Originally Posted by
Drew Streip
rcc56 is familiar with me -- because I showed him my no-name pressed top mandolin that I did exactly this same thing to. I went from small, beat-up, uneven frets and flat board to a 12" radius, with taller + wider EVO frets. I also made a new new from a bone blank, and fitted a new bridge.
Doing the job myself was my only choice because of obvious economic considerations, but also because I believed it'd be a valuable learning experience. If I messed up? Just do it again. The fretwire itself is cheaper than the beer I drink. If I didn't like the bigger frets? Good -- I'd know for the next time my main instrument needed it.
Now, after actually playing it for ~2 months, I love it. It's impossible to separate all the variables (ebony bridge vs rosewood, bone nut vs plastic, bigger and harder frets, tension on the fretboard from the stiffer fret tang) -- but the instrument gives me more volume, more zing in the trebles, and more midrange. The low end is a bit better, but still what you'd expect from a non-carved instrument. It breaks up a little with hard chopping, but ehhhhh.
(interestingly, the body is about 3/16 deeper than my Eastman 515, which may help with the bass, but that's a different thread)
I find the playability to be much improved. Regarding height, it seems like I can use a lighter touch, and I'm not tempted to try to press until I can "feel" the fingerboard. That's just not something I do.
The width of the wire is slightly more noticeable, especially concerning adjacent fingers on adjacent string courses. The spread is ever so slightly less, but you adjust.
rcc56 pointed out the things I could have done better, but he also pointed out the things I did well. And I find myself playing this mando a lot more frequently because of the new connection I have with it. So whatever you decide, good luck!
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