New/Different Bridge-Saddle for Flatwound Strings?

[emitfo]

I was told by the JThomas Davis (actually an assistant who processes the order) the luthier that set-up my mandolin, that if I wanted to keep the JM110B's on my mandolin he'd have to build a new saddle for the bridge. I wanted my mandolin back and I was a little short on money so I accepted it and took the semi-flatwound strings he chose to put on there, GHS I think. I played for awhile with those but put some JM110B's back on because, well, I like them!:)

I respect JThomas Davis (http://www.jthomasdavis.com/home.html) but it just doesn't make sense to me. Can anyone enlighten me?
:mandosmiley:

[8ch(pl)]

Read the thread on Bridge Compensation, it should give you some answers.

Basically, strings are different (wound to solid) and if you are using the labellas that have a wound A string, it will be a different string diameter. This coupled with the short scale of a mandolin requiring more precise compensation, may require a different saddle.

the Bridge Compensation thread is interesting reading.

[Ted Eschliman]

The A strings (014) are plain, not wound. Without knowing for sure what they went on or what they are being compared to, these aren't all that drastic a departure (10, 14, 24, 35). It might have been an issue of slot width, but I've sold over 150 sets; this is the first time I've heard of such thing.

You're doing the right thing, getting another opinion. If it sounds good, no rattles, buzzes, no intonation nightmares, it's working.

http://jazzmando.com/images/JM10B_Strings_web-thumb.jpg