Modified Rogue RM-100A

[Yeet]

I got a ~$50 Rogue RM-100A mandolin years ago and it's been my only mandolin since then.

The first set of pics is from before I did the modifications that I'm posting about:

• Within the first year, the original tailpiece fell off and the pick-guard somehow came loose and made it buzz every time I played the instrument.
  I recently put it back on with a hex nut added and no more rumble! But over the years in storage with stickers on it (don't ask ) I got a bunch of gunk on it so I cleaned it up and roughed up its glossiness on a whim.
• I replaced the original strings with D'Addario EJ67 nickel-plated steel strings.
• I added a Luvay Acoustic Guitar Piezo Pickup.
• Not really an upgrade, but I also started using a Dunlop PrimeTone Semi-Round Grip 1.5mm Sculpted Plectra Guitar Pick and added a "Music First" Rosa Multiflora in Cream Ukulele Strap.

These are the changes that appear in the "before" pictures.

After I did some work on my mandolin, the final differences between my instrument and and out-of-the-box Rogue are:

• De-glossed body
• "De-glossed" pickguard
• Ebonized fretboard and bridge (done with mineral oil India ink)
• D'Addario EJ67 Nickel-Plated Steel G, D, and A strings; E string is D'Addario J7401 Plain Steel (a spare because I have a horrible tendency to break E strings)
• Black chrome replacement tailpiece
• Luvay Acoustic Guitar Pickup
• Rosa Multiflora in Cream strap; gold strap button that came with the strap added when I replaced the tailpiece
• The second pic also has the Dunlop PrimeTone Semi-Round Grip 1.5mm Sculpted Plectra Guitar Pick that I was talking about

Out-of-the-Box Rogue RM-100A


Before:


After:

[lenf12]

A bit of lipstick on a pig but you did a fine job Yeet. Good on you and I bet it sounds way better too.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[Yeet]

A bit of lipstick on a pig but you did a fine job Yeet. Good on you and I bet it sounds way better too.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

Haha thanks! It's my first time trying something like this. Definitely will go to a professional if I ever wanted to do something like this on something more expensive.

[lenf12]

Part of the "learning curve" is avoiding something more expensive that you would consider doing this kind of job to. If it needs it as bad as you think this Rogue did, then best to keep on looking imho.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[Yeet]

Part of the "learning curve" is avoiding something more expensive that you would consider doing this kind of job to. If it needs it as bad as you think this Rogue did, then best to keep on looking imho.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

Very true! I just gotta distract myself from MAS until I have enough saved up to get something to my liking.

[Marty Jacobson]

A bit of lipstick on a pig but you did a fine job Yeet. Good on you and I bet it sounds way better too.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

I'm pretty sure it sounds no different, but still, good job.

[HonketyHank]

Looks like flatwound strings. Now we're talkin' ...

I am thoroughly in favor of using a beginner instrument as a vehicle for experimentation. You'll never make it into a master model but you'll learn a lot. Have at it, Yeet. If nothing else, you will make it unmistakably "yours".

[Simon DS]

Really nice Yeet. The antique finish, and now yes, I agree too, it’s yours.

I was wondering, what if you made a finer gradation of the starburst? Fine spray of diluted black paint, then sanded again might work?
Or really go to town with the paints, make it a work of art (though it is already).
Also how high are the strings at the twelfth fret, the width of a quarter or two? You could take the bridge down.

The funny thing is that now with the improvements, you may play it better.

[Yeet]

Really nice Yeet. The antique finish, and now yes, I agree too, it’s yours.

I was wondering, what if you made a finer gradation of the starburst? Fine spray of diluted black paint, then sanded again might work?
Or really go to town with the paints, make it a work of art (though it is already).
Also how high are the strings at the twelfth fret, the width of a quarter or two? You could take the bridge down.

The funny thing is that now with the improvements, you may play it better.

Thanks!
Yeah, I realized it felt really funny when I was playing it and I brought the bridge down a bit. Works great but the buzz that it had before got worse (it already had a little bit of a problem on the G strings)! Trial and error. Maybe I should take it somewhere and see if there's a problem with the height of the frets? Not sure. But it's actually a bit easier to play now that I adjusted the bridge; I hadn't adjusted it since I first bought it!

[HonketyHank]

Yeet, check out my signature below. Get Rob Meldrum's FREE ebook on setup. I would call it required reading.