I've just purchased a Mandola "Trinity College", I am finding it a bit difficult to Tune properly and I Suspect ithis has to do with the (Moveable) Bridge being in the wrong place. Is there a specific place where the Bridge must go?
The bridge should be placed twice the distance of the nut to the center of the tweleth fret plus a small "compensation." (maybe an 1/8th inch.)
The easiest method is to tune up the instrument and pick one of the first strings and produce a harmonic by placing a finger lightly on the string at the 12th fret. (while you pluck the string.) Hear the pitch of this note. Then fret the 1st string at the 12th fret and hear its pitch.
If the fretted note is higher than the harmonic; move the bridge towards the tailpiece. If the fretted note is lower than the harmonic; move the bridge toward the fingerboard
Repeat this process for all strings. You will have to set the bridge so that each string is acceptable - they wont all be perfect.
Alternately, you could take the instrument to a repairperson and ask that they "set" the bridge.
I hope this helps
Joe
if it's any help, here is the method that i use for setting up these instruments in my shop - they are pretty well made and can usually be set up to give respectable intonation. you should have got a compensated bridge with the instrument (i.e. the top of the bridge is staggered). make sure you have it the correct way round (the string slots are of noticeably different sizes). measure the distance from the face of the top nut to the centre of the actual metal fret at the 12th. from memory, it's about 260mm but check the distance carefully. place the bridge so that the saddle of the E string is at the same distance from the centre of the 12th fret. slant the bridge so that the saddle of the G string is about 4 - 5 mm further from the 12th fret.
tune all the open strings to concert pitch using an electronic tuner (chromatic is best but a guitar tuner will do at a pinch). play the E string at the 7th fret and see if you get a true B. if it's sharp, juggle the bridge back towards the tailpiece, if flat, towards the fingerboard. once you have the E string right, repeat the process on the G string using the 7th fret D. make only very small adjustments and re-tune the open strings after every adjustment. once you have the E and the G correct, you'll find that the D and A will be fairly acceptable. this will give you pretty intonation up the 7th fret on all 4 pairs of strings. it may not be "dead on" at the 12th fret and higher but it won;t be far away and it's much better to have accurate intonation in the first position (where one plays loads of tunes) than higher up!
Measure from the nut to the centre of the 12th fret, lock the tape measure. Then extend the tape measure from the centre of the 12th fret the same distance to the bridge. Tune up and ensure you have harmonics at the 12th fret. Adjust slightly if required.
Location of Bridge on Mandola
Location of Bridge on Mandola
I've just purchased a Mandola "Trinity College", I am finding it a bit difficult to Tune properly and I Suspect ithis has to do with the (Moveable) Bridge being in the wrong place. Is there a specific place where the Bridge must go?
# Posted on July 30th 2002 by bj
Re: Location of Bridge on Mandola
The bridge should be placed twice the distance of the nut to the center of the tweleth fret plus a small "compensation." (maybe an 1/8th inch.)
The easiest method is to tune up the instrument and pick one of the first strings and produce a harmonic by placing a finger lightly on the string at the 12th fret. (while you pluck the string.) Hear the pitch of this note. Then fret the 1st string at the 12th fret and hear its pitch.
If the fretted note is higher than the harmonic; move the bridge towards the tailpiece. If the fretted note is lower than the harmonic; move the bridge toward the fingerboard
Repeat this process for all strings. You will have to set the bridge so that each string is acceptable - they wont all be perfect.
Alternately, you could take the instrument to a repairperson and ask that they "set" the bridge.
I hope this helps
Joe
# Posted on July 30th 2002 by Carrmuse
Re: Location of Bridge on Mandola
if it's any help, here is the method that i use for setting up these instruments in my shop - they are pretty well made and can usually be set up to give respectable intonation. you should have got a compensated bridge with the instrument (i.e. the top of the bridge is staggered). make sure you have it the correct way round (the string slots are of noticeably different sizes). measure the distance from the face of the top nut to the centre of the actual metal fret at the 12th. from memory, it's about 260mm but check the distance carefully. place the bridge so that the saddle of the E string is at the same distance from the centre of the 12th fret. slant the bridge so that the saddle of the G string is about 4 - 5 mm further from the 12th fret.
tune all the open strings to concert pitch using an electronic tuner (chromatic is best but a guitar tuner will do at a pinch). play the E string at the 7th fret and see if you get a true B. if it's sharp, juggle the bridge back towards the tailpiece, if flat, towards the fingerboard. once you have the E string right, repeat the process on the G string using the 7th fret D. make only very small adjustments and re-tune the open strings after every adjustment. once you have the E and the G correct, you'll find that the D and A will be fairly acceptable. this will give you pretty intonation up the 7th fret on all 4 pairs of strings. it may not be "dead on" at the 12th fret and higher but it won;t be far away and it's much better to have accurate intonation in the first position (where one plays loads of tunes) than higher up!
# Posted on July 30th 2002 by teetotaller
Re: Location of Bridge on Mandola
that's the problem with frets, respectable intonation
learn the fiddle
# Posted on July 30th 2002 by ...
Re: Location of Bridge on Mandola
....but then you have to spend years learning to put your fingers in the right places - and learning to recognize when you're out.
# Posted on July 31st 2002 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Location of Bridge on Mandola
you mean you play with frets because it's easy?
that's so lame
# Posted on July 31st 2002 by ...
Re: Location of Bridge on Mandola
Michael, methinks you fret too much.
# Posted on August 1st 2002 by glauber
Re: Location of Bridge on Mandola
So I do, so I do
# Posted on August 2nd 2002 by ...
Re: Location of Bridge on Mandola
Measure from the nut to the centre of the 12th fret, lock the tape measure. Then extend the tape measure from the centre of the 12th fret the same distance to the bridge. Tune up and ensure you have harmonics at the 12th fret. Adjust slightly if required.
# Posted on August 4th 2002 by Ard Ri