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Hey all,
I just acquired a new mandoin over the weekend (not going to mention the maker but it is stupid good!) and I started feeling like I was working hard to fret notes on the first fret. So, I...

Scott,
There have been major improvements after adjusting action and switching to heavier strings. I have gone to the GHS 270 set and have the action around 0.055" on the E side and it is wonderful....

I have a couple of sets of the medium Siminoff strings coming this week. I am looking forward to trying them next!
Dan

All,
I put on some EJ75s a couple of days ago and it did make a huge difference. The instrument has no more "blattiness" and is louder. But, it did lose some of the responsiveness (especially to a...

I raised the action and it is now at 3/64" on the E and 4/64" on the G. It seems stronger already but there is still some "blattiness" on the A string in particular. New strings should arrive in a...

Thanks Jim.

pheffernan, I have been interested in Passernig's mandolins for quite a while but have never played one. I remember reading somewhere (probably here) that he is a former Collings...

Agreed pheffernan and Berto Boy. I have had 4 MT2s now and this is the most refined and responsive one I have owned. I love the design of the MT2 - it just feels right to me. But I wanted something...

Thanks for the thoughts all. I was just looking at the tension on the D'Addario website and noticed that the A strings in the EJ74 set have a much lower tension than the other strings in the set...

Scott,
They do have a possibly smaller headroom when fretted but it is subtle.
Dan

Hey all,

My current mandolin is a Collings MT2 Varnish (with European top and birdseye b/s). It is a wonderful mandolin and suits my style almost perfectly after having many other mandolins come...

Hey T-Mando,
There is a good jam at Athentic Brewing in Athens on the 2nd Sunday of every month from 2-5 pm. There are at least 3-4 mando players at that jam. Everyone that I have met there has been...

If someone had the technical capacity and willingness to do it, a neck map/diagram for common luthiers could be really helpful! Amazing actually. Can you imagine if we all had access to makers' neck...

Thanks for the thoughts all. I have played a narrow sharp V for many years and am now playing a U/C shape (more shoulders than the V). I was just wondering if more folks leaned one way or the other....

Hey all,
Without announcing my own preferences, I would like to hear what other folks find to be the most comfortable neck shape for their playing. Additionally, I am also interested in the "why" of...

There is a wonderful non-profit here in Athens GA that focuses on musician well-being. I copied this from their website:"Our mission is to prevent suicide. With a focus on musicians, Nuçi’s Space...

Thank you all for the thoughts! I will post back here as I progress. This is and has been such a wonderful website with so many amazing folks!
Dan

Thanks for the thoughts all. I am doing this for my own personal education. I am more process-focused than end product-focused at this point. And I am not interested in a career in lutherie! I...

I just ordered the Graham McDonald book. I know the tool cost is going to be expensive (and therefore slow!). If I just start making, say, the top and back (or maybe a few tops and backs), should I...

Hey all,
I am looking for advice on building my 2nd mandolin. I built one using one of the IV kits and it turned out okay (tonally and visually) but it was somewhat unsatisfying (cheap parts, most...

I just weighed a few things to get a sense of what 27 g feels like. Turns out my glasses weigh ~28 g so that is a good reference. I feel link I might notice a difference with that amount of mass...

Thanks all! I don't like having the strap up around the headstock and am currently using a strap button. I have tried using a tone-guard which does help, but it still does the neck dive thing and I...

Thanks all. This is why this is the best forum on the internet!
John, are these the Gotoh's that you mention?...

Hey all,
I have a wonderful A style that I love (brand not mentioned intentionally) and it has Waverly tuners. It is a very headstock heavy mandolin. Can anyone recommend some lighter tuners? I have...

Steve Weill (of Givens Legacy) was making A-5 style mandolins with pine tops as of a few years ago. I was at the University of Idaho Jazz Festival in 2016 or 2017 and he had brought one to play. We...

Hey all,
Thanks for the thoughts and advice. I have really eased into playing this new mandolin and have no problems with forearm pain now. I think I was playing too much and was using too much...