View Full Version : Inexpensive upgrades for an inexpensive mandolin
Jim MacDaniel
Oct-06-2008, 6:40pm
I just recently picked up one of those newer Kentucky oval-hole mandolins on the 'bay, and am pretty impressed with it for the price -- especially considering I got mine used but in LN condition for only $150 USD. It already came nicely setup and stays in tune very well, so the only obvious quick and easy upgrade is to replace the stock strings, and I'll be putting on my current favs, Ted's JM-11's.
Aside from changing strings, can anyone out there recommend a good-but-inexpensive bridge or tailpiece upgrade that might yield some marginal improvement over its stock Saga parts? Given the price I spent on it, I don't plan to go "whole hog" and put on something like a new Brekke bridge or Allen tailpiece (since that could tally up to be more than the mandolin is worth, and be akin to "putting lipstick on a pig"), but are there any quality but less expensive alternatives out there that you like?
JEStanek
Oct-06-2008, 6:46pm
From what I've read here the first two mods I would make (assuming the tuners are doing their job well). Is have a bone nut installed and a Cumberland Accoustics bridge (or maybe one of Red Henry's) and have them both installed by a competent person. Parts and labor on that are probably about $70-100 for the job, or about the price of a cast tailpiece that will have minimal tonal improvements on your mandolin.
Jamie
sunburst
Oct-06-2008, 8:39pm
What Jamie said.
A good set up with a bone nut and a quality bridge and you'll be getting all you can out of it without starting to waste $$.
jim_n_virginia
Oct-07-2008, 10:13am
I agree with Jamie and John good bridge and a bone nut.
You can get the bridge on ebay a lot cheaper if you keep a sharp eye peeled and jump on it when you see one.
I got two for one once!
good luck!
mandroid
Oct-07-2008, 12:28pm
setup and fit the bridge thats on there better, keep the parts on there,
unless pieces of wood used to make the bridge are NFG , ebony density low , splits and such..
and a bone [or Tusq] nut as part of the getting the action just right , may be able to adjust the course spacing to suit your preferences when the nut-slots are laid out.
level ,dress frets [treble end at least ... ends of them is usually just chamfered off, rough]
jimbob
Oct-07-2008, 3:01pm
save money to buy the upgrade you'll want when MAS strikes....good set-up including proper bridge fit is best bang for the buck. I wouldn't spend the extra $$$ on TP's and such...I don't think it will make that much difference.
Jim MacDaniel
Oct-07-2008, 3:44pm
Good feedback all. Someone already did a good setup job on it in its prior life, and the bridge is already fitted pretty well to the top -- but aside a customized setup suited to my tastes, what gains can I expect out of a new nut and new bridge, improved tone?
JimBob -- this was a case of MAS: I bought it on impulse as a beater/traveller/camper, and this is the first mandolin I've purchased in a while that didn't come with nicer componentry. That said, given the small amount of money I spent on it, I don't plan to spend $$$ on it, only $ -- or $$ at the most. ;)
billkilpatrick
Oct-07-2008, 5:03pm
jim - don't know if you've tried this before or even credit it as a way of improving tone but a couple minutes of the following works wonders with my beater (epiphone mm-30 - normally a stiff, wooden, as opposed to "woody" sounding mandolin):
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4KB29agLAQg
sunburst
Oct-07-2008, 5:22pm
what gains can I expect out of a new nut and new bridge...?
None if you already have a good nut and bridge (BTW, I didn't suggest new nut and bridge in my earlier post, just quality ones).
If the bridge is low quality wood or soft rosewood, has poorly fitting posts and/or adjuster wheels, or any other aspects of low quality, a better one will sound better, adjust better (if adjustable), and probably not be as prone to leaning toward the fingerboard.
If the nut is soft plastic, a bone nut will lead to easier and more precise tuning, and could improve the sound of the open strings.
Jim MacDaniel
Oct-07-2008, 7:19pm
Thanks John -- I'll check out my bridge and nut for the weaknesses you describe.
