How do you choose a tiple or bandola? What to check first
A well set-up tiple or bandola takes far less effort to play. We tell you what to check on a new, luthier-made or inherited instrument.
A good beginner tiple or bandola does not have to be a concert instrument, but it does need a proper setup: a straight neck, comfortable string height, level frets, and a bridge firmly attached to the top. With twelve or more metal strings, a poorly adjusted instrument hurts your fingers and can leave you discouraged within weeks.
That is why buying with someone who knows what to look for—a luthier, your teacher, or an experienced Andean string player—matters more than appearance or decoration.
In short
- The tiple provides accompaniment with strumming and chords; the bandola plays the melody with a pick. Choose according to the role you want to play in Andean music.
- String height has the biggest effect on comfort: with so many metal strings, even a couple of extra millimeters make a big difference.
- Check that the bridge is not lifting and that the top is neither bulging behind it nor sinking in front of it.
- A luthier-made instrument can be adjusted to your hand; request a setup before taking it home.
- An inherited tiple may be worth keeping, but a luthier should inspect it first.
Tiple or bandola: how the choice affects your purchase
Both have metal strings arranged in courses—groups of strings that you press and play together as if they were one—and, with the guitar, form the Colombian Andean trio. But they play different roles, which changes what you need to check.
| Aspect | Tiple | Andean bandola |
|---|---|---|
| Role in the music | Accompaniment: strumming, chords, and the rhythms of bambuco and pasillo | Melody: picked notes, ornaments, and tremolos |
| Strings | 12 metal strings in 4 courses of 3 | 12 or more metal strings grouped in courses |
| How it is played | With the fingers: strumming and picking | With a pick |
| What to inspect most carefully | Bridge and top, which carry high tension; string height for chords | Level frets and good intonation in higher positions, where many melodies are played |
| If you already play guitar | Its tuning is related to the guitar’s first four strings | Pick technique will be new, although the fingerboard will feel familiar |
If you do not know which to choose, think about the music that moves you: if you picture yourself keeping the rhythm of a bambuco, choose tiple; if you picture yourself playing the melody of a pasillo, choose bandola. In why learn tiple and bandola, we discuss each in more detail.
String height: what your fingers feel most
String height, or action, is the distance between the string and the frets. On the tiple, each chord presses twelve metal strings at once, so high action makes every chord change hard work. This adjustment makes the biggest difference for a beginner and is the most common problem on instruments that have been hanging in a display for a long time.
- Look at the string over fret 12: if there is a large gap above the fret, the action is high.
- Play a simple chord on the first few frets. If you need a lot of force to make all three strings in each course ring clearly, something is poorly adjusted.
- Check the nut, the piece the strings pass over on their way to the headstock: if its slots are too high, the first frets are hard to play; if the spacing is wrong, strings within the same course rub against each other.
- Ask whether the seller or luthier can adjust the height before handing over the instrument. With a luthier-made instrument, this is almost always possible.
Neck, frets, and bridge
The tension of so many metal strings puts the instrument’s structure to the test. That is why it is worth carefully inspecting each of these parts on tiples and bandolas:
| Part | What to check | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Neck | It should look straight when viewed from the headstock | A pronounced forward bow or twist |
| Frets | They should be level and properly seated | Buzzing strings or fret ends that scrape your hand |
| Instrument bridge | It should be glued down along its entire edge | A sheet of paper slips under the edge of the bridge |
| Soundboard | It should be flat and free of cracks | Bulging behind the bridge or sinking in front of it |
| Tuning machines | The tuners should turn smoothly | Slipping tuners or rusty gears |
| Tuning | Tune the open strings and compare with fret 12 | Large differences, especially on the bandola |
Cracks in the top and sides often appear after sudden climate changes, such as when an instrument moves from hot, humid lowlands to the cold Bogotá plateau. Inspect it with a flashlight, including inside the soundhole, and ask whether any cracks have already been repaired.
The strings matter too
Many tiples and bandolas come with strings that have spent months in a display or are the wrong type. Replacing them with a fresh set is often a teacher’s first recommendation.
- Buy sets made for tiple or bandola. Guitar string gauges are not designed for their tension requirements.
- On the tiple, some courses combine plain and wound strings; when replacing them, make sure each goes in the right position.
- Rusty strings or strings with dark spots sound dull and do not tune well: plan to replace them.
- New strings stretch during the first few days, so frequent tuning is normal. For tiple, follow our guide to how to tune a tiple.
Luthier-made, factory-made, or inherited
In Colombia, many tiples and bandolas come from workshops with a long instrument-making tradition; Chiquinquirá, in Boyacá, is especially known for tiple making. Buying directly from a luthier has advantages: you can try several instruments, ask for string height adjusted to your hand, and return for maintenance.
| Option | Advantages | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Luthier-made instrument | Personalized setup and maintenance by its maker | Ask whether the top is solid or laminated and request a setup before delivery |
| Factory-made or mass-produced instrument | Easy to find and replace | The factory setup is usually basic; plan for an adjustment |
| Inherited or used instrument | May be made of good wood and have family significance | Almost always needs new strings and an inspection of the bridge, frets, and any cracks |
With a family tiple—your grandfather’s, or one stored away for years—do not rush to fit new strings and tune it right away: first take it to a luthier to inspect the bridge and top. It is often worth restoring.
Questions to ask the seller or luthier
- Is the top solid wood or laminated?
- Can you adjust the string height and nut before delivery?
- What strings are fitted, and when were they last changed?
- Does the neck have an adjustable truss rod?
- Will you inspect the instrument if a problem appears in the first few weeks?
Bring your teacher or send them a close-up video of you playing the instrument. If you do not have a teacher yet, you can start tiple lessons or Andean bandola lessons and choose with their advice. Once the instrument is at home, see how to care for a tiple and bandola.
Frequently asked questions
Is tiple or bandola easier to learn?
They present different challenges. Tiple requires left-hand strength for chords and good strumming technique; bandola requires precision with the pick and the left hand. If you already play guitar, the tiple’s tuning will feel familiar.
Can you put guitar strings on a tiple?
It is not recommended. The tiple needs dedicated sets with the gauges and wound strings its courses require; other strings change the tension and may affect the bridge and top.
How do I know whether a tiple is properly set up?
If you can play simple chords without much force, the strings do not buzz, and the instrument stays in tune on the higher frets, it is properly set up. If you are unsure, a luthier can check it in a few minutes.
Which is better to start with, tiple or guitar?
It depends on the music you want to play: guitar is more widely used, while tiple is the voice of Colombian Andean music. We compare them in guitar or tiple.
Sources
We checked the facts in this article against these sources on October 22, 2026.