View Full Version : Intra-course string spacing -- New Mandolin
So I recently upgraded, from a cheap starter mandolin, to an Eastman MD 515. I love the new mandolin, but something has started to weigh on my mind over the last couple of days of playing it -- it seems like the spacing between strings within the courses was narrower on my older mandolin, and is wider on my new Eastman, especially on the D course. It's started to be something I can't help notice when playing, and I'm starting to convince myself that I prefer the feel of my old mandolin, especially on the D course (needless to say, this is a less-than-great feeling after having spent roughly a grand on a new mandolin). I almost feel like my fingers will occasionally slip between the two strings of the D course when playing.
Has anyone had this experience before? The Eastman is well set up otherwise, but I wonder if some adjustment to the bridge or nut might improve this? Or, should I just try to get used to it?
MikeEdgerton
Mar-22-2017, 9:08pm
Take your old mandolin and your new mandolin to a decent luthier and have them cut a new nut for the Eastman. You probably don't need a new saddle. You're dealing with a personal preference.
Jeff Mando
Mar-22-2017, 9:11pm
I saw the title and thought I better not go near this one......:disbelief:
kurth83
Mar-22-2017, 9:20pm
It depends on whether your picking hand or fretting hand is unhappy with the spacing. I had the opposite issue recently, the strings were too close together, and it was purely a bridge issue, I got a new bridge and am happy.
Edit: string spacing should be the same for all the courses, so it sounds like something needs to change.
I saw the title and thought I better not go near this one......:disbelief:
??:confused:??
Is this a controversial topic, or something? If so, I had no idea. :)
Jeff Mando
Mar-23-2017, 9:58am
??:confused:??
Is this a controversial topic, or something? If so, I had no idea. :)
No, it's a valid topic. Just a juvenile attempt at humor, on my part. Sorry. :cool:
Willie Poole
Mar-23-2017, 10:11am
Jeff...It`s "Intra" not "Inter"...Another mind in the gutter...Lol
Malco
Mar-23-2017, 10:15am
Oh boy -- now I get it.
I guess my mind is too much on mandolins, that I didn't see that coming. :whistling:
Br1ck
Mar-23-2017, 11:20am
Nice choice for an upgrade. It's a simple fix. New nut and most saddles can be sanded slightly and new grooves cut, and any repair/setup guy can do this. I'd play it a while first though and see, but in the end it's what you want that matters.