the twelfth fret. Any rule of thumb for mandolins? I have a new weber and the action seems a bit tough. Incidently, mandolin's are definatley deceptive in their difficulty to chord. I have small hands and a full G chord is an impossibility for me. As a banjo player my hat's off to you mando players.
Tom

[Steven]

Hi Tec!Interesting you should ask because there was a rather lengthy post in the general catagory on Webber Mandolin ...playability.I have a Webber Gallatin whos string hieght was very high when I received it.The instuctions that came with it for bridge adjustments said thier standard string hiegth is .064''(app. 1/16'') from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the G string.I had to lower the Brekke bridge saddle all the way to get to this hiegth.Most people lower the strings as far as they can without getting any buzzing or losing too much tone or volume while still improving the playability.I can manage the strings O.K. now but still wish they would go lower.Incidently I could not adjust this bridge under full tension either high or low,the little wrench they gave me was twisting and the bridge wasnt moving,I had to back off the strings on mine.I love the mando,they do beautiful work,the tone is great,service is world class,everything has its own little quirks....no big deal.

[Philip Halcomb]

Go .065" off the 17th fret with the E string, on the bass side go .075" off the 17th fret with the G. Seems to be a successful formula for me. Try it and you might like it too... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif