Originally Posted by
peter.coombe
First thing I would do is to check the fit of the bridge to the top. It must be as close to perfect as you can get it. If that does not change any thing you can make changes to the treble by using a different wood for the saddle, or make a Red Henry style of bridge. It is difficult to fix these sorts of problems once the mandolin is finished. I have tried all sorts of woods and most don't work (don't sound good enough), but Brazilian Rosewood, Rock Maple and Tasmanian Blackwood do. Rock Maple will certainly give you a brighter sound, as does Tasmanian Blackwood, but they may go too far in that direction, especially the Maple. You can't really confine the changes just to the E string, it will affect all the strings to to a bigger or lessor degree. Brazilian Rosewood gives a smaller improvement in the treble and I would start with that if you can get a small piece. It has more of a subtle increase in treble sparkle. I have some wood that was sold to me as Brazilian Rosewood that I have used occasionally, and it works brilliantly, usually making the improvement I need. However, I am suspicious it is not Brazilian Rosewood because although it smells like Brazilian, it does not have the so characteristic sickly sweet small of Brazilian Rosewood. It is some sort of rosewood (not Indian), but what it is I don't really know, and I only have one piece, but it is more than enough to last me out. Might be a case of suck it and see with whatever woods you can get your hands on. And read up on what Red Henry has done on bridges. I was involved in that right at the beginning.
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