Which gauge strings do you find play and sound the best?
Which gauge strings do you find play and sound the best?
Depend on the mandolin. Mostly mediums if the mandolin will take the tension. I use NBs by D'Addario for the most part. On vintage bowlbacks I use very light gauge strings.
Jim
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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
I mostly play a '04 Gibson F5. Played ph. bronze mediums(J74) for a lot of years on it and various F5s.
When I tried Daddario models on that mandolin, it was a game-changer for me. I'm all-in on Monel strings.
Put a set of Curt Mangan Monel custom mediums(11.5 16 26 40)on that,I think, are the best set so far on this Mando. Very playable, sustain like crazy, and should last a good while(months).
Daddario dose not make a set in that gauge configuration.
I use light 10-38 on a couple mandolins The D'jangolin niclel wound, the 22 A bronze, wound
I don't need loud ..
I have other Mandolins that I use different strings on..
writing about music
is like dancing,
about architecture
My "go to" is GHS LSB250, the Doyle Lawson signature set. Haven't found anything that I consistently like better.
(11/16/26/40)
Last edited by Buck; Apr-10-2020 at 8:31pm.
GHS N270 and GHS N250 I like the pure nickel strings for sound and how long they last without sound degradation. I also use GHS lighter strings on my Martin and a couple cant topped mandolins.
THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!
Thanks to all. You've saved me quite a bit of time. I'll gather up a collection of your recommendations and have them handy when needed.
Before you buy, you might want to post the mandolin that you'll be using them on and what kind of music you'll be playing.
Next heavier is 11 - 40 brands are more what you can find , bronze wound is popular.. [Cu+Sn]
Nickel better over a magnetic pickup.. a monel alloy " primarily composed of nickel (from 52 to 67%) and copper,
with small amounts of iron, manganese, carbon, and silicon.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monel
writing about music
is like dancing,
about architecture
J74
2021 The Loar LM700 VS
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