Re: Breaking in a brand new mandolin
Yup, you play the hell out of it, and eventually it starts to bloom and open up.
There are many threads in the forum about various versions of what you are talking about.
There is the Siminoff treatment. the Tonerite, and dozens best way to s of homemade ideas using everything from a fish tank pump, to power tools.
The Siminoff treatment does work on as good mandolin to various degrees.
The Tonerite can make a difference, but is less about breaking in and more about waking a mando up when it hasn't been played for a while, IMHO.
The truth is that the best way to break in an instrument is to play it, and play it, and play it.
A good instrument can turn into a great instrument.
A lesser instrument might gain a little depth or richness.
Sometimes it is subtle. and sometimes it is substantial.
I wouldn't bother getting too caught up in trying to rush the instrument.
It is a bunch of straight wood, bent into unnatural shapes, and it will settle in and find its voice.
It just takes time.
For now. just play the instrument and let it find its own voice.
If in the end it is not sounding like you want it to, move on to a different mandolin.
Mandolins: Northfield 5-Bar Artist Model "Old Dog", J Bovier F5 Special, Gibson A-00 (1940)
Fiddles: 1920s Strad copy, 1930s Strad copy, Liu Xi T20, Liu Xi T19+ Dark.
Guitars: Taylor 514c (1995), Gibson Southern Jumbo (1940s), Gibson L-48 (1940s), Les Paul Custom (1978), Fender Strat (Black/RWFB) (1984), Fender Strat (Candy Apple Red/MFB) (1985).
Sitars: Hiren Roy KP (1980s), Naskar (1970s), Naskar (1960s).
Misc: 8 Course Lute (L.K.Brown)
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