How to Make a CHEAP Mandolin Play Better

Some quick set up tips for cheaper mandolins!
Website: www.mills-guitars.com
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-- Things I Use --
IInsize Taper Gauge - amzn.to/3rJSVHt
iGaging Calipers - amzn.to/3L7WLBU
Table Top Tuner - amzn.to/3Ovt0wY
Nut Slot Files - amzn.to/388F3jc
0.017in 0.45mm Picks For Measuring Nut Height - amzn.to/3yrFL62
Fret Crowning File - amzn.to/39xnslC
Fret Leveling File - amzn.to/37m5BNO
Fret End Dressing File - amzn.to/3Fm36b1
Micro Mesh Polishing Pads - amzn.to/3MnQgLs
CA Glue Activator - amzn.to/3OtUKSz
CA Glue - amzn.to/38corHt
Canopy Glue - amzn.to/3EEo04U
TiteBond Wood Glue - amzn.to/3v4t5jK
Wood Filler - amzn.to/3v653Vz
Glue Bottle - amzn.to/3jZxDBp
Renaissance Wax - amzn.to/3K5mObB
Lacquer - amzn.to/3wbx7pz
Carbon Paper - amzn.to/37Jypjv
Blue Shop Towel - amzn.to/3vvr4Mm
Acoustic Strings - amzn.to/3rJ5AdU
Camera - amzn.to/3K6DC2a
-- Chapters --
00:00 Intro
01:29 Disassembly and Inspection
05:41 Fret Touch-Ups
15:53 Improving the Saddle
20:32 Setup String Height
25:57 Setup Intonation
29:00 Demo and Outro

[@gillamb8669]

I’m sure Jerry is proud of his apprentice. Great work 👍🤘

[@ClarenceCochran-ne7du]

I performed regularly with that same $50 Rogue Mandolin as a member of a Irish-Scottish Trad Music Band weekly for 16 years. You don't take a 1912 Gibson model A mandolin into rowdy pubs and bars, unless you want to destroy it. So I played our Pub/Bar gigs with budget instruments. With a proper set up, the Rogue A did just fine. I did install a Fishman Bridge, because at that type of gig, we played plugged directly into the PA (it's far too noisy to mic the instruments) through LR Baggs preamps to avoid the tinny raw piezo sound. Even put Fishman Violin bridges on the fiddles. A good place to get fairly decent Luther tools like your rocker gauge and fret files is a Cigar Box Instrument Parts supplier like C.B.Gitty. Not top shelf tools, but definitely better than Hardware Store tools. They carry inexpensive tuners as well, even for mandolin. I worked in a music store in High School over 40 years ago, that had an in shop Instrument Repairman. Learned a lot from him about proper set ups. Even higher end instruments often need some tweaks to their set ups. Great video and explanations. I'm sure many will find it helpful.

[@jeremywolstenholme9277]

I had to take a knife to the bridge of my first mandolin. I thought all mandolins had unplayable actions. Any set up advice is valuable, thanks Caleb, keep them coming.

[@oldmeanroy]

Most Excellent! Bought a "cheap" Russian made mandolin and had to do everything to make it okay, including fret replacement and bridge. Really appreciate finding out how to set intonation!

[@wadehampton1534]

Great video, Caleb, those are excellent tips for setting up an inexpensive mandolin. I lucked out, and inherited my grandfather's KM 1000 Kentucky mandolin, that was made in Japan in the early 1970's. While it's not the best mandolin in the world, it is to me. I have one of Jerry Rosa's deer antler saddles on it, and it's nice and punchy as well as having increased sustain and clarity on single notes. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us, Caleb, and have fun with your Rouge mandolin!

[@murphmurph2124]

Grandad's Mandolin? You have the best Mandolin in the world!

[@alinchitown7556]

I watched work with Jerry, and you learned well under his tutelage. Nice to see the younger generation of future luthiers, I have feeling your going to be a real good one. Carry on Caleb Jerry must be like a proud papa. 😊

[@ScottDMoore]

Outstanding video. Exactly what I was looking for and just what I needed to hear. I hope you do well sir.

[@evelin5255]

Thank you so much for this easy to follow tutorial!!

[@GRBAquatics]

Very Cool Seeing The Process, Thankyou. About to get my First Mandolin and it will a "Budget" one so your Tips are very useful and Informative. Thanks

[@anniestacie]

The info in this video is priceless, thank you for your generosity.

