080 RSW Setting Up The Loar Mandolin

Take a look at my process for setting up a mandolin including replacing all the frets, setting the intonation, adjusting the truss rod, etc.

[@TheAhirishman]

I've fell into a Rosa Stringworks rabbit hole. Ill be sending you my mandolin extremely soon. You're a magician

[@michaeldoidge3537]

10:27 Spontaneous happy 'Ohhh' bursts forth! It looks just beautiful, with all your care setting-up and sporting new Sunday/Go-to-Meeting strings. Very Nicely Done!

[@discount2087]

This mandolin looks awesome! I love the matte finish.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thank you for watching.

[@RandySchartiger]

That mandolin has a serious bark and volume! I had to file a little off the saddle and the bridge posts too on that Kentucky mandolin I worked on a while back. Great video Jerry thanks for sharing!

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thanks for spending the time. Appreciate your positive comments.

[@WmBPhotos]

Rosa String Works How can I contact you? I just got a deal on a new Loar 370 on clearance and I know I want it set up right!

[@RosaStringWorks]

William buoymaster my email is [e-mail] thanks

[@jcmcclain57]

Had the same truss rod issue on my LM-500-VS. Adjusted the truss rod and it was night and day difference in playability. Mine came from Loar in that condition. In the near term will do fret level, crown, and polish. Also, will drop the action a bit then. However, in general I am very happy with mandolin. Bought it as an instrument to learn on to compliment my guitar and dobro. Nice video and good tips.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thank you. Thanks for watching.

[@BigDwww]

Hi Again from england, thanks for sharing your knowledge

[@RosaStringWorks]

BigD thanks for tuning in. Glad you liked it. The customer called back and was very happy with it.

[@Road_Rash]

I have a Loar 520 & I've played it for a while now, & while it sounds good, it could sound better...I won't be refretting it, but I do want to file the nut & do some bridge work on it so I can lower the action on it & make it easier to play...thanks for the helpful video! Also I have a request...Could you do a video on how to scoop the neck extension on a mandolin?

[@steveharris2589]

Good video Jerry!!!

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thank you for spending your time.

[@dwebster50]

Jerry : May I suggest a tool mod for you . A method of preventing the fret wire from flying away when you cut it with diagonals. Put normal RTV into the closed jaws of diagonals. Wait for it to dry , then cut it with a razor blade to allow them to open with normal use. Therefore when u cut with them , they will prevent the open end of the fret wire from flying off . We used to do this for electronics and it also prevents wire leads of getting into to some ones eye. Hope this helps Alberta Dave

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thanks Dave. Sounds like a plan!

[@waynebrown1609]

love it

[@Road_Rash]

I'm going to do some inlay work on the fretboard of my Loar & want to refret it with the smaller frets while I'm at it...What size fret wire are you using on this one?

[@josephlama4097]

Hi there I'm Joseph lama from the land of the long white cloud New Zealand 🇳🇿 And I have a Valencia flat back mandolin but I've got a question? How do you make the mandolin strings without Because my mandolin keeps on buzzing against the fretboard every time I play it all the time.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Joseph Lama all of the Frets have to be completely level. The nut has to be adjusted to the right height. And the saddle has to be adjusted to the right height. It's also possible the truss rod might need a little bit of an adjustment to get some of the under bow out of it. It's very complicated and no way I could give you all the details in a message sorry. Thank you for watching.

[@2010bigfathen]

Man when you retire you are going to be missed terribly bad

[@MrOj53]

Thanks for your program! Some months ago I resolved to pick up the Mandolin (I play some gitarr and violin before) I find a Chinese Ibanez a D Mandolin. There was a lot of filing. The sadel brok and I make a new one. I anderstands the intonation on the gitarr when the stable have an angle to the string to compensate the thickness of the string. But on the Mandolin G and A string are longer then D and E. The difference 6mm same as the twentieth freet.The freetbord are diatonic so the twelfth freet must be in the middel of the string. Thickness, length, sig sag???Can you give me clarity. Thanks in advance

