How are you!!! With this post we have finished the topic on Parts of the Mandolin, I hope you have enjoyed this series of publications where I have made known the various parts that make up a Mandolin. I hope to remain attentive to the following publications where I will continue to share information regarding it!

• Harmonic Cap: It is the main vibrating element. It consists of two wooden plates mirrored symmetries or mirror, coming from the same piece divided its thickness in two, longitudinally and imperceptibly attached; May be of several species of wood: German Spruce Pine, Engelman Pine, Siltka Pine or Red Cedar of Canada. The most used is the German Pine Tree, but any of them can work. They are soft woods and therefore very delicate, describe along their longitudinal structure parallel lines (veins) aligned with the ropes.

• Pua Guard: Around the rosette is placed an ornament of another material usually carey (shell of a species of sea turtle), mother-of-pearl or plastic, whose purpose is to avoid that the pick in the area of ​​greater activity raises the Wood cover.

• Bridge: It is a narrow and elongated piece, its function is to separate the strings from the lid and transmit the vibrations to the soundboard. It consists of two parts: the base, is hardwood such as ebony, palo santo and walnut; "The bone" or Selleta, which can be made of bone (formerly ivory), plastic or bronze, has a few small channels its function is to distribute the strings. It has the height with respect to the fretboard and a distance with respect to the nut called "shot", precise, so that it complies with the tuning. The formula, shot fretboard determines the size of the instrument. There are fixed and adjustable height bridges. In the Mandolin, the bridge is not glued, so adjust it before tuning for the first time or changing the strings.

• Strings: In the past it was common to use and manufacture the gut strings, then because of the impractical and after the advance in the different materials, first the metal and then the plastic, the use of these strings has diminished until Almost disappear, although they are still manufactured since those who like the sonority they produce and also for the strings of old instruments. At present they are made of nylon and steel, for the first and second quality; For the beads, third and fourth, wound with different coatings such as nickel, chrome, silver, etc. To dull a little the strangeness of the metal. Some mandolinists use specially calibrated nylon strings for this instrument.

• Cord: It is a metal piece located at the end of the cap and fastened on the edge of it, from which the strings start, the mandolin bridge is not designed to hold strings, the tension supports it In the string strongly reinforced to the structural base of the instrument, sufficient to resist the tension of the 8 strings.