Octave Mandola.

[ned]

Our new member - - Johnhop, is the proud owner of a new octave mandola.,However he is struggling with the set up!
He would like to lower the action to suite his playing style.
When he first got it it was not correctly strung, which makes you wonder about original set up.
I am sure that John would be grateful for any advice, and you are the guys with the knowledge to provide it.
Lets see what we can do
Thanks Pete

[Danny]

Well John, 1st things first, go here frets.com/FRETSPages/OwnerManual/manmain.html lots of VERY useful info on this site, and it's all free. The mandolin section would be what you'd need to read most.

But a quick guide from me shall now commence. 1st of all, get it strung to pitch with the correct set of strings.

Next, hold the strings down at the 1st and last frets (use a capo for the 1st fret, failing that a pencil and a rubber band) and then look at the distance between the strings and the fingerboard in the middle of the neck, just on the 2 outside strings, no need to check all of them. You want a SLIGHT gap their, may be 1/2 mm to 1.5 mm, 2mm is probably too much. More of less than that means your truss rod needs an adjustment because your neck is either bowed too much (quite likely) or not enough (possible but unlikely) www.frets.com will have a guide to that if needs be, or post back here and i'll fill you in more if you need it. Sorry I can't be more precise with the measurements, but I just kinda eyeball it usually.

Then (with capo's etc removed) check out how easy it is to press down the strings at the 1st 2 or 3 frets, if it's hard, then the nut is too high, that's a job for a pro, it'll be under warranty, so i'd get whoever you got it from to sort it out, if you can't trust 'em 'cos of how they sent it to you, find a local guy who's good and get him to do it.

After that, it's intonation time. That means adjusting the bridge back and forward so that your mandola plays in tune up and down the neck.

www.frets.com has a more indepth article that I can type here, but basically, the bridge should be placed at a fraction (1/2-1 mm maybe) more than the distance of the nut to the 12 fret. Meaning, if you measure your neck from the nut to the 12th fret, and it is, say 12 inches, you need to measure a teensy amount more than 12 inches, from the 12 fret down away from the nut onto the body.

Don't worry, it's easier than it sounds, trust me. If your mandola has f holes it should line up nicely with the points in the middle of the f holes. After that tune up, and (using an electric tuner) check the open string (at concert pitch) against the harmonic for that string at the 12 fret, if they match, you're bang on. If the fretted note is flat, move it fractionally towards the nut (remember to slacken off ALL the strings 1st, don't wanna bust the instruments to or anything do we?) If it's sharp, move it a fraction rowards the tailpiece/away from the nut) After that tune back to concert pitch, and check again. It's kinda laborious, but it's needs to be done i'm afraid. You only need to do it to the 2 outside strings, on a mandola bridge the others should just fall into place. Remember, the rule of intonation is FRET FLAT FORWARDS! All the F's their, easy to remember (if you can remember the the headstock is the front!)

Buzzing at the nut, or at certain frets etc can only be addressed by a pro, I already mentioned about pro's above.

I hope this helped, and feel free to post any questions or PM me if you need any help. Oh, and don't underestimate www.frets.com, by far the best resource on the web for this kinda thing

Good luck & let us all know how it turns out

Danny

[johnhop]

Wow! what a reply.
I actually understand it all....so I guess I have remebered something from years ago.
It is now strung, to pitch, with the correct strings.
The inotation is spot on...I had already done the adjustments just as you suggested. I must admit that my investment in an electronic tuner was worthwhile...why couldn't we have had those years ago. It would have saved lots of arguments amongst us drunken players!
I will try the capo test as soon as I either find my old capos or buy a new one.
I don't think the problem is too great with the action as I have already (guiltily!) skipped the basic lessons that I swore I would go through and have picked out one or two tunes.
Thanks again for the trouble you have taken and I will keep you informed of my progress...or even lack of it!
Cheers,
John

[Danny]

I'm happy to help John, and my only fee? Why the key to your brewery of course!

Hope it goes well for ya mate, I've got my eys on a bazouki by Jimmy Moon, which is basically the same as your octave mandola, but with a longer neck.

As for tuners, I use an app on my iphone these days, I often don't have my tuner to hand, I've always got my mobile tho. Well worth considering if you have an iPhone or another phone that you can get apps for.

Stay safe mate and let us know how you get on.

Danny

P.S. I don't wanna keep banging on about this, but www.frets.com really is ace for any kind of information on repair, setup or maintenance, take a look.

[johnhop]

Danny, I don't own a brewery...but I have visited several hundred over the years, both abroad and in the UK.
I see you are in Kent which is where my offices are.
If you fancy seeing some hop picking end August / early September, let me know and I will gladly host you.
John

[ned]

Apologies John . We seem to be fixated on your day job.
You joined this site to talk about music, so why not let us know your tastes,and favourite musicians?
Tell us what tunes you are working on in your re-learning process, and we,or I at least promise to stop asking about Morris dancer fuel.
ned

[johnhop]

No apologies necessary. I agree with all of you that Folk and Ale are (should be) inseparable! Either one makes the other even better, and who knows which came first?
Progress.....not much at present.
Arthritis in left hand makes fingers painful and reluctant to obey.
Never say die and still enjoying the wrestle but nowhere near the standard to share with others. My dog sometimes stays in the room and that is about the highest praise I expect at the moment.
My musical tastes are varied to say the least, but the folk heroes that I listen to more than most are: Fairport (original!), Michael Chapman, Roy Harper, Bert Janch, John Renbourne, Derek Brimstone....
I also tend to play my Easy Rider album rather a lot!
I enjoy acapella music, I enjoy gregorian chant, I even like one or two American and Canadian folk performers, although this is normally after a sample or two of the day job.
Cheers to all,
John

[ned]

Hi John
Some good music there,and a hint of comedy. If you have anything by Derek that you can post I would be grateful.
Do you like Fred Wedlock, Jake Thackrey, or maybe even The Poozies?
I thought it was just me and the monks that enjoyed the chant! Very soothing,a bit like whale song..
Cheers
Pete

[johnhop]

Yes. I have his Fire and Brimstone album.
I will try to copy it for you.
I forgot to mention that back in the day (late 60 early 70's) I helped to run a folk club in my home town on Ware in Hertfordshire. It was before Health and Safety took over the world and it was run in the cellar of the Brewery Tap pub.
Magic days.
We had Derek a few times and one night, we had "the Phantom Phlange".
Never heard of them? Well, how about Fariport Convention. They had just moved to a village called Little Hadham - a couple of miles from Ware and heard about our folk club and just turned up unannounced. Copyright or something meant they couldn't use their real name...but who give a ####? Great night. I remember the fun we had in trying to get the double bass down the spiral staircase into the cellar.
We had quite a few well known players but, more importantly, we all enjoyed ourselves.
John

[ned]

Magic days indeed John.
Imagine having that kind of freedom now, to actually go out and enjoy yourself without feeling guilty!Or breaking many strange laws.
On a proud note, I have finally found a practical use for speed humps. (The curse of Lewisham,where I work )
They would be great for filling in all the bloody pot holes!
If I don't get the Nobel prize for that one I'm gonna sulk.
Cheers
Pete