[@zapa1pnt]

Great idea of labeling the sanding pads. I will do that immediately. 🤩😍😁

[@Daniel_cheems]

Haha nice set-up Caleb! I love the song at the end.

[@garyclements2491]

Excellent tutorial Caleb for someone starting out to learn how to set up the mandolin so they can learn how to play.

[@kerrypatton4975]

Yup… I started out on one of those Rogue mandolins. I loved mine. Recorded with it! I actually bought a case for it… the case cost more than the instrument did. LOL! Later, I upgraded to an Alvarez A-1 mandolin which I love, but my heart misses the Rogue, which I sold to a young friend for the price of the case. I would bet that little Rogue is still in service today! Great video Caleb! Keep them coming!

[@murphmurph2124]

I hear ya!😊

[@MrJDNJ]

I found one of those rouge rm-101a's for $10 at goodwill. It didn't have tuners or a bridge, so I went through the bridge feet sanding process. I spent $12 on tuners and they hold surprisingly well! It's not the loudest instrument, but it does have good consistency across the strings! I put a strap button at the heel of the neck - adding a strap will improve your approach to playing, and let you focus on playing without having to hold the instrument....

[@mikemarak2613]

Same thing with a ukulele, it tends to go a wandering!

[@kevbob]

It is serendipity that led your video to me yesterday, I didn't even search it out. I recently upgraded to an intermediate Kentucky KM-272 and took my Ibanez M510-DVS to a music shop to discuss dealing with the fret sprout and generally bad setup on it when I bought it a couple years ago but never got fixed. I've dealt with guitar fret sprout but on fingerboards without any binding, so I was a bit apprehensive on this one. I decided the cost of getting the work done was less than what it cost me to buy it and decided it wasn't worth it, and maybe I would just drop it off at Goodwill or something. So your video was served to me, and I've watched it a few times, and realize, I can do all this stuff myself. I'm gonna keep it. Thanks!

[@jsenear]

Caleb. Did not know you had your own channel. I can see Jerry taught you well and that is a good thing. I hope your channel prospers and I just subscribed.

[@kimnaef9339]

Thanks, Caleb. Great detail and value.

[@iiXalexXii]

Thanks for this! It helped a lot 🤘

[@bobl2995]

Well done Caleb good job

[@OutBoardTink62]

I got one of those Rogue sunburst mandolins now for about 5 years still plays great did nothing to it. Im waiting for the top to partially collapse in by the F hole thats the common problems with alot of these cheap $50 mandolins. Other then that they are great to learn on and more. You can put a 1/4 inch dowel inside when they do collapse to bring it back to a flat surface. Good Video!

[@Turtlehands]

The sandpaper method works well for removing sharp edges from the frets.. it takes like 5 minutes and you won't have any more sharp edges..

[@JerryDechant]

I had a mandolin once upon a time, but I never really learned to play it. I was in the Navy at the time, over seas, and when we left there, I left the mandolin as well.

[@samsonschmitt81]

Wow. I barely comment but thank you so much for the intonation tips! I have the exact same mandolin and it plays and sounds like a new instrument after intonating it.

[@ZyikoXD]

Thank you!

[@davidharris7431]

G'day lad , still watching from Australia 🇦🇺.

[@cowboy7x]

Stellar video bro!

[@paullay5826]

Good video Caleb injoyed.

[@greggcoppolo8430]

Thanks, really nice and very informative video, again thanks!

[@marshallhoward9497]

Excellent young man.

[@lilabahadursingh4900]

thanks for demonstration

[@kevintaylor5079]

Nice video . I got my Rogue to play great . Adjust the bridge height. Weave a leather lace through the strings between the bridge and tailpiece. My bridge needed no sanding ,it sat on the top correctly. Change strings .I was lucky mine shipped in fine condition . Lucky because I’ve seen video of horribly finished Rogues. For the money it was a great starter mandolin .I have tried 400 dollar mandolins that didn’t play as well . Difficult to get good playing ones without paying big money .That is the problem with mandolins.

[@michaelpthompson]

I have that exact mandolin! My luthier marveled that you could even buy the materials for what I paid for the instrument.

[@banjomark9900]

Good video Caleb, thank you ! I have a second hand KM-500 on which I’m trying to lower the action. The saddle is already bottomed out on the thumb wheels. Do you see anything detrimental on continuing to sand the base to lower the action? Even to the point of full contact across the base?