[@RosaStringWorks]

ola johannisson thank you for watching my friend. Unfortunately I'm not positive I can give Clarity on that myself. Sometimes things are just a mystery. lol

[@MrOj53]

There must be an answer :-))

[@audiotechlabs4650]

Hey Jerry... is that a LM370? I might have made a mistake, but I just got one. Considering I have a $50 Johnson, I think this a big upgrade. I'm going to follow this video very closely. Do these have a tone post? Love your videos, as I have said many times and mean every word. Thank for sharing. Thankz

[@RosaStringWorks]

Audio Tech Labs, Sorry, I don't remember the specific model of this Loar. Congrats on the new Loar mando. Some of them are very nice instruments. Let me know if I can help. Thanks for your continued support!

[@gokuuzumaki70]

you are a genius

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thank you Goku.

[@chadfulton8686]

Would you mind me asking what you charged on that setup? I have the same mandolin right now and I'm looking for a better setup than I think it got the first time round.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Don't remember exactly. But I charge $60 per hour. Generally less than 2 hours work. $75 to $100 is probably a good average. Of course parts and shipping are extra.

[@chadfulton8686]

Ok thank you, you might be hearing from me in the future. Nice work!

[@muskymike1885]

Which deer antler that you sell fits the Loar 520?

[@danielkalbermatter]

What is the new bridge called? And where can I buy one? Thanks!

[@f1948s]

Excellent video. Thanks. Did you happen to say how much relief you put into the neck or do you just make it straight by checking with a straight edge and adjusting the truss rod? I am curious because the action is very low on mine with a relief of (.003") and I have some buzzing. My string height at the 12th fret G is .060" and .005" on the E . Do you have any figure you can put on a standard ball park relief on a mandolin neck? . Also what do you recommend for the height of the strings at the 1st fret? Thanks for any info

[@RosaStringWorks]

I don't allow very much relief in a mandolin. In fact I prefer them to be nearly flat.

[@f1948s]

@@RosaStringWorks Thank you very much for the information. Since my relief is so minimal and my string height at the 12th fret is correct I think I will destring and check for high frets. If so I will do fret leveling and dressing and go from there.

[@leepope4061]

although I generally agree with you and consider you extremely informative and efficient I did not agree with the replacemnt of the large frets on a good mid range quality mandolin like the Loar 700. I know your customer authorized the replacement of the frets as part of the full meal deal and that is his business, therefore good job. The mandolin sounded good after you exterme make over. I only wish I was as a talented as you.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Lee Pope everybody likes something different. I don't like the large Frets because they keep the string so far away from the fretboard and they hurt the end of my fingers. Thank you for watching my friend.

[@Ubu987]

@@RosaStringWorks I can see how the big frets can also make the intonation sharp near the nut where tension is high unless the player had a very precise touch, but for the same reason, they are very good for sliding notes.

[@michaelblaney4461]

It's a double action truss rod

[@arthurogle7581]

Jerry: My BG pickin pal Joe Morrow just bought a Steve Huber VBR banjo, and a Ky 460 mando and already owned a BR160 guitar. Is someone fixed up on instruments or what. BR160 out plays D18 and D28's on a regular basis? No mo criticizing Blueridge!!!

[@mandolinlasse]

This work must cost more then the instrument itself, am i right? 😊

[@bleikrsound6127]

Lloyd Loar is spinning in his grave.

[@Billkwando]

Stop shouting. :)

[@RosaStringWorks]

Billkwando hmmm... ok, whatever you say.

[@Billkwando]

Just kidding! Just a harsh sounding room, makes your voice a bit boomy at the beginning. :) It's a bit rough on the ears for headphone users.

[@Billkwando]

Also, is that an LM-310? I have one of those, which is how I got here. :)

[@RosaStringWorks]

Billkwando sorry it was a while back and I don't remember the model number. Thank you for watching.

[@Billkwando]

Pretty sure it is, due to the darker sunburst and satin finish. I think the LM-310 is the only F style they make with a satin finish. They're on sale at GC for $250 right now. :)