strings for a bowl back?

Any advice to choose strings for a 1917 bowl back?
(Please note I'm in Canada, don't want to pay 25$ for shipping! :disbelief: )

I use GHS makes ultra lights. They are available most places and are not too expensive.

I would not use anything heavier on an old bowl.

ie GHS strings #A240 is: 2 each .009",.013" wound: .020",.032".

+1 on the GHS, also the Martin bronze strings are good (.010-.034).

I would also suggest GHS A240. If the US dealers are charging too much for shipping to Canada -- juststrings.com is the main source for me -- you might try the Acoustic Guitar Store in Calgary. I don;'t know if they have the A240s but the do carry Newtones. I would go for the medium lights. They are prob a notch above the GHS in quality and tone.

Try GHS Mandolin strings for classical---extra light----bug type. I have used these and these work well. Don't want to string something with high tension on your instrument. I use these for a mando-banjo.
Mary

They are a little more expensive but said to last longer: Thomastik strings are flatwound with wound a-strings. In Germany, they are the standard with bowlback players.They come in 3 different tensions.

My personal favorite for vintage bowlbacks are Dogal Calace RW92b (dolce). Sweet sounding but bright and, for obvious reasons, more Italian in tone. The TIs are the German choice but much more mellower and very different from all the other round wound strings. The German school of classical is closer to classical guitar sound. It is, of course, a matter of taste.

That's right they take out some of the trebles. Here's a recording I did with my Pomeroy oval hole with TI starks https://soundcloud.com/tele1310/menuet-in-g-jsbach

+1 for the GHS ultra lights. I have those on my 1897 DeMeglio.

+1 for the Calace Dogal Dolce. I have those on my Calace.