How to SET-UP a Mandolin in 5 Steps

If you're looking to set-up a mandolin at home for the first time, this video is for you. Here are 5 steps to get your mandolin playing and sounding like a dream!

Timecodes:
0:00 - Intro
0:54 - Step 1: Fitting the Bridge:
4:04 - Step 2: Intonating the Bridge:
7:53 - Step 3: Adjusting the Action:
10:55 - Step 4: Adjusting the Truss Rod:
14:42 - Step 5: Fixing the Buzz:

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ABOUT ME:
My name is David, and I play the mandolin. I've played with multiple award-winning bluegrass bands across the world including Missy Raines, Mile Twelve, Cup O’Joe, and The Foreign Landers, and I curate the weekly mandolin video series #mandolinmondays hosted by the Mandolin Cafe. But most of all, I love sharing my love of the mandolin with others. I run an online mandolin learning community on Patreon, and I also make videos to share my thoughts, ideas, and general mandolin enthusiasm with other mando aficionados. Find out more at the links below:

*Just a little disclaimer that I’m endorsed by some of the companies represented here, and a few of my "weapon of choice" links above are affiliate links that bring in a small percentage of revenue for the channel.

[altebo]

thank you so much for sharing, highly helpful, with a perfect balance between theory & technique. your encouragement helped me fix my mandolin, so hats off to you. ps: love your music!

[richarddeleon]

My friend I consider this video a straight seminar, thanks.

[Road_Rash]

First thing I do with a tail piece, is take the cover off & take a pair of needle nose pliers & bend it outward at a slight angle so that it can't contact the strings, then I cut a piece of felt so that it fits the inside of the cover so the strings can't rattle against it, & if there's no felt between the strings & the bottom of the tail piece, I cut a small piece of felt for there too... that's how I fix rattling tail pieces...

[randypaulamcallister]

Never played a Mandolin before but my wife has decided to play. I plat the guitar, going to be so much fun having her play with me. Thank you for the information and easy to understand. Awesome

[erictimothyanderson]

I just bought a 2006 Gibson F9. As soon as I picked it up, I knew that it had to be mine.

It does need a setup because it nut needs to be repositioned, and the action is high.

It still sounds amazing, and it gives me chills.

[pisani]

Mainly a guitar player but recently took my Gretsch A/E mandolin out of it's case after not playing it for years and have been playing it more over the last few weeks than I have played guitar; everything was so out of whack. This video came at the perfect time! Thanks for sharing David!

[mcardlepm]

Awesome video. Two things - one, I just bought a mandolin whose action was so insanely high, notes bent sharp about a quarter tone at the 12th fret, just from pressing down - you can imagine how unplayable it was! (Someone had thrown on a bridge pickup and aside from using the highest setting, never fitted it to the instrument, huge gaps underneath; your sandpaper trick is great, I was resigned to chalk or a contour gage.) Plus, for years I accepted as gospel, but never actually understood, why necks need relief. This past year, in my role as a Physics teacher, I played around with a strobe light to "freeze" a vibrating guitar string (standing waves, nodes etc.) and it was instantly obvious - the string is locked in place at the ends, but the middle is where it oscillates the greatest distance, and needs clearance from the neck/frets. "Seeing is believing, " I guess, to see the "bend" in the string just frozen there is pretty cool.

[Mushroomsyndrome]

Just got a mandolin yesterday I found you channel. Really really helpful stuff - I didn't know the bridge isn't attached to the body at all and I can just set the intonation by moving it. Thanks!!

[andyszpekman]

I was having an intonation problem with my mandolin, and after following the steps in this video it has never sounded better. You, David Benedict, are a genius. Thank you so much.

[felixl.]

I'm waiting for my first mandolin now! I bought a Epiphone MM-30 and I cant wait to play it. I love your videos and I will surely listen to them all ! :) Good work

[healingenso]

As a lifetime wind instrument player, about to dive into mandolin and probably octave mandolin, I love this. I actually have to do the hardest thing - trust someone else to do the set up for me. Having no mechanical empathy, I really hope I do get someone who does a good job. But at least now I have the slightest idea what's going on and where any remaining problems may be.

Thanks !

[danstune]

Your instruction and support are always appreciated, David Benedict! Dan in Riverside, CA

[christophergallagher]

Hey, after losening a trus rod, just like when tuning, finish by tightening up to finish adjustment.
Thanks for you content!

[mizizcharlie]

Hey David, I joined your Patreon this month and I'm so glad I did. Thank you so much for all of your information. I've had lightbulb moments all over the place thanks to vids like this.😅

[pawwalton]

Excellent tips especially referring to Jerry Rosa channel for advanced mandolin setup problems or when you need to see a luthier for help.😊

[jaypoly]

Just started mandolin… have enjoyed an overview of your wonderful content. Will watch it all.🙌. I’m ‘bricking’ it..( Uk colloquial term for F scared! 😂) setting up my mandolin with sandpaper ! 😂 Cheers .

[Nomunire]

Just wanted to say that this was of great help, thanks!
I got one of those The Loar mandos a while back and though I really liked the sound it made and the overall design and finish, it had some horrible buzzing on the open D and on the 6th fret of the G string.
Since I noticed that the strings were a tad too close on the top frets (and I don't have a luthier anywhere near me) I was about to remove the strings and try to sand down on the frets during the weekend when I saw your video.
I just angled the bridge a bit towards the tailpiece which I think fixed the open D (I suspect it also might've re-set the string), and loosened up the truss rod by a quarter turn which fixed the 6th fret on the G string, and now this mando sounds excellent on all the fingerboard, and with no disassembly required.
Really appreciate that you shared this bit of know-how. Cheers!

[bjornchaudron]

This came right on time. My new Kentucky KM850 suddenly developed a buzz when playing just one of the A strings open 😮‍💨

[DadRockAndGuitars]

Looking at getting a mandolin for my 10 year old son's first stringed instrument. I've played guitar for many years and do my own setups there, but was wanting to know the specifics of setting up a mandolin. This was very helpful and very well done. I really appreciated that you used that Ibanez because that's one we're considering. Thank you!

[markderyckere]

Thanks for the advice! I bought a Kentucky KM 150 a couple years ago but haven't got around to playing it yet. Looking forward to finally play something on it.