KennyE
Jan-15-2012, 11:51am
This is sort of a follow up to my thread about Will it Get Louder? In that thread I was on the cusp of trashing the tone, volume, etc. of my Eastman MD615 FF. Just to qualify that - I know exactly what my mandolin is: a decent import from a mass manufacturer. Albeit a better shop with real luthiers. Anyway .....
I noticed a slight buzz on the G course at the 12th fret. Not that I'd ever be playing on that course that high. But it bugged me. I also noticed some tarnish on the strings, thought it might be time to change. I just happened to have a set of D'Addario J67s. Not sure why, but I did. So I tossed those bad boys on there. While I had the strings loosened I raised the bridge slightly. Nothing scientific about it, just about 1/4 turn of the thumbwheel per side. Restrung and ... hmmm, it sounded different. Less brittle on the high end; not a great deal difference on the G course. But overall it had a more rounded, warmer tone.
Not sure if that's the strings or the slight raise in the bridge. But I got more than one comment on how nice the mandolin sounded last night. Even with the transducers. :whistling: So, what's the big difference between the J67s and the J74s (which came on it)? I have a set of J73s, but I think they may be too light. Not sure.
I noticed a slight buzz on the G course at the 12th fret. Not that I'd ever be playing on that course that high. But it bugged me. I also noticed some tarnish on the strings, thought it might be time to change. I just happened to have a set of D'Addario J67s. Not sure why, but I did. So I tossed those bad boys on there. While I had the strings loosened I raised the bridge slightly. Nothing scientific about it, just about 1/4 turn of the thumbwheel per side. Restrung and ... hmmm, it sounded different. Less brittle on the high end; not a great deal difference on the G course. But overall it had a more rounded, warmer tone.
Not sure if that's the strings or the slight raise in the bridge. But I got more than one comment on how nice the mandolin sounded last night. Even with the transducers. :whistling: So, what's the big difference between the J67s and the J74s (which came on it)? I have a set of J73s, but I think they may be too light. Not sure.