How to Setup a Mandolin Bridge How to Setup a Mandolin Bridge

Preparation Step 4 Preparation Step 4 Lay your mandolin on a smooth, fl at Once the open G and the fretted G Lay your mandolin on a smooth, fl at Once the open G and the fretted G surface so it is safe and secure. are in tune, repeat the same step with surface so it is safe and secure. are in tune, repeat the same step with the high E string. Adjust the bridge the high E string. Adjust the bridge Step 1 accordingly. Step 1 accordingly. Study the string slots on the bridge, Study the string slots on the bridge, and be aware that the thicker strings Step 5 and be aware that the thicker strings Step 5 will go into the wider slots. Gener- Once the G and the E are intonated, will go into the wider slots. Gener- Once the G and the E are intonated, ously loosen the strings so that the tune up the rest of the strings to pitch ously loosen the strings so that the tune up the rest of the strings to pitch bridge can sit upright underneath the and you’re ready to play! Adjust the bridge can sit upright underneath the and you’re ready to play! Adjust the strings without any string tension. thumbscrews on the bridge to your strings without any string tension. thumbscrews on the bridge to your Lift the loosened strings and care- preferred string action. Lift the loosened strings and care- preferred string action. fully place the bridge underneath the fully place the bridge underneath the strings. strings.

Step 2 D A Step 2 D A D A D A Center the bridge between the notch- G E Center the bridge between the notch- G E es of each F-hole. If the mandolin G E es of each F-hole. If the mandolin G E has an oval shaped soundhole, place has an oval shaped soundhole, place the bridge behind the soundhole, the bridge behind the soundhole, mandolin tuning mandolin tuning centered to the body. The mandolin is most commonly centered to the body. The mandolin is most commonly tuned in perfect fi fths with ‘G’ as the tuned in perfect fi fths with ‘G’ as the Step 3 lowest note and ‘E’as the highest. Step 3 lowest note and ‘E’as the highest. Tune up the low G string to pitch, Tune up the low G string to pitch, making sure it is resting in the ap- making sure it is resting in the ap- propriate groove in the nut and the propriate groove in the nut and the bridge. Play the G string open and bridge. Play the G string open and fret it at the 12th fret. If the two fret it at the 12th fret. If the two notes are the same then the bridge is notes are the same then the bridge is in the correct position. If the fretted in the correct position. If the fretted note is fl at, move the entire bridge note is fl at, move the entire bridge F-hole F-hole (not just one side) slightly forward. (not just one side) slightly forward. If the note is fl at, move it slightly If the note is fl at, move it slightly back. back.