When you're adjusting the truss rod from the headstock, don't loosen your strings – you need to have them tuned to pitch so you have appropriate tension on the neck and can see the extent to which you're adjusting it. You just need to unscrew the screws holding the truss rod cover in place. If your truss rod is accessible from the headstock, you don't need to worry about the sound hole.
#High action strings driver
If your truss rod is only accessible through the sound hole, you'll probably want a longer allen wrench or nut driver to turn it so you're not trying to stick your whole hand in the sound hole. Typically it will either have a nut or a hex key slot. Check the truss rod to see what kind of tool you're going to need for the job.However, don't remove your strings entirely. This will make it easier for you to get a tool into the sound hole and turn it. Particularly if your truss rod is only accessible through the sound hole, you'll want to loosen your strings before you attempt to adjust your truss rod. Bet you nail it this time.Adjust your strings. A poorly setup mandolin is brutal to play, but one that’s setup correctly is a joy. One thing to remember, if your fretwork is bad, you need to have that addressed in order to get the best playability out of your instrument. Broken down into steps, a mandolin setup is not that complicated and, done properly, will dramatically increase your enjoyment of the instrument. I shoot for twelve thousandths (0.012) of an inch clearance under the G and D, and ten thousandths (0.010) under the A and E. I check string height by measuring the distance between the top of the first fret and the bottom of the string using a feeler gauge. String height is adjusted by filing the nut slots until the strings are at the proper height. If the strings are too low, they will buzz when played open. If the strings are too high at the nut, it’s really tough to fret, and the intonation in the first position can be sharp. There’s one step left, checking string height at the nut, and it has an enormous impact on how the mandolin plays in the first position. Measuring Gap between strings and first fret using a feeler gauge moving the bridge away from the neck if the fretted note is sharpĮvery note may not be perfect, but with a compensated bridge top, they should be very close.moving the bridge towards the neck if the fretted note is flat.If the fretted note is not in tune with the open string, you adjust it by: Check this by tuning your open string, then fret at the 12th fret and see if the fretted octave is in tune. Intonation is the adjustment that allows the fretted notes to play in tune with the open string. If the action feels too stiff, lower the bridge. This height will allow a clean tone with comfortable playability. You can use a Stew-Mac string action gauge, feeler gauges or a little ruler to measure the string height.įor most of my customers, I have found that fifty thousandths (0.05) of an inch on the bass strings, and forty thousandths (0.04) on the treble strings is good. My J-45 (same EJ17 / medium strings) hasn't been worked on in a while, the action was definitely lower and i've been getting a lot of. The intonation is great and i can really dig in. I measure action, which is the height of the strings off of the frets, at the twelfth fret, with the string fretted at the first fret. The action is a bit high (higher than my other guitars anyway). The top of your bridge sits on those wheels, which move up or down when you turn them, raising or lowering the action. If you were wondering what the little wheels under your bridge top do, this is it. Neck ReliefĪdjusting bridge height using thumb wheelsĪll set? Good.
![high action strings high action strings](http://dogwoodguitars.com/wp-content/images/dogwoodguitars_action2.jpg)
Strings are cheap, so experiment until you find what you like. The measured difference between the lightest and heaviest string sets seems small, but on a double course instrument with high string tension, it makes a big difference. String gauge will have a huge effect on the feel and playability of your mandolin, with lighter gauge strings being easier to fret than heavier gauge strings. The easiest way to affect the playability of your mandolin is with your strings.
#High action strings how to
Keep in mind that this is not a step-by-step lesson in how to do your own setup, but should serve as an overview to help you learn how the different adjustments can make your mando play great. We’ll go through each, and have a look at how they are interrelated. A setup is a very personal thing, but no matter how you like your action, there are several important points to consider when setting up a mando: string gauge, neck relief, bridge radius, action height, intonation and string height at the nut. With double course high-tension strings, a proper mandolin setup is critical to the accuracy and enjoyment of playing. Not surprising if your mandolin is setup poorly, and most that I see are. So you've been woodshedding for weeks, trying to cop your favorite Grisman lines, and all you have to show for it is a sore left hand.