first of all, change the strings themselves - they may just be unwinding at the loop end. if it's still happening, 3 things to check:-
* look for a crack in the adjustable bridge - usually it's the top part that goes but not always
* look for a cracked or bent string retaining pin in the tailpiece
* look for a damaged, cracked or loose tuner
if it isn;t any of those, it may be something serious.
Other possibilities. If the bridge is aligned improperly or the action is too low, this can also cause the strings to go flat or maybe the bridge is sloping forward slightly. Best to have it checked out if you're not sure.
The strings might be "sticking" to the nut. Rub some pencil lead in the grooves of the nut and bridge. If not, take it to someone who can have a look at it for you. If that works out too expensive, shut your eyes, grit your teeth and buy an expensive mandolin. Otherwise these problems will continue to annoy you.
Funnily enough, my A-strings are always the first to go flat - on every mandolin I've owned. I've never come up with a satifactory explanation. Not surprisingly, it is most pronounced in tunes where the open A string is used a lot - especially open-string triplets. But why should this affect the A-string more than the others?
David - this seems to be the same with all mandolins I have come across - the A strings lose tune first (though not always flat!). Not just mine but the same for several other mandolin players I associate with.
This has been a topic of discussion on the COMANDO mailing list, and pretty much everyone agrees the A strings are the first to slip out of tune. I'm pretty new, but it's true that the A's have been the most difficult to keep tuned on all three of my mandos. I don't think it's anything to do with your instrument (though you should perhaps look for the problems discussed above, if you're convinced your situation is unusual).
out of tune mandolin
out of tune mandolin
The A strings of my mandolin keep dropping. I have a cheap F-hole Fender made in Korea with an adjustable bridge.
Any ideas why?
Many thanks,
H
# Posted on October 24th 2003 by hhold
Re: out of tune mandolin
first of all, change the strings themselves - they may just be unwinding at the loop end. if it's still happening, 3 things to check:-
* look for a crack in the adjustable bridge - usually it's the top part that goes but not always
* look for a cracked or bent string retaining pin in the tailpiece
* look for a damaged, cracked or loose tuner
if it isn;t any of those, it may be something serious.
# Posted on October 24th 2003 by teetotaller
Re: out of tune mandolin
Other possibilities. If the bridge is aligned improperly or the action is too low, this can also cause the strings to go flat or maybe the bridge is sloping forward slightly. Best to have it checked out if you're not sure.
John
# Posted on October 24th 2003 by Johannes J
Re: out of tune mandolin
Maybe new machine heads required??
# Posted on October 24th 2003 by breandan
Re: out of tune mandolin
The strings might be "sticking" to the nut. Rub some pencil lead in the grooves of the nut and bridge. If not, take it to someone who can have a look at it for you. If that works out too expensive, shut your eyes, grit your teeth and buy an expensive mandolin. Otherwise these problems will continue to annoy you.
# Posted on October 25th 2003 by Dow
Re: out of tune mandolin
Funnily enough, my A-strings are always the first to go flat - on every mandolin I've owned. I've never come up with a satifactory explanation. Not surprisingly, it is most pronounced in tunes where the open A string is used a lot - especially open-string triplets. But why should this affect the A-string more than the others?
# Posted on October 26th 2003 by ragaman
Re: out of tune mandolin
David - this seems to be the same with all mandolins I have come across - the A strings lose tune first (though not always flat!). Not just mine but the same for several other mandolin players I associate with.
Dave
# Posted on October 27th 2003 by showaddydadito
Re: out of tune mandolin
This has been a topic of discussion on the COMANDO mailing list, and pretty much everyone agrees the A strings are the first to slip out of tune. I'm pretty new, but it's true that the A's have been the most difficult to keep tuned on all three of my mandos. I don't think it's anything to do with your instrument (though you should perhaps look for the problems discussed above, if you're convinced your situation is unusual).
# Posted on October 27th 2003 by vulcan666