help me learn about upgrading my mandolin parts please?

[kevbuch]

How does a strip of leather compare to grommets?

Also, there is nothing wrong with my tuners, only my wording. I meant that they come off AS INTENDED. I did not intend to suggest that something is wrong with the quality of this instrument. The makers of the mandolin and its parts all did a fine job. Sorry for the confusion.

I guess I just want to upgrade mostly for fun. Anything that will require a new set up is going to have to wait along time. I would like to get an armrest next month as a first step, then get a couple ebony tuner buttons a month until I have 8 and so on and so forth.

[JeffD]

How does a strip of leather compare to grommets?.

It does the same job. If grommets solve the problems, a strip of leather will too.

[Steevarino]

Just so you all know, Cumberland Acoustic (CA) bridges can be ordered with the string slots already in place. It's a popular option that only costs $5.00, which is quite a bit less than a set of proper slotting files would set you back!

[Paul Busman]

I'll second the armrest and Tone Gard upgrades. If you ever decide to get something "better", you could migrate those to a different mandolin. I put an armrest on my mandolin mainly for comfort-- it's a lot more comfortable than the right angle edge of the instrument.
I didn't believe a Tone Gard could make that much of a difference but I got to try another player's mandolin at a festival with the TG off and on and the difference was dramatic. I went right home and ordered one.

[kevbuch]

$shopping for an armrest now. Which will look better on It, ebony, Rosewood or maple? I'm thinking maple might b too light and ebony might be to dark..

[dang]

Get something that will still look good when you move it to your next mandolin

[pheffernan]

$shopping for an armrest now. Which will look better on It, ebony, Rosewood or maple? I'm thinking maple might b too light and ebony might be to dark..

Maple that accents the burst. Try A if it's still available: http://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/75267.

[jimbob]

proper fitting bridge, tuners that work and a decent nut....everything else is pretty much wasting time unless you just like the look. Focus on improving skills and upgrading to a better mandolin.

[pheffernan]

$shopping for an armrest now. Which will look better on It, ebony, Rosewood or maple? I'm thinking maple might b too light and ebony might be to dark..

F would be nice! http://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/75602

[mandroid]

Fingerboard work: fret leveling and dressing , are what is a rarely done advanced setup detail ..

on mass produced mandolins

I went to a re-fret after wearing them down, a few years worth, to realize how they would have been if

If that were done in the 1st place ..

this is more a labor than a parts thing , if a near new instrument..

[Harpua19]

Things that help me to play better and get better tone are a good arm rest and a tonegard. And lots of practice.

This. Especially the arm rest.

[Paul Busman]

No reason to upgrade, actually, until you know what is inadequate about what you already have. Not loud enough? Tone not rich enough? Hard to hold or play even after making the necessary adjustments in hand position and technique?

I guess what gets costly is upgrading for the sake of upgrading.

Exactly!Don't just buy a "better" mandolin just for the heck of it until you really know in what way you want your current one to be better.
Do you live even remotely near someplace that carries a variety of mandolins? Try taking your Bovier there and play it up against whatever they have on the wall. Don't look at the prices (or maker,if you can avoid it) until afterwards. You may be pleasantly surprised how well yours stands up to the so called better ones.

[Phil Goodson]

You guys know you're talking to 2014, right?

[OneChordTrick]

You guys know you're talking to 2014, right?

But the advice is still relevant. Certainly useful for me.

[Paul Busman]

I made my own wood tuner buttons for my Fullerton Gloucester.The white buttons that came on it were 'way too much of a contrast to the dark wood.Lucky for me that I have a machine lathe and had some scrap Cocobolo.Since I put them on they've turned pretty much black,which is common for Cocobolo.
You might look into a local woodworking club and see if there's anyone willing to make you some buttons.
If your buttons are white and you just want to tone down the look, ebony buttons are available I think,or even black plastic.