Mandolin nut height. 885" (7/8" 22.

Mandolin nut height View Full Version : F4 nut height. On my mandolin the string will touch the fret and I like it lower, so when I lower my bridge it lowers the height at the nut and since it is very close I don't want it changing. Either the previous player was tone deaf or else it hadn't been played in a long time! Anyway, my current question is regarding the nut height. As suggested, you need to measure the distance from the top of the feet to the bottom of the string. I loosened the strings just enough to lift them over the neighboring strings, as he says. Lost/Stolen: Collings MT2 Mandolin, serial number 827 If you use a moderately thick flatpick, it can double as a convenient height gauge for your action. Jack,I left you a post under builder and repair,I saw that one first Mandolin Cafe Archives; Lessons On Demand; Advanced Search; Forum; Technique, Theory, Playing Tips and Tricks; Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks; Instrument height; Results 1 to 9 of 9 Thread: Instrument height. I filed my A strings down to . Is there a good tool for doing this? I have Rob's mandolin setup book and he suggests carving some notches into the feeler guages which are used to estimate string height above the frets but that doesn't seem like a Bnineteenteam 3Pcs Mandolin String Nut Mandolin Nut Slotted Acoustic Mandolin Bone Nut Mandolin Replacement Parts Playing Accessories 3. this is considered "zero". I'd like to lower the action at the nut a tiny bit and maybe add a little with so that my string doesn't bind (tried graphite from pencil and it didn't work). View Profile Mandolin Cafe Forum > General Mandolin Topics > General Mandolin Discussions > F4 nut height. It doesn't seem a lot,but considering that the string tension Mandolin Cafe Archives; Lessons On Demand; Advanced Search; Forum; Octaves, Zouks, Citterns, Tenors and Electrics; Four, Five, Eight and Ten-String Electrics; string height for emando; Results 1 to 15 of 15 Thread: string height for emando. 5" scale CGDAEB-tuned Ovation Mandophone It's all interrelated; string height, string gauge, frets, neck relief. 003" to . He installed a new nut, leveled the frets, re-glued the transverse brace, and shimmed the bridge. The sketch below illustrates how - I have recently got a 1950's Susuki mandolin which supposedly had been played for many years. I am wondering how to set up a nut for octave pairs on an OM. I like 0. View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries Visit Homepage View Articles Registered User Join Date Feb 2003 Location Elgin, IL I have recently got a 1950's Susuki mandolin which supposedly had been played for many years. I've read RM's set up guide and was also directed to another website that discusses the importance of setting the nut slots so the string rests half its diameter into the nut. View Full Version : What is the recommended string height at the nut and 12th fret. The nut material will Press the strings down on the first fret (take the nut height out of the equation) and measure at the 12th from top of fret to bottom of string. Dec-13-2023, 6:19am. You probably confused it with measuring nut slots height where string fretted at fret two should miss the first fret by a split hair. There were also two bridge base heights. Jun-25-2015, 9:31pm. 003" of extra height in the slots when first installing the nut. If your instrument has the taller bridge base (pronounced pedestals for the adjustment nuts to rest on): you could check with Weber for a replacement short base, possibly under warranty. I need to raise the string height at the nut by . 001" to . Stephen Perry. In this photo, the height looks like 0. ZS-10 Slotted Replacement Nut for Mandolins. I know that this is a matter of personal preference, but I was wondering if anyone else has found that the strings are high at the nut on their Eastmans. Thanks. Apr-28-2006, 7:09am. Works with acoustic or electric setups. There are no standard sizes for octave mandolins, you can build them however you like. New for 2025 from Eastman, Created in close collaboration with Eastman and us this mandolin features a spruce top, maple back & sides, and 1 3/16″ Nut Width. 292" Height (just over 9/32" or 7. Simple nut; a bone block, sitting directly on the neck at the end of the fingerboard, stopping the strings. I can't understand the use of a hard steel This should be twice the distance of the nut to fret 12, plus 1-2mm. I play bluegrass if that helps. LOST IN CROATIA. When I set my action at the 12th fret and then do the nut the 12th fret action really doesn't change much at all. I generally round off the sharp edges and corners on the top of the nut, but NOT the side that will receive the strings. Mandolin Mondays #480 - Justin Parks and his 1916 Gibson F-2 with guitarist Mark Burds play a set of tunes from Skip Gorman. