Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: strings for a bowl back?

  1. #1
    Registered User josie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Montreal, QC, Canada
    Posts
    26

    Default 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! )
    1917 Bowl back Washburn
    1930s Violin "Compagnon"

  2. #2
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    24,807
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default Re: strings for a bowl back?

    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.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  3. #3
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Outer Spiral Arm, of Galaxy, NW Oregon.
    Posts
    17,103

    Default Re: strings for a bowl back?

    ie GHS strings #A240 is: 2 each .009",.013" wound: .020",.032".
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  4. #4
    Registered User Tavy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Tavistock UK
    Posts
    4,438

    Default Re: strings for a bowl back?

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

  5. #5
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: strings for a bowl back?

    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.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  6. #6

    Smile Re: strings for a bowl back?

    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

  7. #7

    Default Re: strings for a bowl back?

    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.

  8. #8
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: strings for a bowl back?

    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.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  9. #9

    Default Re: strings for a bowl back?

    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

  10. #10
    In training... KristinEliza's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Southeast NC
    Posts
    457

    Default Re: strings for a bowl back?

    +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.
    KristinEliza

    Facebook

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •