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Thread: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

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    Question .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    I have been trying different brands (not that many choices) for my 1918 Gibson MandCELLO and ordered a few different labels. I thought it was a misprint or mixup, but I got a set of "Newtone" strings labeled mandocello and .012 - .042. That's more like med-to-heavy mandolin gauge! Has anyone seen or tried these? I am afraid to put them on the Gibson until I know, but even for light gauge this seems extreme. I know Tamastiks are supposed to use lighter strings--them is not those. Appreciate any thoughts, warnings, or scary stories.
    Thanks,
    Doc

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    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    I have their 11-38 set on a Mando. Sounds fine, but I have no idea for the mando cello. Plenty long though.
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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    Waaaaaaaaaaay too light. They won't harm the mandocello at standard pitch, but will probably be too floptastic to produce much in the way of tone.
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    Registered User Reinhardt's Avatar
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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    That sounds more like a bouzouki or Octave Mandolin set of strings to me.

    John

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    Registered User fentonjames's Avatar
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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    guitar and mandocello scales are in the same ball park. high string on both are tuned to e. acoustic guitars use 12's all the time.


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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    Quote Originally Posted by fentonjames View Post
    guitar and mandocello scales are in the same ball park. high string on both are tuned to e. acoustic guitars use 12's all the time.
    Not correct. Standard mandocello tuning is CGDA, same as a violoncello.
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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    Quote Originally Posted by Reinhardt View Post
    That sounds more like a bouzouki or Octave Mandolin set of strings to me.
    Indeed, it would probably work if you wanted the cello in OM tuning.
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    Waaaaaaaaaaay too light. They won't harm the mandocello at standard pitch, but will probably be too floptastic to produce much in the way of tone.
    Pretty much what I thought; I ordered them on a "really??--I got to see this" whim, thinking maybe they would be a super lightweight easy to play fast string. But now I am afrsid to even try them out--or I should say, "on." Thanks!

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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    Quote Originally Posted by fentonjames View Post
    guitar and mandocello scales are in the same ball park. high string on both are tuned to e. acoustic guitars use 12's all the time.
    My concern would be about the LOW pitches--the low C on a mandocello is well below the low E of a guitar. And even more troublesome (why did I even buy these??) is that the LOWest string C (GDA) is very close in gauge to my G (DAE) mandolin, a huge difference in range. No pun, but seems too big a stretch. Which is why I posted this, to see if anyone had actually tried these, before making up my own mind. Thanks!

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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    Indeed, it would probably work if you wanted the cello in OM tuning.
    Maybe, but I am deep into "real" cello literature, Bach suites, and orchestral cello parts in a mandolin orchestra and a string quartet. Never been satisfied when I try an Octave Mando; no offense to OM players, I just like the lower range. I think of the OM as closer to mandola (people in the orchestra play the dola parts on OM's).

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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    Those gauges are the same as recommended for a Collings mandola and far too light. Something funny is going on here - Newtone don't make a set specifically for mandocello. If you check out their website, you'll find that they make standard sets for various instruments but if you want anything out of the ordinary; OM or mandocello, they'll put them together for you with whatever gauges/ends you'd like.

    They're about 20 miles down the road from me and I have them put together sets for my OM which needs non-standard sets of strings with ball ends. If you were to order "strings for a mandocello .012 - .042" that's what they would supply and print on the packet. My guess would be that whoever sold them to you ordered them like that. Send 'em back!

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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    Quote Originally Posted by Ray(T) View Post
    Those gauges are the same as recommended for a Collings mandola and far too light. Something funny is going on here - Newtone don't make a set specifically for mandocello. If you check out their website, you'll find that they make standard sets for various instruments but if you want anything out of the ordinary; OM or mandocello, they'll put them together for you with whatever gauges/ends you'd like.

    They're about 20 miles down the road from me and I have them put together sets for my OM which needs non-standard sets of strings with ball ends. If you were to order "strings for a mandocello .012 - .042" that's what they would supply and print on the packet. My guess would be that whoever sold them to you ordered them like that. Send 'em back!
    That sounds like what might have happened, except when I looked at their website, these were listed as mandocello. As I said in another reply, I ordered them just to see if they were real, or a misprint. They didn't cost much, so not a big deal, but your advice and others' convinced me nt to try them on the MC. Thanks!

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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    ?????? Well. I can't find them on their website - any chance of a link?

    I assume we're talking about the same company started in the UK by Malcolm Newton and recently taken over his right hand man and not something with the same name in the US? The packet has a photo. of 5 assorted mandolins on the front.

  21. #14
    '`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' Jacob's Avatar
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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    Newtone mandocello string sets offered at JustStrings.com.
    .012 - .046 & .013 - .048

  22. #15

    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    Quote Originally Posted by Jacob View Post
    Newtone mandocello string sets offered at JustStrings.com.
    .012 - .046 & .013 - .048
    That is way too light at standard tuning. It would work for OM tuning on a cello as stated.

    Mine is from low to high. .074, .048, .034, .022, .012 (I have a 5 course with a high e).

    A .042 tuned to a low C would be floptastic.

  23. #16
    '`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' Jacob's Avatar
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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    Agree completely. Just wanted to post links to these strange sets.

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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    Unles Doc James can come up with a link direct to Newtone, those appear to be what juststrings think are 'cello strings. As I previously said, tell Newtone what gauges you want and what you're intending to use them for and that's what will be printed on the packet.

    Don't blame Newtone (yet) blame juststrings.

  25. #18

    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    Link to Newtone, scroll down to FOLK

    Two sets are listed light .12 to .46
    medium .13 to .48

    They claim that their manufacturing methods yield strings that require less tensions that mass produced strings.

  26. #19
    '`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' Jacob's Avatar
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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??


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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    Now we're getting there! That isn't the Newtone website and it's out of date as Malcolm Newton retired over a year ago, the company is now run by Neil Silverman from different premises rather than Malcolm's garage.

    This is the "real" Newtone website - https://www.newtonestrings.com - but bear in mind that it's probably one of the slowest sites on the web!

  28. #21
    '`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' Jacob's Avatar
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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    Thanks. There the .012 - .042 set is labelled bouzouki.
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  29. #22

    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    Eastwood's Warren Ellis Baritone tenor with 26" scale uses these guages;

    Strings: 0.62, 0.40, 0.26(w), 0.16(p) tuned CGDA, C below normal low E on guitar.

    Same tuning as a mandocello.

    http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/warre...tone-2p-black/

    I just took delivery of this instrument yesterday. Would not want to go lighter than the .062 on the low C.

    If your scale length is longer you may get away with it.

  30. #23
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    I use an .012", for the A on an H scale (0.4M) mandola. and it's lighter feeling on It.
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    Registered User Martin Jonas's Avatar
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    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    This is the unfortunate consequence of some luthiers and performers in the UK folk scene abusing the name "mandocello" to mean "big-bodied bouzouki". Steve Knightley of Show Of Hands in particular plays "mandocello" in GDAD tuning, and I would think this is what those Newtone strings are intended for. Paul Hathway lists string gauges for both CGDA and GDAE tunings on his mandocello page -- the GDAE gauges are .012 to .042 as in the OP.

    Martin

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  33. #25

    Default Re: .012 - .042 strings for a MANDOCELLO??

    I’m also looking for some lighter gauge strings for my 1910s K Gibson Mandocello.

    Tension seems very taut with Mediums

    Anyone have a solution ?

    The 62, 40, 26, 16 above sounds about right

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