"Setting" Up

[pettyman]

Hi.

I'm expecting a Kentucky KM-380s for Christmas and 21st - now I know that this isn't the best instrument out there but it is as high a price as I can even dream of going!

Is there a step by step guide to setting a mandolin up - I'm good with my hands, and have access to a lot of tools that might be useful!!

So...

Many thanks in advance..

Matt

[Martin Jonas]

The KM-380s is not bad at all, if set up properly. #It's their top A model and much better value for money than Kentucky's F models. #I bought one a year ago for my mother and set it up for her, and she's very happy with it. #With a good setup, it's a very pleasant and responsive mandolin. #There are a number of pros who play a KM-380s (for example Allen Alexander).

As far as setup is concerned, there have been many previous discussions on the topic, usually in the "General" or "Builder/Repair" forums (the Tips & Tricks forum is really intended for musical questions, not hardware questions). #I also strongly recommend you have a look at Frank Ford's wonderful site Frets.com (http://www.frets.com). #A lot of it is illustrated with guitar examples, but applies equally to the mandolin.

Setup involves primarily:

1) Fit the bridge feet (http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Mandolin/FitBridgeFeet/fitfeet.html): #This is by far the most laborious part of the setup. #Many Asian mandolins come with the bridges only cruedly fitted to the top. #If your mandolin has light shining between bridge and top, you should fit the feet properly. #I'm not as fanatical about perfect fit as most, as I'm unconvinced that it makes as much difference as is claimed, but I've seen shockingly poorly fitting bridges in brand new mandolins. #If yours is like that, it will greatly benefit from a proper fit.

2) Restringing (http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/Mandolin/MandoString/mandostring1.html) (I suggest D'Addario J74 to start with; they're fine on your Kentucky).

3) Checking the nut action. (http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/GenSetup/NutAction/nutaction.html)

4) Checking the nut is properly cut (http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/GenSetup/Nuts/nuts1.html) (was fine on mine). #For mandolins, the same applies to the saddle slots.

5) Adjusting the truss rod (http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/GenSetup/TrussRods/TrussRodAdj/tradj.html): I would strongly recommend that you do not touch the truss rod yourself at this stage. #You can destroy your instrument if you get this wrong. #Use the linked page to see whether your neck relief is OK (it was on the one I set up); if it is not, see a luthier.

6) Check the frets are level (http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/GenSetup/Frets/frets01.html).

7) Set the bridge position: the bridge is in the right position if for all four strings the fretted note at the 12th fret is exactly one octave above the open string. #If your bridge is properly compensated, you can get quite close to this ideal; however, bridge compensation depends on the choice of strings and the factory compensation may not be quite right. #If so, I recommend you choose the best compromise across all four strings rather than trying to change the compensation yourself: this is best left to a luthier.

8) Set the action at the bridge using the thumbwheels. #It's important to do this after you've set up the rest, as the bridge fit, new strings, neck relief and nut action will all affect the best setting for the action. #There are different schools of thought on the ideal action, and it depends primarily on your playing style. #I would err on the low side, though, as it makes the initial playing experience much easier. #I'd recommend around 1.5mm action at the 12th fret as a starting point (provided you don't get a buzz from the frets at that height. You may need to double-check bridge position after adjusting the action: these two are mutually dependent for best intonation.

If, after all of this, you get a buzz from anywhere on the instrument, check out the Buzz Diagnosis (http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Setup/BuzzDiagnosis/buzzintro.html) page.

Most importantly: if you are not confident abotu any of the above, go and see a luthier. #None of this is rocket science, but he (or she) will have seen many more instruments than you and will know what the best compromise is for you particular instrument: there is no such thing as the ideal setup, every setup is a trade-off betwene several, sometimes conflicting, objectives.

Martin