jhfiddler - Posted - 07/11/2020:  10:24:17

I bought a cheap 2nd mandolin, a (Rogue), so that if I ever ran across someone who would like to learn to play with me, I would have an extra. I so badly want to learn playing duets with someone else. Like twin fiddles. I am such a poor mandolin/guitar player, playing with someone would help me a lot.

However, when I got the new mandolin home & actually played it, the 1st G string is dead sounding. The other strings are ok. I live in a tiny town 30 miles from any city of any size. So, how can I check what is wrong and possibly solve this problem by myself.

It is new, but a factory made cheap model - it is an "A" style and has rough fret edges, which I can live with or file smooth maybe. It did not come with a tail piece cover. Which I assume, some use & some don't.

I have an "F" style Gibson (Epiphone) & love playing it, but this cheap newer one is fun to play also.

Any simple suggestions on what area (bridge, nut or string) might be the culprit? Thank you for any help anyone can suggest.

TSSN - Posted - 07/13/2020:  05:15:49

Hi there. When you say dead, do you mean there is no sound or is there a buzz?

Yooper - Posted - 07/13/2020:  07:20:33

If it's buzzing, it is probably touching a fret. In that case, raise strings slightly, either by adjusting the bridge (loosen strings first) or getting a new nut. The only other possibility is that the slots in the bridge or nut are not right. A very small file made for this purpose (from Steward-McDonald?) should be able to reshape the string slots. Don't know what else it could be. Maybe just a new set of strings is all that is needed.

jhfiddler - Posted - 07/15/2020:  10:14:53

quote:

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Originally posted by jhfiddler

I bought a cheap 2nd mandolin, a (Rogue), so that if I ever ran across someone who would like to learn to play with me, I would have an extra. I so badly want to learn playing duets with someone else. Like twin fiddles. I am such a poor mandolin/guitar player, playing with someone would help me a lot.



However, when I got the new mandolin home & actually played it, the 1st G string is dead sounding. The other strings are ok. I live in a tiny town 30 miles from any city of any size. So, how can I check what is wrong and possibly solve this problem by myself.



It is new, but a factory made cheap model - it is an "A" style and has rough fret edges, which I can live with or file smooth maybe. It did not come with a tail piece cover. Which I assume, some use & some don't.



I have an "F" style Gibson (Epiphone) & love playing it, but this cheap newer one is fun to play also.



Any simple suggestions on what area (bridge, nut or string) might be the culprit? Thank you for any help anyone can suggest.

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It is dead sounding, even when fretted it is dead sounding, no volume or pitch there.  Not a buzz.

jhfiddler - Posted - 07/15/2020:  10:30:35

quote:

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Originally posted by TSSN

Hi there. When you say dead, do you mean there is no sound or is there a buzz?

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Thank you TSSN and Yooper for advice.  I did dig in my stash of strings which I've had for about 15 years.  Will try changing that string.  I live out in nowhere, USA, tiny town & don't get to bigger city 30 miles away very often, so will just try what I have on hand. like a slim fingernail file.

TSSN - Posted - 07/15/2020:  14:23:11

It could also be that you have a bad tuner.