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 Post subject: Re: My first mando
PostPosted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:44 pm 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:34 pm
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City: winnipeg
State: manitoba
Country: canada
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Status: Amateur
Dumb Question
Is there a truss-rod in that neck and if so where did you find it.

I am just planning a project.

Bob :ugeek:


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 Post subject: Re: My first mando
PostPosted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 2:45 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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I am very far from an expert here. I made one mandolin for the challenge last year. I just made a Gibson style one way truss rod for it with mostly hardware store steel and a tap and dye. The only specialized part was a Gibson style brass truss rod nut from stew-mac. I installed it in a curved channel just like you would for a guitar. I leveled the frets during set up and have not had to make an adjustment to the truss rod, but it is there if I need it.

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 Post subject: Re: My first mando
PostPosted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 7:14 pm 
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Koa
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Country: canada
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Thanks for the help.
My best guess is that I will need a 10 1/2" truss-rod and the only one in the catalogue is 8 1/2". I would prefer a double-acting if I had a choice but I still don't really understand how to use them. The mechanics I understand but ukuleles don't need them with forty pounds of string force.

Bob :ugeek:


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 Post subject: Re: My first mando
PostPosted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 7:42 pm 
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Koa
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Location: Ellicott City, Md - USA
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I did not put in a truss rod. I use 2 carbon rods as recommended in the McDonald book.

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 Post subject: Re: My first mando
PostPosted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:29 pm 
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First name: Doug
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Siminoff sells mandolin truss rods: http://parts.siminoff.net/search.aspx?find=Truss+rod

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 Post subject: Re: My first mando
PostPosted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 12:17 pm 
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Koa
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Country: canada
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Doug:
Thanks for the lead. I will probably build my own with the nut from Stewmac and a rod from the hardware store and a torch. That way I can build one that fits my build. The picture was a great help.

Bob :ugeek:


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 Post subject: Re: My first mando
PostPosted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 5:04 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Bob, mine was not unlike the one pictured on the Siminoff site. I wanted to adjust at the heel rather than the nut end. So rather than have a bend in the end and worry about where to anchor it, I made a half round anchor. I drilled and tapped it then threaded the end on and peened it over. This allowed me to anchor it in a slot in the volute area.

There are some pictures here that might help. . . or not. . .

viewtopic.php?f=10133&t=37268&start=50

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 Post subject: Re: My first mando
PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 11:45 am 
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Koa
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Bryan:
You refer to a "curved channel". Is the channel itself curved downward toward the heel or are you referring to bend in the truss-rod?
I have only installed Allied double-acting truss-rods.

Bob :ugeek:


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 Post subject: Re: My first mando
PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 4:42 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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The bottom of the channel is not straight but is very slightly deeper in the middle of the neck. The spline glued in over the rod is curved as well such that the rod is slightly bowed in the center of the neck length. The rod is anchored in the nut end and the nut pushes against the heel. When the nut is tightened shortening the rod, it not only puts the bottom half of the neck wood in compression it pushes up against the spline and fretboard in the center. To be honest, I didn't really have any idea how much bend was appropriate for such a small neck. I was winging most aspects of the project since I knew very little about mandolins. I "pre-loaded" the rod before I trued up the top surface and attached the fret board. In theory, that should allow me a little reverse adjustment by loosening the rod. That said, I have never had to make any adjustment to the rod. String tension provided me with a tiny bit of relief and everything is hunky-dory.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

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 Post subject: Re: My first mando
PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 8:00 pm 
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Koa
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Location: Ellicott City, Md - USA
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I think with such a short neck on a mando, an adjustable truss rod is overkill, given the neck wood is stable. Necks are usually maple.

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 Post subject: Re: My first mando
PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 5:06 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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John A wrote:
I think with such a short neck on a mando, an adjustable truss rod is overkill, given the neck wood is stable. Necks are usually maple.


I don't doubt that. As I said, I had no mando experience. I happened to notice Stew Mac selling matreials to make this style rod for mandolin. I had made this type of rod in guitar size before, so I figured I might as well. . . In fact it was made from an off-cut of the bar that was too short to use for anything else. I would be surprised if I ever turn the nut.

edit: typos

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.


Last edited by Bryan Bear on Sat Jun 22, 2013 1:08 am, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: My first mando
PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 5:34 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:50 am
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Location: Ellicott City, Md - USA
First name: John
Last Name: A
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
My experience is not vast either - but I did learn from the McDonald book as well as the Sminoff

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 Post subject: Re: My first mando
PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 8:59 am 
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Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:52 am
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First name: Big
Last Name: Jim
State: Deep in the heart of Bluegrass
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Thus far all ive done is Carbon Fibre , no truss rod . I do however make my necks slightly larger .. 1/8" than a standard f ... I would say the main reason for truss rods was that carbon fibre wasnt around . Just a guess . idunno

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