A Conversation for Positioning the Bridge on a Mandolin
tips on tuning an F5 style mando
LilPenguino Started conversation May 18, 2009
How nice to see the mandolin mentioned on the BBC homepage, thanks 
I find that stringing the mando with just the top and bottom strings and then only tuning up to F on the bottom (G) string and D on the top (E) (assuming GDAE tuning) leaves you enough string slackness to check the intonation and move the bridge without having to wind the strings down and back up each time. Once the harmonic's perfect you can add the middle two strings and tune up normally.
This works on a bluegrass/F5-style though, so can't comment if this works on others - I suppose the F5 would have a stronger soundboard and bridge (?), and is therefore sturdier.
Another related tip - a capo plays a useful third hand to hold your strings in position near the nut when stringing up...
Key: Complain about this post
tips on tuning an F5 style mando
More Conversations for Positioning the Bridge on a Mandolin
Write an Entry
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."