They sold me a left-handed mandolin!

**Norm66** · Sep-01-2005, 8:34am

After contacting numerous retailers I finally located a Mid-Missouri M-11 (all mahogany). #Pleased as punch I ordered it and it arrived yesterday. #Tuned her up and was very pleased with both the tone and the playability. #Craftsmanship was also excellent. #That's when I noticed I was having trouble telling which position I was in. #

Took a second look and sure enough it's got a backward (left-handed) neck on it. #Position markers and the 'Mid-MIssouri' side of headstock stamp are both on the bottom. #It makes me wonder if it came from the factory that way or if they restrung a lefty after I ordered it. #I won't mention the retailer (unless they don't handle it well) but I'm not really pleased.

Question: #The intonation at the 12th fret is about 1/4 step off (should be E is actually a slightly sharp D#). #Could this be due to a left-handed bridge (?) or do I just need to loosen the strings and adjust the bridge location?

We'll see what the shop says too, but I definitely want your second (and third) opinions.

Thanks for listening and advising,
Norm

#

**Tom C** · Sep-01-2005, 8:45am

It sure sounds like a lefty. Return it.

**glauber** · Sep-01-2005, 9:54am

Yes, if this is a lefty, the bridge is probably backwards and the intonation will be off. The nut is probably backwards too. Return it. Hopefully it was a honest mistake.

**Norm66** · Sep-01-2005, 10:20am

Looks like all is well. Talked to Dennis at Adirondack guitars and he's an absolute class act. He's not sure how it happened but he's having Mid-Missouri ship us a new one. When it gets here we'll stick the lefty back in the packaging and ship it right back to them. He's mailing out the FedEx paperwork today.

It sure seems like an honest mistake and we can't possibly fault his reaction to it. Adirondack Guitars is OK in my book.