207 RSW Octave Mandolin Strap Button Tips and Mystery Buzz

This little gem needed some strap buttons and it had a very mysterious buzz going on. You might be surprised where I found it. This video was released to my Patreon Supporters one week before it was live on KZbin.
/ rosastringworks
rosastringwork...

[@ZosoHacker]

I don’t watch TV anymore. I just watch your videos 😁😁

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thank you very much my friend. I hope I don't cause you any mental issues. LOL

[@audiotechlabs4650]

Jerry, what ever you do, if at all possible, do not stop making videos!!! I am aware of what KZbin is doing to you guys and gals and there seems to be fixes out there. Great video because of you being truthful about what you do. Love ya man! Thankz

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thank you very much.

[@jbann23]

Good that you used wax for those screws. People use soap, which is readily available, but it'll rust or corrode in time and leave an unsightly mess in time. Wax is the way to go, beeswax.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thanks for taking a look.

[@mikecurtin9831]

As always, good tips and useful things to watch for. I would not have seen the bolt in the neck, either. I put on strap buttons just like you do, and for the same reasons. The only things I do differently are to use a piece of tape as a depth indicator, and I find the balance point at the base of the neck so it will rock back slightly if I let go of the instrument. Very good stuff, thanks much.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thank you for taking a look.

[@jonahguitarguy]

I do strap buttons the same way. As soon as I read "you shouldn't say that" about a quick easy job, I thought oh gosh it's a bolt on. Those rattles can drive you mad. Especially on electrics with all the extra little pieces. Thanks Jerry good one.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Yeah I should know better. Thanks for watching buddy.

[@georgetempest9627]

pilot drill bit should be about the same size as the helix of the screw - nicely done Jerry!

[@MarcusTryggMusicSwe]

great info about the strap.. When putting the button like you advise the strap also push the instrument towards you.. It's great

[@RosaStringWorks]

Yep. Thanks for watching.

[@timmorgan9782]

Great tidbit of buzzin' knowledge Jerry!

[@RosaStringWorks]

+Tim Morgan thanks for taking a look.

[@sgnt9337]

Thanks for the pilot hole sizing tip! Makes perfect sense (I usually go too small .... since I'm afraid of making it too big..).

[@RosaStringWorks]

You are welcome my friend. Thank you for watching.

[@edwardpetersen4309]

I've done several the exact same way. I use bar soap instead of wax. Works just as well. Thanks for the vid.

[@RosaStringWorks]

I used to use soap. But soap can sometimes rust the screw. So wax is a guaranteed safe use. Not a big deal most of the time. Thanks for watching.

[@jeffgrier8488]

Great fix Jerry, neat mandolin too, never seen one of those before.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thank you very much.

[@stephenquail3168]

I like the wax on the threads tip.That customer is gonna be happy not to hear that buzz.

[@RosaStringWorks]

As usual it was tougher than I expected. Thanks for watching.

[@rogerbeaird5742]

Jerry they are tuned the same lol GDAE of course tuning the last string to D INSEAD OF E. (GDAD)

[@MarkZarecki]

A split bridge pin will absolutely cause a buzz. Happened to me. Replaced the pin and buzz went a way.

[@RosaStringWorks]

I don't doubt it. Thanks for watching.

[@krustybuzzard2477]

As usual a video that realy teaches you something thanks Jerry.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thank you.

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

About the same size as the baritone ukulele I got ( and still have) back in about 1963.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thanks for checking it out.

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Rosa String Works I learn from every video! A few more minutes of your band at the end would be wonderful.

[@KMactheFarmer]

Great info, as usual.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thank you.

[@thats2kewl]

I also don't like it when the front button is in the base of the heel...the guitar head/neck tends to swivel down and you have to "hold it up" as you play. The front strap button placement, as you and Randy do, is much better...IMHO. Thanx for all of your great tips!!

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thank you very much.

[@userillusion86]

Really love your videos, keep it up!

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thank you my friend.

[@richardmead9225]

Everything from Texas is bigger. Mandolins included. (ha)

[@RosaStringWorks]

That is so true. LOL Thanks for watching.

[@RandySchartiger]

very well explained on strap buttons, I install them the same way. that's a cool sounding instrument!

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thank you Randy.

[@kthwkr]

I have a mystery buzz on my Blueridge. The neck needs a little tightness on the truss rod to be straight and at that tightness the action and intonation are letter perfect. But when it's tight there is a rattle which sounds like it's coming from inside the neck. When I loosen the truss rod the rattle goes away and the intonation is compromised. I have ruled out a brace. It's a low pitched hard rattle. Not at all like the high frequency rattle of this example. It sounds just like I would expect a heavy piece of metal inside the neck would sound if it was vibrating against the wood when I bump the back of the neck with my palm. Almost a popping rattle. I figure I need to live with it because tear down to truss rod is not worth the effort for this low end Blueridge.(laminate back and sides) So it has become my no-case travel guitar that has a mild intonation problem. When my friends 8 year old asks if he can play one of my guitars I say sure go get that one.

