Tech Tip- How to Adjust Mandolin Action Height

[@jeremiahalexander5513]

I bought my mandolin (same make and model in the video) a week ago and was having a tough time holding down the strings when practicing chords. My mandolin was sounding sharp even though it was in tune and the strings were super high off the neck. I made these adjustments and now it plays beautifully. Thank you for this video!

[@willcooper7345]

Jake set up MY Mandolin - as he (or someone on staff) professionally sets up all Mandolins purchased from the Banjo Ben General Store. These videos are also wonderful so we can know and "feel" our instruments in its' intended design. Being a newer player and having great respect for the setup... it allows me to feel that I can knowledgeably understand more about Mandolins. THANKS JAKE! PLEASE keep the instruction coming! Cheers on a job well done!

[@javierissac2792]

sorry to be so off topic but does someone know of a way to log back into an Instagram account?? I somehow forgot the account password. I appreciate any help you can offer me!

[@jaxonimmanuel6499]

@Javier Issac instablaster ;)

[@javierissac2792]

@Jaxon Immanuel thanks so much for your reply. I found the site on google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now. I see it takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@javierissac2792]

@Jaxon Immanuel it worked and I actually got access to my account again. I am so happy! Thank you so much, you really help me out !

[@jaxonimmanuel6499]

@Javier Issac Happy to help :)

[@wiscgaloot]

I bought a cheapo Johnson mando to practice on a business trip to Korea. I should have set the height back home when I had access to tools! With the strings tightened I can't turn the wheel for the lower tone strings, and when I loosen the strings the bridge simply doesn't drop, the nut just screws down away from the bridge. I even tried lowering it a few mm below the bridge, then tightening the G and D strings to pitch, and it doesn't drop. I guess that's what I get for buying a crappy used mandolin! Edit: Fixed it! I loosened the strings all the way and loosened both nuts and then I was able to rock the bridge down and lower it to the nuts. Thanks, Ben!

[@richardmills2134]

many thanks for your clear concise explanation.

[@ptalbany]

I had to learn this the hard way trial & error but you have gave tips in the past I've never seen or heard so I'm always excited to hear from you as it'll confirm I'm doing it right or it'll teach me the proper way to do something. Thank you so much for your time and info you provide

[@flamindigo]

Nice review. I just got a new (to me) instrument. It had a buzz that made my teeth hurt. When I did the lowering, the buzz went away. Thanks Ben.

[@DownhillingGuitarist]

Loosen the strings!!!Regardless of raising or lowering, always adjust the thumb wheels with your fingers. If you have to use pliers, you have other issues. Double check intonation by measuring from back of 12th fret. Gradually bring strings back to pitch. Gradually - otherwise strings break. You may want to order some E string singles and keep them handy. Never force anything

[@iamwisecrowtarot8373]

Thank you for this tip. I was finding it so hard to press my fingers on the cords. I will definitely adjust that

[@jonathankelly363]

“You can fly a plane under those strings” honestly cracked me up

[@hammill444]

Wouldn’t you adjust the truss Rod first, before messing with the bridge height?

[@chrisbaker528]

Good information. Thanks. How high should the strings be from the fret bar at around the 18th. fret. My strings are hard to push down after the 7th. fret. Thanks.

[@gfan9999]

For some reason I was under the impression that lowering the bridge would mess with intonation and you'd have to move it forward or back to compensate -- if that's not the case that makes me way more likely to experiment a bit more to get an ideal action height.

[@wayneluchau3785]

At 3:35 you stated, move the wheels clockwise to lower the bridge. On my Weber the wheels go counter clockwise to lower the bridge.

[@Harplayer270]

You have the bridge backwards

[@vza423]

Thank you.

[@tammydingler6637]

I bought a new Fender Acoustic/Electric mandolin. I have the bridge the correct position, yet I have had to raise the action as high as it will go and I still get buzzing on the G and D strings from the 6th fret up. What can I do?

[@shreepadgandhi6739]

Does the truss rod ever bend in normal course say two years after buying? And if yes, can that be made good? And How? I have one bought in 2020 Harley Benton F-cut...Need to work on that now because the gap between fretboard and strings is bigger...it strains my fingers while playing...but am going to try the above first. Thanks in advance from Pune, INDIA

[@davidsmith1976]

Hey I have a lone star mandolin the action is to high no adjustment i,m told it's a round mandolin. Solid nut and bridge

[@rick00770]

I got the loar lm310 I think it is. Beautiful piece but chorded hard . I lowered bridge it helped but still doesn't play much easier, maybe new strings ? Or move bridge up a little.neck looks straight. Got any suggestions? Thanks. Subscribed.

[@americanpatriot2979]

Thank you!

[@hadleymanmusic]

I just recieved a vangau( looks like an ibanez) its skyhigh action at the last fret and the bridge is all the way down. Im about to take it off and lap it down at least 3 to 4 string thickness.

[@janseendiguiseppiThomasMC]

I found I can convert a right handed mandolin by using a Dremel on the saddle and creating a new notch for the strings to set in. I did this and off set the bridge/saddle and now have perfect intonation strung left handed without spending a dime. Us lefties have to get creative sometimes lol

[@btpearce]

Good info :-) Thanks Jake :-)

[@reckonimokie123]

Excellent. Where is your store located?

[@BanjoBen]

We live all day long at store.banjobenclark.com/ and in person in Exeter, MO!

[@thommoore2682]

question: I see some saddles are completely flush all the way across the top surface and other designs where there is an arch in the center of the saddle where there are basically two "feet" ...is there a preference? your video here has such a saddle

[@TekoHarris]

Should it be even mine came with one higher than the other so Im not sure if its supposed to be like that or even. Its my first one. I have a luna

[@whovisionsCGI]

I have a cheap mandolin. What's the best height for strings at the 12th fret Jake? I had to sand the bottom of the top half of my bridge as it wouldn't go low enough.

[@BanjoBen]

Height depends on what the neck relief looks like and how the nut is set. It's tougher to get right on a cheap mandolin.

[@rainblaze.]

can you yell me if there is a difference between the treble and bass sides of the saddle when replaceing the bridge and if so how do you tell thank you

[@mandolinic]

No one has answered so I will. If you look at a typical mando bridge, the points where the strings cross the bridge form a zigzag pattern. This is to compensate for the different thicknesses of the strings (hence it's called a "compensated" bridge). The two G strings are set closer to the tail piece and the two E strings are set closer to the fretboard. Usually, the G strings require a lot more compensation than the E strings, so you should use whichever position will put the G strings closer to the tailpiece (furthest from the fretboard). When intonating, most people set the bridge to get the E and G strings (or sometimes the E and D strings) exactly right, and let the others strings fall as they may. It's rare that you can get all strings exactly intonated unless you've got an electric mando with a fully adjustable bridge.

[@bgp6656]

That looks just like the mandolin I have

[@RSTI191]

"Height" - not heigth.. Don't know why people put the H after the T..

[@dennissmith224]

No indication of what the correct string height is supposed to be , how heigh or were to measure the height . Not helpful !

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

Lower the saddle ' play it up the fretboard' if it doesn't buzz' keep lowering it until it does and then start raising it until the buzz goes away. Play it in the most aggressive manner you would play ' if it buzzes ' raise it until the buzz goes away. The lower without buzzing the better.

[@dennissmith224]

Thank you @@BryanClark-gk6ie

[@bessiebraveheart]

Butchering the ajustment wheels don't do this folks with those type of snips.