Setup question

[Barry Platnick]

Just bought the km 150 to take on my vacation and i've been reading alot of threads on the importance of a good setup. The mandolin actually plays and sounds pretty good to my ear right off the wall ( well after tunning.)
will it sound that much better after a $70 tuneup ($199 mandolin)?

thanks

[earthsave]

If it plays well and sounds good, then dont worry about a setup. I bought a KM150S several years ago from Elderly and it came setup and played very well, especially for a $200 mandolin. The sound was thin, the pick guard tended to rattle, and it didnt stay in tune as steadily as my Flatiron, but was a great beginning instrument.

[JEStanek]

The main thing a $70 set up will give you is (ideally) proper existing bridge fitting, adjust the nut for low action and prevent buzzing, and bridge placement for intonation assuming the neck was slotted and fretted correctly. If the mando feels comfortable and is in tune up the neck, and there's no daylight between the bridge feet and top, I would only recomend new strings. I'm sure you already know this but I went into more detail in case there there are others with new mandos who may have the same question... no offense intended!

Jamie

[Tim2723]

A set up corrects those things that are out of adjustment. If everything is working as it should, well, there ya go. From your list of instruments, it looks like you'd know if something was out of whack. Pick long and prosper!

[Barry Platnick]

Apreciate the responses. No offense taken at all, I can use all the info I can get
Guess I lucked out, cause after I took of the pickgaurd and wound a piece of leather into the strings by the tailpiece (thank you Jamie)it really sounds quite good for a traveler.

Thanks again

[MikeEdgerton]

You need to ask yourself a few questions. Do I hear any buzzing or rattles? Is my mandolin loud enough? Do I like the way it sounds? Is it too hard to play? If you have any problems with those questions then you should look at getting a setup. If you don't then it probably won't make too much difference to you if you do. The old "get a setup no matter what" is a waste of money unless you can hear or feel a difference when you play it. If you get it back and hear or feel no difference then the entire episode might be a bit of a downer.