***** Guitar Project Jigs, Tools & Techniques Online Resources Archives OLF Video Page Library of plans MP3 Library Inlay Class
Offical Luthiers Forum





And our community proudly sponsored by:

RC Tonewoods | Stewart MacDonald | LuthiersForum
TasmanianTonewoods | OLF | OLF MERCH
Luthier Suppliers | Pacific Coast Woods | ELEVATE
OLF X | Tasmanian Acoustic Tonewood | Luthiers Forum Store!
Luthiers Forum | OLF Facebook | AVAIL SPACE
OLF | Alaska Specialty Woods | A.Hix Tonewood
Duke of Pearl | Birkonium CNC | Space




Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Mon Nov 25, 2024 4:14 am


Board index » Mandolin - Mandola - Ukulele Forum

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Forum rules


Same rules apply to all forums at the Luthiers Forum.




Post new topic Reply to topic  Page 1 of 1
  [ 12 posts ] 
  Print view Previous topic | Next topic 
Author Message
SteveSmith
 Post subject: Mandolin setup specs?
PostPosted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 11:24 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:36 am
Posts: 7376
Location: Southeast US
City: Lenoir City
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37772
Country: US
Focus: Repair
Looking for setup specs for an A5 Mandolin - this one will be played bluegrass style

I've found this on the web but don't know if they're any good.

String Height (measures top of fret to bottom of string):
Bass-side string height at 12th fret: 5/64"
Treble-side string height at 12th fret: 2/32"

Relief (measures distance from top of fret to bottom of string while fretting the 1st and 13th fret):
Relief at 5th Fret: .005"

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"
Top
 Profile  
 
Haans
PostPosted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 5:20 am 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:34 am
Posts: 3081
Those are about right. Monroe referred to "Manly action" on his, but most folks find that too high. I get down to 3/64" on the treble.
You need very little relief. I don't start with any...


These users thanked the author Haans for the post: SteveSmith (Thu Jun 18, 2015 5:24 am)
Top
 Profile  
 
SteveSmith
PostPosted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 5:25 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:36 am
Posts: 7376
Location: Southeast US
City: Lenoir City
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37772
Country: US
Focus: Repair
Thanks Hans, I was hoping you would see this.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"
Top
 Profile  
 
david farmer
PostPosted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 7:18 am 
Offline
Koa
Koa
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2008 9:13 pm
Posts: 834
Location: Durango CO
First name: Dave
Last Name: Farmer
City: Durango
State: CO
I'll just second that a lot of folks around here have the treble side down around .040" if they can.


These users thanked the author david farmer for the post: SteveSmith (Thu Jun 18, 2015 9:03 am)
Top
 Profile  
 
Cush
PostPosted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 7:35 am 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 26, 2013 9:41 am
Posts: 150
First name: Matt
Last Name: Cushman
City: Great Falls
State: MT
Zip/Postal Code: 59401
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
It is possible to get a little lower than that. 8-) Very low action is achievable with the high tension of the strings. I use a dime at the 12th as a gauge for the G strings. Many players like very low action. Be sure your intonation is very good before you set your action. For the lowest action you will usually need a very slight amount of relief.

_________________
http://www.cushmanguitars.com/.

A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
Mark Twain


These users thanked the author Cush for the post: SteveSmith (Thu Jun 18, 2015 9:04 am)
Top
 Profile  
 
SteveSmith
PostPosted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 6:06 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:36 am
Posts: 7376
Location: Southeast US
City: Lenoir City
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37772
Country: US
Focus: Repair
Thanks everyone - I'll be working on this tonight.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"
Top
 Profile  
 
Haans
PostPosted: Fri Jun 19, 2015 8:08 am 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:34 am
Posts: 3081
Nice thing about action on the majority of mandolins...it's easily adjustable.
Top
 Profile  
 
SteveSmith
PostPosted: Fri Jun 19, 2015 8:21 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:36 am
Posts: 7376
Location: Southeast US
City: Lenoir City
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37772
Country: US
Focus: Repair
I used an adjustable bridge on this one so it's hard to beat.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"
Top
 Profile  
 
Cush
PostPosted: Fri Jun 19, 2015 9:05 am 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 26, 2013 9:41 am
Posts: 150
First name: Matt
Last Name: Cushman
City: Great Falls
State: MT
Zip/Postal Code: 59401
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
If you go for the lowest possible action be sure to have all 8 strings at full tension when you test. There is some deflection of the top plate at full tension. On a new build I like to wait a few days before I do the final lowering of the nut slots. String tension can have effects on the top and the neck. Cutting a new nut is no fun and tends to slow things down.

_________________
http://www.cushmanguitars.com/.

A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
Mark Twain


These users thanked the author Cush for the post: SteveSmith (Fri Jun 19, 2015 9:58 am)
Top
 Profile  
 
SteveSmith
PostPosted: Fri Jun 19, 2015 9:57 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:36 am
Posts: 7376
Location: Southeast US
City: Lenoir City
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37772
Country: US
Focus: Repair
Good points Matt, thanks. I took the nut down but not all the way figuring I would wait till the finish was done and did the final tweaking on the action.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"
Top
 Profile  
 
Cush
PostPosted: Fri Jun 19, 2015 10:22 am 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 26, 2013 9:41 am
Posts: 150
First name: Matt
Last Name: Cushman
City: Great Falls
State: MT
Zip/Postal Code: 59401
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
That's good thinking Steve. It sounds like it is time to get a finish on her right now. :)

_________________
http://www.cushmanguitars.com/.

A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
Mark Twain
Top
 Profile  
 
SteveSmith
PostPosted: Fri Jun 19, 2015 12:34 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:36 am
Posts: 7376
Location: Southeast US
City: Lenoir City
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37772
Country: US
Focus: Repair
Waiting on some dye that's due in today then a few test panels. Hope to have it done with nitro on it and curing by 6/29 cause I'm having shoulder surgery on 6/30 and it can cure while I cure too laughing6-hehe

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"
Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  Page 1 of 1
  [ 12 posts ] 

Board index » Mandolin - Mandola - Ukulele Forum

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 57 guests

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com