How to set-up my mando?

[sirmando]

I need to set-up my mando. The bridge is not touching my archtop mando correctly. How do I sand it down to go with my archtop? Also it looks like the nut slots are too small for my Sam Bush mandolin strings. Is there a correct way to file them?(I have a nut file). I would also like to lower the action as low as I can I know I can lower at the bridge how do I do it wiht the truss rod, or should I leave it alone? By the way I have a MK dragon fly11 got this from a shop and when I called to talk to the set-up man the woman on the phone was very rude to me so I will not go there to get it done now or buy anything there again. Thank you all who respond.

[sunburst]

First of all, the truss rod in the neck is to establish and maintain the correct bow in the neck. Beyond that, it is not meant for action height adjustment.

Here are a couple of links to Frets.com that will help you with your questions. (I hope for a couple of links, I might not be able to post but one, we'll see.)

Anyway, once you get to Frets.com, that should keep you busy for a while http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif .

Bridge fitting (http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Mandolin/FitBridgeFeet/fitfeet.html)

Nuts (http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/GenSetup/Nuts/nuts1.html)

[steve in tampa]

I just had my MK Dragonfly 11 set up with the Bush strings.

The strings sound good, and are much more comfortable to play than the ones that came on it.

The nut had to be filed to fit the strings. The bridge was left alone for now because it has the Fishman pickup in it. I will probably address this issuse later, and perhaps with a different bridge.

The set up that was on it was pretty good to start with, so the biggest adjustment was the nut.

[Jasper]

Sirmando,

Sounds like you are really interested in getting that mando done right, but there seems to be great uncertainty in your skill to do so. And if you screw up the nut (no pun intended), it will have to be replaced...of course, this is a good way to get experience.

I realize the woman you spoke with at the store was rude, but she could have just had a really horrible day, lost a loved one recently, and so on. You might consider calling back and try again to talk to the fellow who does the set ups...just a thought.

Jasper