Don Julin has a reputation for being one of the most eclectic mandolin players/instructors on the scene. Tape off the neck where you want to stop so you have a nice line there. 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. Attach the neck to the body. I used a microplane and a wood rasp to refine the side profile with the bridge clamped in a vise. Most mandolin truss rods are adjusted using an Allen wrench. The form is a very important part of making a bent side mandolin even though it won't actually be used in the final instrument. I used epoxy for this glue-up since the joints weren't pulling up as tight as I wanted. Dave Harvey of Gibson showed just how flat a mandolin neck . One to two thousandths (.001) of an inch, measured at the sixth fret, with the string fretted at the first and twelfth, works well for most players. The binding was made from two pieces of 0.080 inches thick by 1/4 inch tall rosewood purchased from Stewart-Macdonald. Straightening a mandolin neck is a simple process and will provide a better playing experience and sound quality. Blue masking tape was very effective for covering the area where the fretboard would be glued and I didn't want cover with finish. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. If the strings are too tight, it can cause the neck to bow; loosen the strings as needed. At least that's what I've found to be useful. Problem with the mandolin neck. After making the templates and the neck blank with the slot for the truss rod, the next step was to cut the angle for the peg head and the curved, angled cut where the neck meets the pot (body) of the banjo. Like my first mandolin, the design is fairly untraditional. I was thinking about trying something like that at one point too. Additionally, the tension from the strings could cause the neck to bend further or snap if too much pressure is applied. 3. Adjust the bridge saddle height, if necessary. With the center dowel and some small rubber bands, I could hold the side in place with one hand and stretched the rubber bands over the top side of the peg, around the rib, and then over the pegs other end sticking out of the forms bottom. John Hamlett www.hamlettinstruments.com The following members say thank you to sunburst for this post: j. condino Jun-07-2013, 3:22am #4 Pete Jenner Resonate globally Join Date Oct 2011 Location F-style mandolins are all modeled after fabled Gibson models of the 1920s and are favored by bluegrass players due to their history and the defined "choppy" nature of their sound. This is adjusted by filing the string slots to even out the strings. By entering your email address and clicking the Submit button, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Dummies.com, which may include marketing promotions, news and updates. These soundholes wound up being much closer to the edge than on the last mandolin. 5. Last bridge adjustment: intonation. Yes, it is necessary to remove the strings from the mandolin before attempting to straighten the neck. Old A and A-1 mandolins can still be found under $2,000 if you look and Gibson has a new mandolin with that width and a radiused fretboard, the Jam Master A with a street price under $2K. Saga AM-10 Mandolin Kit. To seat the frets the rest of the way, I started with strong blows to the two outside edges, working back and forth between the two sides until both sides were seated. The scale length is roughly around 16.5" (42cm) and has four sets of courses tuned C-C-G-G-D-D-A-A. My 1916 Gibson A-1 has the standard "pre-Loar" 1 3/16" nut width and longer 14.1" scale on the short neck. Once the glue was dry, I planed the top to its final thickness and cut out the top shape with plenty of overhang.Back BracesI made the center joint reinforcement out of one piece for this mandolin and glued it on first using a clamp at either end and a set of wood braces used to clamp the middle postion of the brace. The button looked strangely proportioned to me when I layed it out so it would only cover the top of the neck. 8 - neck carbon bar slot, headstock ears, reinforcement, cut out, and thickness. Intonation is the adjustment that allows the fretted notes to play in tune with the open string. 2.2K subscribers Carving a mandolin neck prior to installation in the mandolin body. 3 More Images. Don enjoys connecting with musicians and believes that music should be a conversation, not a contest. The proportions seem to work out better. I hand sanded the bridge smooth then cut in the notches that would hold the strings in place over the bridge.Gluing on the FretboardSince the pins were already installed to align the fingerboard, it was a very simple glue up using wood glue. 1. Re: Thinning a mandolin neck. Not surprising if your mandolin is setup poorly, and most that I see are. At only 8.5 inches wide, it is much smaller than an f5 style mandolin which is about 10 inches wide. With double course high-tension strings, a proper mandolin setup is critical to the accuracy and enjoyment of playing. This type of plywood has many more plies and is a made from denser/ higher quality wood than standard pine plywood. It allows for the strings to be stretched, creating the necessary tension to make different pitches. It is much better when played with a pick than my other mandolin, but it still doesn't sound as good as my Kentucky f5 style mandolin. A 1 1/8" nut width is standard, but many models can be made slightly wider. To check if the neck of your mandolin needs to be straightened, observe the string spacing and action. To check the truss rod, turn it clockwise with an Allen key until it is tight, then turn it counter-clockwise until it is loose. 