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View Full Version : Mandolin set up help.



magoo
July 7th, 2008, 06:50 PM
Hey guys and gals, I have a new mandolin Its a ovation mm68. I love the look, the way it sounds plugged in and its not bad unpluged. the problem is that the action is a lot higher then I'm use to and I would like to drop it a bit.
never had this problem with my traditional mandolins but this one is a lot different...do anyone know how I could go about doing this. any help would be appreciated.
I put a pic of the mandolin here so you guys can have a look.
after 10+ years of playing mandolin and 20 yrs playing guitar my fingers never hurt this bad...LOL [ I did just play 3 nights on the weekend]


http://www.thefret.net/imagehosting/thum_35224872b935b9e10.jpg (http://www.thefret.net/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=554)

wingsdad
July 7th, 2008, 09:39 PM
I suggest you ask Ovation for help on that one, Magoo. It's not an adjustable height bridge...you'd need to shave some off the bottom of the saddle, an operation on an Ovation that can be risky business....possible damage to the Under Saddle Transducer(s).

magoo
July 7th, 2008, 09:45 PM
Thats what I was thinking wingsdad, just wondering If there were shims in under the saddle that could be removed...Or if taking a little off the nut would make a difference?
Thanks for your suggestion.

markb
July 7th, 2008, 11:27 PM
Cutting the nut further won't reduce the overall action, just the action at the first few frets. Unless it's high enough to throw the tuning out in the first position I'd leave well alone. Check with an electronic tuner on the G (7th/8th) pair. If the first fret is no more than about 10 cents above g-sharp (can't find a hash on this keyboard) the nut is not your problem. Check the neck relief, it may have a forward bow although mandos don't really have enough neck for this to be a common issue. The saddle is your best bet. It's only a problem if Ovation still use that pickup that's part of the saddle.