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player you want to fine-tune your instrument for optimal playability and tone. Show Printable Version; Jun-20-2008, 6:46pm #1. It supposedly has a Cumberland bridge but appears that it was shaved so that at is measuring 7/32 to the top of the wood just beneath the thumb screws but also set very high . The fretboard is perfectly flat. 055 but some mandolins just won't allow that without a really accurate assessment of the nut on that particular mandolin. As a hobby I am making mandolins and octave mandos. What feels good to me is ~6/64ths" on the base side, and ~5/64ths" on the treble side, at the 12th fret. I thought about plucking the string then moving the gauge under it, but that doesn't seem to work too well. Additionally, keep your mandolin clean and in tune. Thread Tools. Slots Slotted Unslotted. Mandolas / Mandocellos; Octaves; Nut:Bone 1 3/8″ Nut Height:0. Hello! My husband got me a Fender starter mandolin for Christmas. Besides nut and bridge height, fretboard radius may be important, but also HIGHLY individual. OUCH! Another common problem with factory mandolins is a first fret that is too high, requiring the nut to be too high. Sp: inches: What is the normal string height at the 12th fret? A mandolin I recent aquired has a string height of about a heavy 3/16 of an inch. Measure: Length: Thickness: Height: Str. Natural oxen bone material 30. Granted I don't play much that far up the neck but I do go up to the 7th a lot and it starts to seem like I am pushing through a lot of string if you know what I mean. Also, if it has a truss rod, it may need adjusting as well. That means not depth of slot, in case someone is inclined to misreading, but height of the bottom of slot with respect to the frets. 04 thousandths of an inch or 1. Monroe purists will often have There's no option for different nut widths either - and mandolins vary quite a bit, I see the mandolin one is set for a 30mm nut, that would surely be too wide for a 28mm instrument (Eastman's for example) as the strings would be hanging over the edges of the fretboard, but I've seen everything from 25mm bowlback nuts, up to 34mm folk instruments. Originally Posted by robertbieber. Sp: inches: I'm putting a new bone nut on my mandolin, I need to radius the top to match the fretboard, and am not sure of the best way to do this. 5 sixty-fourths of an inch at the 12th fret. Note: This is a flat bottom nut similar to many modern mandolin setups, It just seems to be way to high at the nut, and if I try to fix it myself, I need to know low to file the nut. I measure the height of the first fret. Body depth is 65mm internal. When I fret any of my strings on the third fret the string is sitting on the first fret. A heavy right hand - say for Bluegrass rhythm playing - would require higher action (maybe 6 or 7/64s and 8 or 9/64s). View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries View Articles Registered User I try to set the nut action so that a string fretted at the 3rd fret just barely clears the first fret. I have mine set to 5/64ths on the G and 1/16th on the E. the height from the underside of the G & E strings to the top of the first fret on my Lebeda mandolin which is a breeze to play,with feeler gauges & it measured . The thing plays great but I get buzzing at the first fret when playing one of the D strings open. 5mm) Right Hand setup It is pre-shaped and pre-sized Depending on your mandolin, you may have to sand for height or adjust string slot cut for setup. It took some playing and filing and playing and filing to finally get it right. Note: This is a flat bottom nut similar to many modern mandolin setups, Bnineteenteam 3Pcs Mandolin String Nut Mandolin Nut Slotted Acoustic Mandolin Bone Nut Mandolin Replacement Parts Playing Accessories 3. I check string height by measuring the distance between the The standard mandolin’s average action height is around 0. 5 to 4. View Full Version : String height @ Nut. Re: String height @ Nut. That's the 'standard' set-up as done by Weber on their Mandolins & i suspect that it's The mandolin is like a lute, but much less artistically viable, being now in use for the most part for people who wish to play simple music without much trouble. Rick Turner. Builders bulk package of 5 nuts Depending on your mandolin, you may have to sand for Hi yall! Long time lurker with a question- I am using Robs excellent ebook on mandolin setup. You can't really control the string height at the 1st fret as it's set by the nut slot depth. Took about an hour to cut down the new nut and shape with the Drexel tool; sided - high nut (do not touch the nut until you know how to unbooger boogered slots - using correct glue to fill it and recut it, google it up) - high bridge (usually adjustable) - "bent neck", usually there is a dip/valley around frets 5-7 and rise/hill around fret 12-14. The tutorial at Frets. 012 at the first fret but discovered that when I tighten them to pitch the distance becomes much less- I'm cutting slots in my F5 nut. That's the 'standard' set-up as done by Weber on their Mandolins & i suspect that it's . Notify When In Stock Buy Now The strings had started to buzz badly and the bridge height was maxed out so I knew it must be the nut. Note: This is a flat bottom nut similar to many modern mandolin setups, When checking (or setting up) the action on a guitar, it seems well established that values like 5/64s and 7/64s (high E and low E string heights above 12th fret) make for comfortably low action (assuming neck is true and has a bit of relief). String height at the nut is set the same whether it's a guitar, mandolin, banjo any fretted instrument. 