3. The truss rod is a metal bar located inside the neck of the mandolin that can be adjusted to straighten the neck. By having the right tools and using them correctly, you can successfully straighten a mandolin neck. Have your 4th finger over on the 5th fret of the 4th string and your 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of string 3. Re-string the mandolin and check the tuning and intonation. 14 years ago The top is made of spruce and about 3/32 thick. Don operates the online mandolin school Mandolins Heal The World (www.mandolinshealtheworld.com). I filed a groove into the side to position the strings, making sure not to leave any sharp edges. This was very easy to do with only one person. For 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. Gluing the JointI glued the two halves of the back together with wood glue using the rig pictured. My last mandolin ended up emphasizing the fact that it is much narrower than most mandolins. If the headstock is not aligned properly, it can cause the neck to bow; adjust the headstock as needed. I didnt try to scallop the braces at all since my attempts on the last mandolin didnt work out to my satisfaction. The outsides of the plates need only final scraping or sanding. I brought the fretboard right to the line on the template. This is the jig we made for the curved angled cut.. What are the Steps for Straightening a Mandolin Neck? Strings are cheap, so experiment until you find what you like. I have only desired to sing one style of music. Theres one step left, checking string height at the nut, and it has an enormous impact on how the mandolin plays in the first position. The final height ended up being about 3/8ths of an inch at the center to essentially nothing at the tips. It took a lot of tape and some care in how and how tightly the tape was secured so that the binding would be held firmly in place while drying. The second extension floating off the face but supporting the board isn't here yet, but this is the typical dovetail neck joint. on Step 12. nice build, good looking flatiron. 002Built by Chris Williams, 2006. 0781 Mandolin Truss Rod 0748-N Truss Rod Cover Screw. The tools required to straighten a mandolin neck include a truss rod, a truss rod wrench, a straight edge, and a capo. So if you know how to play a few scales, youre able to learn tunes faster by ear or by tab. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We think it's just cool. All set? The frets are metal bars that are installed along the fretboard of the mandolin. 7 - Bend top binding, fit and glue top binding. This will help to determine how much the neck needs to be adjusted.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'countryinstruments_com-leader-4','ezslot_17',131,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-countryinstruments_com-leader-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'countryinstruments_com-leader-4','ezslot_18',131,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-countryinstruments_com-leader-4-0_1'); .leader-4-multi-131{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. at the moment, i've just started with the neck, laminated 3 pieces of "southern pine" and steel truss rod hopefully she'll hold. Gold Tone GM-35 F-Style Mandolin. It is important to straighten a mandolin neck because a bowed neck can cause a variety of issues with playability and sound. 2. To cut out the Sound holes, I used a paper template to locate and I cut out the sound holes. All rights reserved. He also teaches mandolin at music camps. The truss rod wrench is a specialized tool used to adjust the truss rod. on Step 8. I did this before cutting out the area where the tail block would be held. After you have selected your string gauge, neck relief will be the first thing to check. The MD315 is a perfect mandolin for bluegrassall solid woods at a very fair price. Check the tuning pegs. sure thanks for posting a great instructable.. not many people how put musical instruments on this site, 14 years ago The simple neck to head block joint was made with a tenoning jig on the table saw.Form BlankI used an "inside" form design where the bent sides will be attached on the outside of the form using rubber bands. I have never wavered, in spite of disappointments, delays, rejections, and detours. I want to add binding to the peghead to match the trim on the body. Tune the strings. I'd love to see it when you're done! If the neck is not straight, make small adjustments to the truss rod until the desired straightness is achieved.