Lesson learned: DO NOT TAKE ALL STRINGS OFF AT ONCE! I learned this changing strings the first time. E string popped because of too much tension. Good thing I didn't take the other one off. So I have 7 new strings and one old now.
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Lesson learned: DO NOT TAKE ALL STRINGS OFF AT ONCE! I learned this changing strings the first time. E string popped because of too much tension. Good thing I didn't take the other one off. So I have 7 new strings and one old now.
This happened to me and I read on Cafe about graphite. I bought a small tube (looks like yogurt) and I put a small dab on both nut slots and bridge slots for all 8 strings everytime I change strings!!
I change strings ONE PAIR at a time.
Maintains "enough" tension and offers a little more "working room".
Casual player: yes, change one pair, or single strings, at a time. This minimizes your risk of changing the bridge position or action accidentally.
But let's face it, it's a mandolin. If it's been long enough to change strings, it's been long enough that you probably should check bridge position and action.
I think I learned from John Hamlett to take off all the strings, then string up just the lowest G and highest E. This lets you dial in the action and bridge placement easily without stressing about scuffing the top or tearing up your hands trying to get the thumbwheels to work. Once those two strings are dialed in, everything else just falls into place.
I take them all off sometimes and sometimes I don’t. I generally start with the lowest pair of I don’t and if I do I put them all on and snug but not tune, then sneak them all up to pitch. Since I started doing that I haven’t had a string break while changing them all at once. Not sure why it made a difference but suspect it was just giving the strings a bit more time to stretch without to much stress.
Thanks for the feedback friends. Very helpful!!
I generally take all the strings off the treble side first, replace them, then repeat with the bass side.
I don't like to take all the strings off unless it's necessary to execute a repair.
What?
You're supposed to change strings?!
Only when you’ve smeared them with the remains of a deep fried Mars Bar!Quote:
Originally Posted by chavez
The broken ones.:mandosmiley:Quote:
Originally Posted by chavez
The sound of an old unwound string compared to a new shiny one is usually indistinguishable - its the wound ones which go off. So, unless the old E string is physically shot or corroded, I wouldn’t worry about it.
So when do you clean the fretboard?
People change strings on their mandolins?
Whenever I think it needs it - which isn’t very often. Cleaning/oiling fretboards is somewhat over-rated. Blow off the dust and slide an e-cloth under the strings once in a while.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joed
It's a good idea to clean your fretboard every time you grease your truss rod bearings.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joed
Sometimes they all must be removed, sometimes not. Either way I like to start on the outside and work my way in. One string at a time. G E G E D A D A. If you had to remove them all check the 12th fret octave after the first two (G E).
:)) :))Quote:
Originally Posted by chavez
I play a lot of outside gigs in hot humid weather, do I need marine grease?Quote:
Originally Posted by chavez
I grease my truss rod bearings every 10,000 notes. Does a fingerboard need oiling that often??
A luthier frield of mine told me he had to replace the fingerboard on one guitar which was rotting away because the owner religiously oiled it every time he canged his strings. I oil mine when they need it. I bought a Martin D18 in 1973 and it’s still waiting. As I said - over-rated!
Amen Brother!Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray(T)
Just flush the harmonic compensator fluid every once in a while. I only charge $200 to do that.Quote:
Originally Posted by pops1
I did that last year, it's not a bad job, but the fluid is very hard to get and really expensive.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty Jacobson
Usually remove all the strings, so I can clean and polish the body of the mandolin, and de-gunk the fretboard with a microfiber cloth.
Replace the bridge using the well-defined "footprints" on the top, and put the strings as suggested in Marty's Post #4 above. Don't raise the "outside" G and E strings to concert pitch, just enough tension to hold the bridge in place firmly. Always put the bass strings on first, so that they can apply the needed tension, compressing the top down, and not risk the more fragile unwound strings.
That's how I do it. Think I've only broken one string over all the years of restringing. I'm not a particularly "responsible" restringer, usually waiting until the current strings are unacceptably "dead," or don't seem to note accurately. I should do better, but heck, so many mandolins, so little time...