Hardware

Documented in this thread on the Cafe. I asked lots of questions, folks with a lot of knowledge replied, I did some research and asked more as I learned more, and here we are. I am bookmarking this partially for myself, but also in the hopes it can help others first approaching the really complicated, and somewhat confusing, world of home recording.

A BIG thumbs up to the refret!

The mandolin plays almost effortlessly now! Fretting is a breeze (even with a relatively high action), and the notes just jump out. More importantly, the rattle of strings on uneven frets is gone, so the notes are pure for possibly the first time since I've owned this mandolin. Its weird, but the whole effect of playing this mandolin is completely different; despite the neck still not being a great fit for my hand, its much less of an issue because I ...

Sort of.

Just picked the mandolin up at the Greyhound station. I have removed the case from the box, and am now letting it warm up. Except, it was already in a warm warehouse since possibly last night. I can check it now, can't I? No! Must let it rest for a few hours more. But, the case was at room temperature when I removed it from the box. NO! Mustn't let eagerness allow finish checking! but finish checking looks cool and vintage...

Just got an email that the refret, with fingerboard press to get it flat (apparently it was a bit of a bugger), is almost completed. Wow! After the Bill Graham article I was expecting this to drag on for a bit. Really, I was expecting an email when he was about to start working and decide things like fret size, etc., at which point I was going to remind him about the neck shave (which I thought I had agreed to, but it was in an earlier stage of emails and was easily enough forgotten, thus my plan ...

I am astounded at how fast (and cheap) Greyhound Express can ship.

A quick note from my luthier:
"I picked up your mandolin today. I'm so used to people shipping in Calton cases and because it was so light I thought you forgot to pack the mandolin in the box!

I've briefly looked it over.... I will make it play soooo much better."

And the anticipation begins to rise!

Well, I did it and there is no going back now.

For the past few years I have been working on technique to the point of ignoring most of the rest of my musical palate--like tunes. So, I can only play a few tunes, and I have played them to death (which, I suspect, is what my partner wishes upon me each time she hears me work on difficult phrasings in Dusty Miller). Meanwhile, however, I think I hear my tone improving each and every day, and I am playing more relaxed, faster, and cleaner. ...