[@leelossi1257]

great job....sounds nice

[@fdfsdfsvsfgsg4888]

Looks familiar...pretty certain those are sold under the Tanglewood brand here in the UK. That's what I have. Sounds a bit plastic and cheap but not a bad place to start, although I suspect they're a bit more expensive here for whatever reason.

[@nerfnerfification]

at vid Caleb - one query though does the mandolin neck have any relief in it like guitars normally do???

[@georgefrench1907]

Graphite in the nut slots is another quick improvement.

[@Rayxl1]

I've got a cheap stagg mandolin. it plays well but the only problem is the fret board is too flat. The action should get higher from the nut to the octave fret then start getting lower.

[@lylechipperson3407]

I think that bridge is rosewood. I have a rogue that came with rosewood bridge.

[@zapa1pnt]

Definitely, a DIY scale of instrument but, as you show, a few small details can make a lot of difference. 😁😁 If you mess it up, Well, now you can learn to fix it.

[@mohnkern]

Thanks for a great video! I recently picked up a Montana Mandolin ($125 is what I ended up paying) and I've noticed two issues; 1) When I finger the first or second frets on the E string it "plunks" when I strum it instead of "ringing." and 2) when I finger some frets on the G string and strum I get a buzz out of the g string. I took a close look at the finger board, and I found on the E string, on the first two frets, the fret is completely flat against the board (or almost flat) and on the g string, there's definitely some rocking issues. Is it possible to replace frets? Or am I looking at a complete fret board replacement? (for the E string issue. I'm not going to bother sanding down the g string issue if I am going to end up replacing the whole fret board.

[@-davidolivares]

Got two mandy’s, oh Mandy… sorry got distracted, I appreciate the tutorial on these tiny creatures. Just subbed, looking forward to more help. Carry on my wayward son… there’ll be peace when you are done.

[@MrBtcruiser]

I have one of those as well. Unfortunately I left it for a year fully tuned and in its 'cheap' case, and when I opened the case last month the neck was cracked right at the body (heel). It could be repaired, but it is not worth it as you could buy another one for a lot less than the repair...

[@zapa1pnt]

Try fixing it yourself. What have you got to lose?

[@tbdog99]

Dumb question from a beginner with a cheap mandolin...would it make sense to really grind down the frets from the 12th to the bridge, to guarantee no buzzing or string contact at the high registers? No way will I be ever playing up there, so why not? Maybe even take the frets out?

[@larry573]

thanks fella...

[@shreepadgandhi6739]

The string height in my mandolin is large....how to set it right by truss rod adjustment?

[@mcoram3486]

Have you participated in the mandolin toss at Galax?

[@jameslester3861]

Bought an F style Rogue mandolin about ten years ago to try to learn on. What a piece of junk, the tuners are so hard to turn even after oiling. Very easy to break strings trying to tune up. The case that came with it is worth more than the mandolin. The thing is so small, I think it is really made for a child. I don't think there is any way Ricky Scaggs or Marty Stuart could play this thing.

[@margueritemitchell1829]

Hello from British Columbia Canada 🇨🇦👋👍♥️🌲🌲🧘‍♀️🌲🌲🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@zapa1pnt]

Steel wool can also leave bits in your bench carpet/pad and scratch the back of your instruments, even worse, the back of a clients instrument.😱😱

[@Rick_Cleland]

[@shartne]

I know what your saying set up your cheap guitar or mandalin yourself because it dont make since to pay someone else to do it for you. I got tons of cheap guitars I work on my self.

[@mfc4591]

For a cheap instrument, that mandolin looks good. Enjoy

[@zapa1pnt]

Caleb, you really need to oil that chair. It's making some embarrassing sounds. 😏😏🙄

[@migalito1955]

Your playing was pretty darn decent....

[@davestambaugh7282]

You can never make a mandolin easy to play. The average string tension for medium gage strings is twenty five pounds. You can put light gage strings with an average tension of twenty pounds and it is still really hard to play. Now I am talking about having the best set up that you ever put on it. I am playing eight string ukuleles with low G and a charango high E string. With ten pounds per string tension this is not just easier to play but fun for a change. I suffered through a love/hate relationship with the mandolin for over forty years and I certainly know what I am talking about.

[@markiliff]

4 mins in and you've just said the same thing over and over