550 RSW A Detailed Kentucky Mandolin Setup - How To Change Mandolin Strings In A Hurry

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Website: www.rosastringworks.com

[@mandolinic]

The great thing is that Jerry builds and plays mandolins, so when he tells you how to set up a mando, you can trust what he says.

[@joesguiltyguitar]

If everyone had friends like you we would all be friends ...

[@edkramer65]

Slicker then snot on a doorknob. Been a long time hearing someone say that. You just made my evening. Thank you

[@Daniel_cheems]

Glad to see you back in strength Jerry!

[@mitchmatthews6713]

If only everyone that loves guitars, banjos, mandolins and fiddles could live near you, Jerry.

[@garyb9843]

I noticed the decal on the mandolin case. Your friend is a Vietnam veteran.

[@jthonn]

I have seen you do this a hundred times, and it never gets old. Nice video!

[@mattjohnson2972]

Thanks again, Jerry. I’ve been a mandolin player for many years and really enjoyed this video for setting things up properly. I immediately went to my mandolin and sure enough my bridge was leaning forward a good 10-15 degrees! Liked the various other tips as well. The only thing I might have added was to clean up the bone saddle before restringing as it appeared there was an accumulation of ebony bridge dust on it making it kind of dingy looking. Otherwise, an excellent addition to my library of Jerry Rosa videos.

[@RosaStringWorks]

I don't think it was dirty or had ebony on it most antler has discoloration through the antler

[@TheUffeess]

It should be obvious that this is how to sand a stable! As always a good job from you and at the same time fun that I, who is 58 years old, get to learn a new trick. Greetings from Sweden!

[@christophergallagher531]

Hey thanks. I'll be using more single edge blades over this. I have given up on keeping ca flowing. What works is dipping a; tooth pick, guitar string, zip tie almost any thing in the ca then placing the glue. A fountain pen works. just use it as a dip pen. Yup what I learned to write with. I also fill a bottle with accelerator, and apply the same way. Clean up with debonder and acetone. Thanks, very new to mandolin! Chris

[@peterfagley772]

Glad you have recovered so quickly, greatly enjoy your videos, thank you!

[@lrstaf6]

Hi Jerry; I'm with Gene The Machine, I have always sanded my bridges side to side. So, just know your not alone in the world. As you have demonstrated in your video, you can control the angle of the bridge to the instrument easily when you go side to side. Just try controlling the angle of the bridge to the instrument going lengthwise to the instrument. I really appreciate your videos. I can't imagine how much more time must be involved in your repairs making videos as you go.

[@mccypr]

Cool song about the Church! Thanks! Happy New Year!!! ✌️🌞🌞🎻🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@HBTwoodworking]

Great job, Jerry. Keep up the super work! Thank you for sharing. One SBC’r to another…you’re an inspiration to small business owners post telecom.- Phil

[@Afurthyclays]

That bridge/saddle DOES sound great! ❤️ I'll have to look for one of those.

[@mfc4591]

Basically Jerry shows you the best way because its tried and proven. If you want to do it your way, that's your perogative! Thanks for another informative and great video.

[@garymoon2829]

Superb presentation! Clear and concise explanations, showing obvious deep experience and love for these instruments. This video answered questions I've had now that I'm just starting to learn to play a mandolin. I am not likely to actually do a set up like this, but now I know what goes into proper maintenance of a stringed instrument. Thank you very much!

[@jeffgrier8488]

Thanks for sharing the tips/tricks, i'm sure that the customer loves the setup!

[@alethacriss9308]

Love the tips! Thank You so much. Aletha and Tom

[@vaccarioou22]

Beautiful job - sounds and plays wonderful - he's lucky to have your support :-)

[@genethemachine7169]

Your method of bridge fitting is how I've been doing my fiddles before I ever knew the "proper" way. Side-to-side is instinctive to me. The other way seemed foreign when I attempted it, so it went out the window! I've also been restringing using your way on my guitars, and wondering why I didn't try it sooner! Thanks, Jerry!

[@mkgarage510]

Nice video, and your right JD is one heck of a nice guy. I have tons of respect for him.

[@PDMan]

Great work Jerry!

[@MinimGuitars]

Happy new Year Jerry! Glad you're feeling better. I have been snapping the strings off for a long time, but instead of making a kink I rock the string back and forth until it snaps flush with the tuning post - works every time! You might think the string would slip straight out but it never has. I recently got some footage of me doing it though it's not edited yet!

[@ronaldgrider7810]

Thanks Jerry your the best

[@acdclexu6296]

i love the look from the laquer of mandolins they always age so beautiful.

[@bobl2995]

Thanks Jerry great video

[@jeffbrooks7246]

Slicker than snot on a door knob. I thought this was a local saying, apparently not.

[@denniscleveland669]

I have an Epiphone, that my daughter bought me and I followed what you do to seat the bridge and it worked great.