[@RosaStringWorks]

I feel for you my friend. The only thing that sounds strange to me is that generally when you tighten a truss rod the rattle goes away. Generally a loose truss rod is what causes the rattle. So that doesn't really make much sense to me. Good luck to you. Thanks for watching.

[@lrstaf6]

I've always sized my pilot bit the exact same way that you do Jerry, I also use the same theory on lube on screws. The only difference Is I use bar soap instead of wax, although wax sounds just as good, almost the same.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Some people claim that soap will actually lead to rust. Therefore that's why I use wax. Paraffin wax actually really works the best. Most of the time I just use beeswax because that's handy on my desk

[@lrstaf6]

thanks, I have just recently procured some paste wax for use on instruments. I think I will switch. I just used soap because it was handy.

[@lrstaf6]

We always had that around, as my mother canned jellies and preserves every year. Being on a farm, I'm sure you know how the paraffin is involved in that.

[@saoirsepaddy]

That Octave Mandolin is a small little thing . One can Irish tune the Octave Mandolin GG DD AA DD :) Not bad playing Jerry your first Octave Mandolin :)

[@seanmorris]

scott ford I've mine tuned to ADAD at the moment, lovely open, ringing, chords and find it works well backing Irish music. I had to learn a bunch of new chord shapes but not too many since I picked up a sliding Quickdraw capo.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Cool. Thanks for watching.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thank you my friend.

[@saoirsepaddy]

What type of Octave Mandolin do you have ? You just do back up or pick any melody on your Octave Mandolin ? I found most Irish Pickers do very little Ornaments maybe some hammer on , pull off & triplets. I never hear any Irish Pickers do any short rolls , long rolls . short Cranns, long Cranns & Double-Cut Rolls in a Fiddle tune.. I found book The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle by Grey Larsen All this Ornaments are pretty easy to do on a string instrument . Take a long roll 3 note triplets and 2 grace notes. The 2 grace notes are just hammer on & pull off.

[@GasNBullets]

Never would have guessed a bolt on from the inside neck... Never seen one. My oscar schmidt is a bolt on acoustic but like all typical bolt ons the bolts come from the back of the guitar.

[@RosaStringWorks]

+GasNBullets thanks for taking a look.

[@SlaughteredDecay]

I don't think it is a bolt on neck, I think it is the truss rod. Pink is one of the few ukulele makers that use truss rods.

[@rogerstill71]

I picked up an acoustic that had a strap screw screwed right into the body. Good thing it was cheap and pretty...

[@RosaStringWorks]

Not good. Thanks for watching.

[@ronrosselot2630]

Like your classroom techniques, would you explain how to adjust the truss rod on the mandolin. How much is enough? Thanks

[@RosaStringWorks]

I actually do it unconventionally. I have developed my eye that I can detect a very slight under bow or over Bow by looking down and neck. So when the string tension is on the instrument, if I can detect under bow, then in general, there probably is a little bit too much under bow. Because only .010" under bow is nearly straight. That's only the thickness of two human hairs. So if I see the underbow, I loosen the strings and I tighten the truss rod a little bit. Roughly a quarter of a turn. Then I tension it again and look for under bow. If I still see under bow, I might turn it another quarter turn of course you have to loosen the strings each time. Once I see no under bow then I consider it good. People say well you can't do it that way. When I test it with a feeler gauge I'm always right on target. So that's how I do it. I know it's a little weird but that's how I do it.

[@stevebumstead9840]

Hi Jerry Great Video. I have a question. What did you use to attach the bastard file to the handle on your fret leveling tool? Thanks.

[@RosaStringWorks]

The truth is I don't remember. I think I may have used epoxy. But if not it was probably Super Glue. Thanks for watching.

[@papaw5405]

Needs the truss rod replaced with a .223 barrel. Needs swivel straps and an adjustable leather strap. Heckle me now!

[@RosaStringWorks]

I prefer a 243. LOL thank you for watching.

[@Jackofallthetrades]

Do you have a preferred wax you use on the screws?

[@RosaStringWorks]

I have used both paraffin and beeswax. The bees wax sticks a little bit better sometimes but the paraffin seems to be a little slicker.

[@bleikrsound6127]

@@RosaStringWorksBeeswax works better, but it needs warming first, it's more 'gummy', especially if you're needing an air-seal on woodwind instruments, it doesn't dry out. Used it on everything from Bagpipes to Renaissance Crumhorns.

[@Mooseboy08]

Marty Crane much?

[@RosaStringWorks]

Hmmm?

[@anidamanns7968]

you put it on wrong side

[@stephengent9974]

So why isn't it just an 8 string guitar? Or is it because of tuning? Semantics. BTW it make a difference if you are drilling hard or soft wood to take a screw. Softer woods should have a smaller pilot hole. There are charts on-line that give the correct pilot hole sizes for any screw size

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thanks for taking a look. Yes you can make a science out of the hole size if you want to. But in general if you have the thread showing on both sides you'll be fine.

[@oscarbone1000]

It is tuned just as a Mandolin.

[@LegsON]

Fender like idiots put strapbuttons into the upper side. =/

[@RosaStringWorks]

I've seen strap buttons in some very weird places. Thanks for watching.