Problems with my first mandolin

[TheStatistor]

I just got a cheap Rogue RM-100A mandolin from musiciansfriend. I've had it for a few weeks and have been getting it set up. Hammered down a few loose frets. Sanded the frets. Painstakingly and nerve-wrackingly filed down the nut. Finally got all the strings where I want them to be.

Then this started happening:

https://imgur.com/a/ToFhWEY?

So that looks terrible. But honestly this was intended to be a learning instrument anyways. I never really expected to perform with it. What I'm wondering is if it's gonna get worse and just fall apart. The defect does not currently appear to affect the sound much.

Should I try to return it? To be honest I'm kinda dreading the thought. I just got it set up right...

[Ron McMillan]

It needs to go back to the store. I can't see that doing anything other than getting worse.

[almeriastrings]

Just to add to what Ron says...top is collapsing and warping. Structural defect. Return for exchange or refund.

[Jim Parriott]

Are those J-74s? That's too much string for those unreinforced tops - although, that sinkage looks pretty extreme.

[DocT]

Yikes! Houston, I think we have a problem.

[Simon DS]

Gdae?

[TheStatistor]

Its tuned to GCEA (like a uke). 4th string is an "A". 3rd is a "D" string taken from a different set, tuned up 2 semitones. D'addario light strings.

Total tension should be within the normal range.

[William Smith]

Yes send it back, I've heard of people hot rodding some of those to make them better but that's pretty bad! Some top sinking is common on older mandolins but sometimes can be straightened out with a full contact bridge, I did this to a Gilchrist F-5 I used to own, steam is a last resort? But that import isn't worth that kinda work!

[Bob Buckingham]

Rogue is not a name I trust. Send it back and get something else like a real mandolin.

[tiltman]

Send it back and get something else like a real mandolin

Wow. Not terribly helpful and kind of rude.

[julyboy]

Save yourself more head aches and request the seller take it back due to a defect. If it is MF there will be no problems. They will even pay the return shipping due to a faulty product. If you are on a budget and do not want to try another you may look to Amazon and pick up one of the Hola units I have seen that look pretty good as far as construction and even have a truss rod. Cost I think is $89 with free shipping. I was going to buy one but got an excellent buy on an Ibanez M-510 A style. Really like it. Best of luck to you.

[allenhopkins]

Musician's Fiend lists the RM-100A for fifty bucks. You've already put more work into this one than it probably warrants. I'd return it and see if you can get $50 credit toward something like the Loar LM-110 ($250), which is solid wood and has a carved top.

That's quite a bit more money, and like any MF-sold mandolin you're not guaranteed any kind of set-up, but you've got much better "bones" with which to work. I'll bet the frets will be better seated, the nut better shaped, and the whole package a lot more satisfactory.

It's tough to learn on a lowest-common-denominator instrument, not that many of us haven't. Yours is self-destructing before your eyes. My dealings with MF have been pretty positive, and it's worth a try to get a better mandolin, IMHO.

[TheStatistor]

Update: sent it back to MF, got a new one. As expected MF was great about it.

I went with another rogue. Interestingly, the new one is fretted much better. Literally just a few swipes with a sandpaper block and everything was perfectly level. It plays much easier.

I'll probably get a nicer one once I'm sure I'm going to stick with it.