[@denniscleveland669]

A nice, quick going over!

[@studderbumps]

Thanks for the information, awesome.

[@kevinwolf3154]

Great video! Ty Jerry ☺️

[@oldcrackadated]

I noticed the South Vietnam flag on the case, I’m a Vietnam Vet, I had the opportunity to play Bill Monroe’s mandolin with him playing my guitar , needless to say my knees were a little shaky because I had that mandolin in my hands

[@RandySchartiger]

my son plays a Kentucky mandolin and IMO they are hard to beat for the money.

[@Banner279]

Jerry put me on to the LS250 strings when he fixed my Kentucky mandolin (he has videos on RSW showing the process). Over the years I tried various other strings but nothing gives my mandolin the "woody" sound like the silk and steel strings do.

[@david25876]

Thx Jerry!

[@stu-j]

I'm terrible for polishing my frets on my guitars and do it at every string change as I can't stand dull frets. I have a guitar with stainless steel frets and they are a bloody game changer and are fabulous! Its amazing how slick and mirror like they are and so comfortable to play. But they are quite harsh on the wound string tho. Can you get mandolin size stainless frets jerry? And would you use them in a build or a re fret?

[@costrio]

I agree with Jerry. When I change my guitar strings, it's a little twangy and it takes a while for the harmonics to settle down, IMO.

[@wwflyfisher]

Thanks so much for this. Do you always set them up with perfectly flat neck?

[@denniscleveland669]

When I put on new strings, I pretty much do the same thing. I put it around and when I put it thru I think putting it thru the windings, because I think that the wraps help grab it by squeezing it. That’s just “my opinion”.

[@robertbolding4182]

congrats on beating covid 19. I too beat it last year, i also think with the night sweats I had last week I had Omicron without really feeling sick

[@guitareveryone]

Hi Jerry. What brand of shop towels are you referring to in this video that you are using to buff off the mandolin?

[@johnmcrae3221]

Another great lesson. How do you know that the bridge is positioned right on the top?

[@Wobbz9413]

When it plays in tune open and at the twelvth fret.

[@EDP1]

hi jerry . i like your video's allot . learning to play the guitar was a dream for me when i was young , but i never got it in my head . my question for you is .what do you think about 100 dollar akoestic guitars ?

[@davidtharp6790]

Hey Jerry, you just can’t believe everything you see on cartoons. No matter how hard you throw it, you can’t get a bathroom plunger to actually stick on someone’s face. (Don’t ask me how I know that.)

[@costrio]

Oh, the humanity! ;)

[@davidmiller605]

Other than old marks on the front of the mandolin, how do you know where to position the bridge? I'm new at playing the mandolin, and I changed the strings and it took several attempts to position the bridge in the correct position. The intonation was sharp. David M

[@stevekelley1179]

How can I buy one of those Rsw bridge

[@davidsims1329]

If I can’t find the LS-250 Silk and steel locally is there any other brands that are close to bring our the woody sound? All prices ox string have gone up!

[@clawhammer704]

Which picks are you using for string height. I saw on another video you used one at the nut too.

[@RosaStringWorks]

At the 1st fret I use a thin guitar pick. Usually those are .018" I make the fit snug on the bass strings and slightly tighter on each pair going toward the treble strings. I use a 1.14mm tortex pick at the 7th to 12th frets to check the action there. Approx .045" thick

[@clawhammer704]

Thanks so much for that information. Actually better than a feeler gauge for no scratches if hit on a finish and always handy. I’m learning new stuff all the time at 63 years young.

[@saoirsepaddy]

What is traditional music ? Bill Monroe took Old Time /Mountain Music and throw in some Rag Time ,Blue & Jazz and throw them all together and called it Blue Grass. Traditional Blue Grass Guitar would be still back up instrument there wouldn't be Doc Watson, Clarence White, Dan Crary, Norman Blake & Tony Rice. David Grisman Dawg Music. Take traditional Irish music instruments Fiddle , Uilleann pipes then people brought in the Penny Whistle, Banjo, Concertinas ,Button Accordions in the 60s Johnny Moynihan and Dónal Lunny, Andy Irvine is one of the pioneers who adapted the Greek bouzouki-with a new tuning-into an Irish instrument. In the 70s the 10 String Irish Cittern was born. Irish bouzouki, guitar, mandolin & cittern are mostly rhythm instruments time to time they might pick the tune. One thing they really don't do embellishments/ ornaments the tune. They might do some hammer on , pill off and some triples that's about all . Traditional Irish Flatpicks don't do ornaments like Long & Short Rolls, Long & Short Cranns double cut rolls is total unheard of. Celtic Finger pickers they use all the Irish ornaments. I have 2 Irish Cittern I figures out a way to do all these Irish ornaments with a flat pick take the long roll all it is is a triples with 2 grace notes pull off & hammer on the grace notes . Its always fun to throw in some Irish ornaments into a Blue Grass Tune . If you're Irish ornaments there a really good book Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle by Grey Larsen. Fiddler on the roof song ''Tradition !!!!! ( What is traditional music ? ))