Hey Bill -- I've read of this before, often in jest, but yours is the first positive firsthand feedback I've heard. I'll have to check to see if we still have one of those laying around in a box somewhere and try it out. ;)
WindinBoy
Oct-07-2008, 7:44pm
jim - don't know if you've tried this before or even credit it as a way of improving tone but a couple minutes of the following works wonders with my beater (epiphone mm-30 - normally a stiff, wooden, as opposed to "woody" sounding mandolin):
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4KB29agLAQg
Why not just put it front of stereo speaker and let the music vibrate it. I'm not sure I believe this would help much, but I have experienced an instrument "opening up" after not being played. That's magical in itself, at least to me.
I agree with everything here - I would only add, one of the most inexpensive and effective upgrades you can do is to get one of the high end picks. For in the neighborhood of $35 for Blue Chip, $20 for Red Bear, less for Wegen, and I don't remember the price of the V picks, and there are others to consider - but for not a lot of dollars you can really improve the tone of any instrument.
latentaudio
Oct-08-2008, 4:59am
How about building your own bridge?
http://www.murphymethod.com/redbridge.html
I think there maybe a lot to say about a solid bridge. I had a Kentucky where the action was so low, that the top part of the bridge was sitting on the bottom foot. Effectively making it a solid bridge. That mando sounded great!
Perry Babasin
Oct-08-2008, 6:38pm
Check this out this link...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Ashton-Bailey-Die-Cast-Mandolin-Tailpiece_W0QQitemZ180295589494QQcmdZViewItem?hash =item180295589494&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C 240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
OK! Here goes nothing. At the risk of extreme public ridicule, I would suggest this tailpiece, sold in silver or gold, for $54. Nice and heavy, very Allen-like (looks great!) and it greatly improved the sound and volume on my (cough, cough) The Loar. I know there is varied opinion about cast tailpieces here at the cafe, but in my experience cheaper mandolins sound much better with this upgrade.
Thanks............. Perry
Ivan Kelsall
Oct-09-2008, 5:55am
For a short while,i had a Michael Kelly 'Legacy Solid' Mandolin. I fitted an Allen tailpiece to it & in my opinion,it did give the instrument a tad more sustain as well as looking good. It also gave me a good appreciation as to just how good the Allen tailpieces are. Along with the James t/p,i think that they are the best t/s out there. Personally,i wouldn't hesitate to but an Allen t/p (or similar),on your Mandolin, purely on the grounds of ease of string changing & totally zilch to go wrong with it. You can always reclaim part of the cost of the 'up-grade' if you come to sell it,or remove it prior to sale & retain the t/p for your next Mandolin,
Saska
Perry Babasin
Oct-09-2008, 2:12pm
This should give you guys a good laugh, but check it out, it really worked for me. I have a Fishman bridge pick-up that I fitted to my mando. After reading about the virtues of a solid bridge and being the maniac inventor sub-luthier (ha!) that I am; and after a perfect set-up with the action right where I wanted it to be; I milled and fitted a piece of ebony (less than 1/8" thick) very tightly between the top and saddle thus filling the void and pretty much bypassing the screws. I backed off the thumb screws and then wedged them up slightly to avoid any rattle.
Increased volume, stronger amplification signal, it's all good. I subsequently glued it to the top piece during a string change, but left it loose on the bottom (but the fit is so tight under the high tension strings it is virtually a solid bridge). One advantage of having an inexpensive instrument is that I'm not afraid to experiment.
"To Infinity and Beyond"................. Perry
_______________________
Frankenstein's "The Loar"
MK Legacy "O"
MM 'Zouk
1990 Martin HD-28
Capt. E
Oct-09-2008, 4:58pm
Since you are already set-up etc. I'd get an armrest from Doug Edwards (see classifieds). I put one on both my mandos and like them very much. He's doing some neat inlaid ones. He sells matching pickguards if you need one of those.