5mm at the first fret and 4mm at the 12th fret. I tried to remove the pearl nut by resting a small wood block against it and To simplify this, we basically want the string height at the nut as low as possible without buzzing on the first fret. It's very easy to have it slip & the steel wrench will strip the corners off the thumbscrew nut like a hot knife through butter. Hi yall! Long time lurker with a question- I am using Robs excellent ebook on mandolin setup. I radiused the slot edge slightly to prevent binding during tuning. New or Replacement mandolin bone nut for 28mm 1 7/64". It is pre-slotted to make for a quick and simple install. what is the best way to fix this? Oct-31-2006, 4:08pm #2. This assumes the frets are really true and level. SKU: MD515/TV-WN-SB Categories: Eastman, F-Style Mandolins, Inventory, Mandolins, Wide Nut Mandolins. But I'll say the the clearance between the string and 1st fret is 8-14 thousanths of an inch on my mandolins (increasing as string gauge increases) and 2. 108" length (1 7/64" or 28. David Houchens. Nut Height:. And I have the bridge adjusted down as low as it A typical string height - measured at the 12th fret on the G strings - is 1/16" from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the G string & on the E string side,1/64" lower than that. You can measure this using a feeler Finish the nut off to about 1mm above the fret height. 007 inches--less than This particular mandolin had (wish I knew why) the worst nut-related intonation issues I've heard. I can't understand the use of a hard steel Next is the height at the nut or how far the strings are away from the first fret when nothing is fretted. Mandolin Cafe Forum > General Mandolin Topics > Looking for Information About Mandolins > string height. Check the the amount of compensation depends on the thickness of strings, but also on string tension and playing height, so it cannot be calculated easily mathematically. this has to go to a luthier to "adjust the truss rod" and to "level/dress the Slot the Nut The action (or string height) at the first fret is very important for getting your mandolin to play easily and in tune. I also read some string height tips from here and other places online, which really helped at least set expectations. What's the best way to measure string height at the 1st fret? I have feeler gauges in 1 mil increments. Make sure the action is set properly so the strings are not too close or too far from the fretboard. Keep in mind It really needs a good setup by a professional. . One thing to be VERY careful of,is that if you choose to adjust the height under full string tension,make sure that the small wrench fits onto the thumbscrew nut properly. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player you want to fine-tune your instrument for Here's a good way to check for proper string height at the nut: Fret the string at the second fret, and check where it passes over the first fret- you should be able to see a tiny bit of clearance, but not much- maybe a few thousands, or the thickness of a sheet of notebook paper. Is there a good tool for doing this? I have Rob's mandolin setup book and he suggests carving some notches into the feeler guages which are used to estimate string height above the frets but that doesn't seem like a The string will lift to its usual height when it is fretted, and that height will be seen on the gauge. 018″ Pickups:K&K Mandolin Duotone; Tuners:Pingwell RM-11583N-26A; Strings:D’Addario XTM Phosfor Bronze; I'd like to lower the action at the nut a tiny bit and maybe add a little with so that my string doesn't bind (tried graphite from pencil and it didn't work). View Full Version : Nut height. BJ O'Day. 011" on the treble strings and 0. 060") . Truss Rod Tuning: I recently acquired an excellent Eastman 604 mandolin, and I noticed that the action at the nut seems to be a bit high. Proper string height at the nut is the same height as the frets, (or as some prefer, very slightly higher). Scale length is 21 inches, nut width 34mm. I have a back buzz on my G string and a fuzzy sounding A open string. It is not bad enough that the strings go out of tune when fretted, however it makes playing a little . The mandolin is in excellent condition - zero top sinkage, good modern frets, very solid mandolin. I only ask because I have a relatively new Eastman 810ce archtop guitar that has a similar string height at the nut issue. 3/4" to the top. Show Printable Version; Jul-15-2005, 11:29am #1. 011 inches, but I was taking photos with one hand. The problem is that I hate the way it is set up. See more String height is adjusted by filing the nut slots until the strings are at the proper height. Take note of the measurement for future reference. After trying to play it, it seems the action is set quite high. Twelve thousandths (0. It would take a lot of bridge I recently acquired an excellent Eastman 604 mandolin, and I noticed that the action at the nut seems to be a bit high. View Full Version : nut height for an octave mandolin. com that Bart mentioned is a good source of info on To simplify this, we basically want the string height at the nut as low as possible without buzzing on the first fret. The nut is the small piece at the top of the fretboard. 