Official Luthiers Forum!

I am putting together an old (1918 I think) Gibson A style mandolin that came to me in pieces. I'd like to get the neck angle as it should be... is there a standard string height above the top I should shoot for? Does 3/4" clearance over the top and 1/16th" action at the 12th fret sound about right?

Well gee Ringo,

ya really won't know if she "sounds about right" till you got her strung up.

Me suggest you go here....
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?46986-General-String-Height-Action-Set-up-Style-Survey

However 1/16 at the 12th in mandos works well...for some pickers.

Now regarding bridge height....dude are you joking....
you need to order ?admas "one size fits all mando bridge"...$20, in an envelop C/o dis here web site, and me will send one right out to you.


blessings

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Not joking... I don't have a lot of experience assembling old mandos and I assume bridge height/break angle are pretty important for tone and/or durability. I also assume folks wanting an old Gibson are somewhat picky (pun intended) so if there's a standard for an old A-style I'd like to know...

When strung up at full string tension 3/4" over the top at the bridge is about right. I mention string tension as there is some deflection of the top and the neck under string tension. This will have a slight lowering effect that you should plan for. It only has a slight effect, but going under 3/4" string height may be too low for most bridges. The neck angle should be about 5 1/2 degrees.

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A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
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Great, thanks!