Mandolin Setup – 5 easy steps to set the Mandolin Bridge

Mandolin setup is all about positioning the bridge in the proper place to achieve intonation, i.e. the mandolin to sound “in tune” when you play higher on the fretboard, up to the 12th fret or even higher.

• This is  especially important in mandolins where bridges are “free-floating” and therefore have a tendency to move.
• For best results, you must place the mandolin bridge in the correct spot, which is unique for every instrument.
• See steps below for mandolin setup and how to check the intonation.

For this discussion, intonation means that the instrument should produce a correct octave higher pitch at the 12th fret. If the bridge is in the wrong place, the intonation will be wrong and the instrument will probably sound somewhat ”out of tune” as you play various chords.  especially as you play chords at the middle or higher positions up the neck.

5 easy Mandolin Setup steps – Introduction

The bridge can generally move along the mandolin towards the neck or to the tail, sliding over the soundboard if the strings are in place. Of course, if the strings are removed, the bridge will drop, since mandolins are built using free floating bridges for better sound transmission.

Before proceeding to the next steps, I suggest that you place your mandolin at a convenient and safe place. A good spot is usually a tall table, empty of objects, covered with a soft cloth.

Let’s start!

 Initial Bridge Setup

We only need these two steps if the bridge has been removed, e.g. if all strings have been removed, for changing and simultaneous maintenance and / or cleaning of the instrument.

1. Place the strings but without fully winding them – so that in the next step the bridge can be placed without falling or scratching the soundboard.
2. Place the bridge in about as follows:
   1. If the manufacturer has put marks -> between the marks OR
   2. If there is a mark the bridge has left on the soundboard from use -> to cover the mark OR
   3. Measuring with a ruler or tape, according to the scale of the instrument, e.g. usually 33 cm from the nut OR
   4. if there are f-holes, set bridge between notches at f-holes OR
   5. ONE INCH from the edge of the sound-hole

Continue with the 3 steps below

Minor Adjustments of the Mandolin bridge

The following steps are the minor adjustments we make either as a follow-up of the two previous steps or independently in case the instrument has lost its “intonation” from use.

The process requires just 4 strings to be checked: the 2 G strings (the thickest strings or SOL strings) and the 2 E strings (the finest strings or MI strings). The other 4 strings (A and D or LA and PE) do not need to be checked, since if the external strings are correct, then the internal strings are automatically corrected.

Here are the steps:

1. Tune all strings, preferably with a precision digital tuner.
2. Hit the (one) string first open (zero fret) and then on the 12th fret and see if the note is correct in both cases (e.g. the tuner shows a green indication)
   1. If it is correct you finished with this string => go to the next (GO BACK TO 2) OR THIS IS THE END if you did all 4 strings
3. If the note is not correct in both cases
   1. If the open string is not correct => the string is now out of tune (GO TO 1)
   2. If the open string is correct, but at 12th fret is low => slide the bridge towards the neck and repeat the process for all 4 strings (GO TO 1).
   3. If the open string is correct, but at 12th fret is high => slide the bridge to the tail and repeat the process for all four strings (GO TO 1)

Notes

• The photo above shows a violin-like bridge used by Richard Morgan instruments, not common in mandolins.
• Other models may have a compensated bridge that includes gears that can lift or lower the bridge. You can adjust height to improve fret clarity at 12th fret, 13th, 14th, etc.,  and above. Note that most musicians like lower action and usually do not want to raise the strings higher. The mandolin in the photo above does not have a compensated bridge.
• There maybe other reasons for intonation to fail. Please check a related article Why some mandolin will not stay in tune.