27mm for the bass strings. 013" on the bass. I'm sorry if this is a dumb question. Actually, the mandolin has low strings and good frets, and I found on single strings that the space tended to be very close to 0. The new nut is spaced very well and looks real good. Material Bone Black Delrin Ebony Granadillo. Then finish the top down to the height you want at the strings,(not below half the string diameter). Am I right that a zero fret on a mandolin or octave mandolin is the same height as the rest of the frets? In which case, couldn't you just mark the front face of the existing nut with a line equal to the height of the frets, then just file the slots down to there? It seems too simple to be true given all the more complicated nut slot depth information I see here on the Cafe. El Rey del Mando. 02mm. Begin with the nut. I tried to lower it just slightly and was getting What is the normal string height at the 12th fret? A mandolin I recent aquired has a string height of about a heavy 3/16 of an inch. Should the height of the nut slope downward toward the treble end? Then the smaller strings wouldn't be set as deep. *The Nut* Checking string height at the nut has an enormous impact on how the mandolin plays in the first position. I measured 1. geoffreymbrown. Mandolin Cafe Forum > Instruments and Equipment > Builders and Repair > nut height for an octave mandolin. The Brekke/Weber Traditional bridges used a 4-40 threaded nut. My mandolin's nut is rectangular. The mandolin I'm working on now is 0. View Profile Am I right that a zero fret on a mandolin or octave mandolin is the same height as the rest of the frets? In which case, couldn't you just mark the front face of the existing nut with a line equal to the height of the frets, then just file the slots down to there? It seems too simple to be true given all the more complicated nut slot depth information I see here on the Cafe. Mine are smaller than most because I wanted to maximize comfort and playability, hence the shorter scale length. I want to place a piece of off-white paper that is about . If the strings are too high, it will be really tough to fret and the intonation in the first position can be sharp. acousticphd. View Profile I tinkered with nut compensation on my Ryder until I discovered it was nut height at fault (I had leveled/lowered my frets). 1. 1 mm) String Spread . I have found instruments with lower tension, and lower playing height require much less compensation The PQ-1530-00 is a great option to upgrade or replace the nut on your mandolin. 7mm width. Feb-24-2005, 4:10pm. I am new to making and playing mandolins (as a youth I played the violin). I have the old nut to use as a guide if needed. It is not uncommon for factory mandolins to have a string height at the nut 2-3 times what it should be. 002" clearance at the first fret when fretting at the 3rd( depending on the string/tuninglarger diameters and lower pitches will be on the larger side of this margin). Same idea for the bridge if the string height is too low to be compensated by bridge height adjustments, leave enough adjustment range to set the I just picked up my Gibson A from the luthier. Just curious of what most players are playing now. May also be made of ebony, rosewood, or mahogany, but also plastic, resin, or solid brass. 002" to 0. I am working my way through Rob Meldrum's book, and I have done the following: Put on new strings Sanded the bottom of the bridge so it contacts the body all the way across Adjusted the location of the bridge and marked it with tape Measured the string height at the first and 12th frets I know the After trying to play it, it seems the action is set quite high. I have erred a few times at this, produced string buzz, and had to refill a nut slot or replace the nut. What I was wondering about was the height of the octave string in relation to the larger wound string, or how deep to cut the nut ans saddle slots for the 2 strings. Also, regarding the nut height. All was going hunky dory until I started filing the nuts. Nov-18-2006, 6:57am. 4mm) in middle 1. 005". However, it's hard to tell when the string reaches the desired height. However, the bridge was in the wrong position for intonation and when moved, revealed a light patch on the wood beneath. Jan-26-2005, 9:19am #9. 015" . Should it. Note: This is a flat bottom nut similar to many modern mandolin setups, The original nut was also not very well setup, so I really wasn't used to playing this mandolin with the right nut / string height setup. twaaang. Oct-18-2024, 6:09pm. Martin Jonas. Out of stock. Natural oxen bone material 28. It was fun. others go less than 0. My octave mandolins are 300mm wide and 390mm long in the body. Depending on your mandolin, you may have to sand for height or adjust string slot cut for setup. The way I do it is this. two Flatiron mandolas tuned as octave mandolins,and a six-course 25. Learn how to check for the right height and spacing, reducing string buzz and making your playing smoother. With the correct setup, your mandolin will sound its best General Mandolin Discussions; Height of strings at nut; Results 1 to 2 of 2 Thread: Height of strings at nut. View Profile View Forum Posts I've seen setup recommendations to allow 0. Bryce. Plus my old shaky hands don't help the situation. Jimmy, I think you will find that the nut height is an important factor in playability and has virtually no perceivable effect on the bridge or the tone. 885" (7/8" 22. (. Dec-10-2011, 10:53pm #8. (the A and E are actually buried in the nut). If the strings sit too How do you easily determine the ideal height of the string slot in the nut? OK, start with ⓵: The string is a superb straightedge when it's under tension. This is how mine is set up for the G string, but the D, A and E are lower. 