[@maxeyrwynn7599]

Jerry, 80+ yrs here, mom started me on piano @ 5. She born plains Kansas, moved Okla Territory, could play all string inst as that was her fam entainment. Her bro was given a A Mando, cause he played it, by Gibson in1918 while he was left in France after WW1for several months. G gave Inst to troops. I still have & play it (good A Model). He gave it mom in 1923. I recently was told it (local luthier) that it is an expermental Lloyd Loar (he had looked inside w lighted probe & found initials due its construction ,woods tone & voice) (Gibson gave Guitars & Mando to troops to entertain themselves until could get home. I,over yrs played in groops school, college, military, all over US, Europe & South & Central America. Have been a guest for various BG groups, & Bill M., & Doyle Lawson asked me to fill his as need guest. I for yrs have played an F5 Gibson Master, flower deco fretboard, recent a China 600 Loar F5, Two styles F5 Washburn, sev A Styles, a Blueridge & Custom Martin plus other Guitars, 5 violins, 3, which are 250 to re 300 yrs old. Other hobby is wood, mainly Luthier. Built 1st Guitar @ 15. Self taught cept wood work high school, Retired early, Engr for Big Oil, studied under local Luthier for two yrs (own shop, work constant for Colleges,etc). About best, lived in Wales UK 4 yrs, played venues all over UK, England, Scotland, Wales, & Erie whose people love music. To main pt this tirade: Jerry, U are the best. I have recorded & continually watch all 500 plus yr videos & continue to learn & adapt to yrs techniques. U are wonderful instructor & wonderful 4 putting these out. Unfortunately, I had a reaction to a drug under surgery, had 2 sell my shop, land, move into town. But I still play Mando & Guitar at churches, nurse homes, etc. But still watch UR videos. Thank U so much & keep videos coming. Yr personal style, mannar, exuberant spirit, attitude, & manner U present videos are exemplary. WELL DONE!!! Plan to come by yr shop in spring should health hold out. Will let U know advance. God Bless!!!

[@maxeyrwynn7599]

Forgot comment on strings: I use GHS Silk & Steel most as well, however have stwitched one to Cleartone & love these. Nanocoating on the Cleartone remains and these strings last, another Nanocoated kind lasts me only one session as the coating comes off (as I also play very hard, fast, use fast tremolo). However, some inst like bright bronzes. Guitars, like Martin & Cleartone strings. The very best for tone, volume, sound, volume, etc is Elixir (most expensive), however, the way I play, these last only one session & coating comes off defeating coating purpose & strings thereby fail (other musicians that I know sware by these). A lot depends on the musician and the tone, etc one wants. However, each instrument varies as to kinds of woods, age of the woods, etc.is unique. Even exact duplicate instrument woods are different, different hardness, porosity, grains, not to mention finishes (& thickness) affect sound. Final results depends on player wants but one SHOULD start with the better strings mentioned. BTW: love yr antler saddles, nut, etc. Wonderful addition to voice of the instrument, greatly enhanced voice of my Gibson Master F5. Have made some of my own using whitetail, mule & elk. Tnx 4 that too. I have also used bone & extinct mammoth tusks (from frozen tundra, Alaska) (same result). BTW: lived over US but retired in East Texas. Anyway, thank for all U have helped me & always, God Bless!!!

[@dangeoopatrick2593]

What model Kentucky mandolin is this one, it’s looking nice.

[@aaronjean9055]

Hey Jerry where do you get your fret files? Was curious about the first on you used to level them all. Do the re-crowning files come in different sizes?

[@stu-j]

He makes them from normal files glued to a piece of wood as a handle. Its easy to do and I use 8" flat file and whatever wood i can find as a handle. Jerry has shown this numerous times.

[@aaronjean9055]

@@stu-j Thanks

[@mikecurtin9831]

Thumbs up to crush a troll.

[@doomsday_TV]

My mandolin doesn't have enough that I can tighten up to string play get closer to the fretboard on the 12th fret

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

A link to the shop towels please. ☺

[@randyo573]

I used linseed oil on one of my guitars and at some point, it needed a repair and the luthier told me to NEVER use linseed oil on an instrument. What are your thoughts?

[@chugwaterjack4458]

At 33:30 - 33:40 do I see a crack in the head from the first A winder?

[@chugwaterjack4458]

Never mind. It appears to be reflection of the winder shaft.

[@doomsday_TV]

I need a good cheap mandolin that has good quality what do you recommend

[@kennethevans138]

Trying to understand but an antler saddle to brighten the mandolin and silk and steel strings to tone it down??? I must be missing something.

[@phillwilkes7764]

S - - t on a doorway ? Nice thing to say.