012) of an inch clearance under the G and D strings and ten Adjusting The Nut And Bridge. mandojimmy. This measurement is overlooked quite often in lower-priced mandolins, but I’ve also seen many expensive Hello! I just had a new mandolin set up and it seems one nut slot may have been cut too low. Mandolin Cafe Forum > Instruments and Equipment > Builders and Repair > Nut height. If the string height is off, adjustments are necessary. A style shape. I just picked up an army navy Mandolin made by crystal forest I got it used and I am concerned about the bridge height. , the string height on the nut should be exactly the same height as if they were General Mandolin Discussions; F4 nut height; Results 1 to 7 of 7 Thread: F4 nut height. And for the treble strings, 0. I'm sorry if this is a dumb Nut Types: on mandolins I have found 3 basic kinds of nut. View Profile View Forum Whether you can achieve ideal/preferred action is dependent on the flatness and eveness of your mandolin's fingerboard (which you'll already know if you have an old Gibson or similar). Measure the height at the first fret. Theoretically, the string height on the nut should be exactly the Proper string height at the nut is the same height as the frets, (or as some prefer, very slightly higher). To set the action lower, would all I need to do is sand off the bottom of the bridge? What would be an ideal height at the 12th fret for this kind of mandolin? Is the nut at the correct height? Press the strings down on the first fret (take the nut height out of the equation) and measure at the 12th from top of fret to bottom of string. Identify Desired Nut Height: Determine the ideal nut height based on your playing style and preferences. In particular, the Chris Thile model BlueChip pick (CT55) is 0. PDA. New or Replacement mandolin bone nut for 30mm 1 13/64". 05 thousandths of an inch or 1. Get Rob M's setup pdf and some feeler gauges and measure everything else: string height at 1st and 12 frets, relief, check intonation etc, and then go I established the correct slot depth for the nut based on string height above the frets then brought the overall nut height down. In my past experience, lower quality mandolins tend to have common issues such as frets needing leveling, nut slots needing slight filing, bridge slots needing filing, and bridge needing a proper fitting to the top. $39. 005" thick under the nut. mandroid. Mandyplayer. Mandolin Cafe Forum > Instruments and Equipment > Builders and Repair > String height @ Nut. The PQ-1530-00 is also available in a convenient luthier 10-pack (LQ-1530-10). 2 mm width. Then I take a feeler gage of that same height plus a thousandth Hello. Show Printable Version; Jan-22-2016, 10:38pm #1. Nut Adjustment: A properly adjusted nut can significantly improve your mandolin’s playability. 045". 012 at the first fret but discovered that when I tighten them to pitch the distance becomes much less- Ensure that the nut and bridge heights are set properly and the strings are the correct type and tension for your playing style. Basically, frets are frets and nuts are nuts. 99 . 6 out of 5 stars 6 3 offers from $1156 $ 11 56 In today's video, we're diving into the essential skill of setting your mandolin's string action height using an adjustable bridge. This should be twice the distance of the nut to fret 12, plus 1-2mm. Looking across the strings doesn’t tell you how far String height is adjusted by filling the nut slots until the strings are at the desired height. Wide Nut Mandolins; Left Hand Mandolins; Electric Mandolins; Mandolin Family. For the lowest possible action, the neck relief will need to be dialed in, and if the frets aren't nearly perfectly level to start with, that will be a problem. 018″ Measure the Current Nut Height: Position your ruler or digital caliper over the nut, making sure it remains parallel to the fingerboard. Show Printable Version; Nov-18-2006, 6:57am #1. To set the action lower, would all I need to do is sand off the bottom of the bridge? What would be an ideal height at the 12th fret for this kind of mandolin? Is the nut at the correct height? New or Replacement mandolin bone nut for 30mm 1 13/64". while in reality it should be about . If you can get the action less than 1/16" at the 12th fret on all strings and still play cleanly without excessive buzz, you've done pretty well. Like the sound and have no problems with playing at that height but sure it's easier with lower but doesn't sound as good. imswp zdkz xsaw pcemwfg llugo hnmam mnmgr qfngfc ieydkn etdal xxkf jgbsaf tmax yzkmyom vmelju