I’m going to get a full body octave mandolin which uses ball end strings. The scale length 20.25” with string tension 12 - 52. Any recommendation on strings for an octave mandolin and a good place to purchase them?
Thanks
Darwin
I’m going to get a full body octave mandolin which uses ball end strings. The scale length 20.25” with string tension 12 - 52. Any recommendation on strings for an octave mandolin and a good place to purchase them?
Thanks
Darwin
2023 A. Lawrence Smart A5
2022 Girouard Griffith Tribute A5
2021 Ellis F5 Special
2021 Girouard Concert Master F Oval-hole
2020 Heiden Artist Plus A5
1992 Givens A6
1919 Martin Style C
Ask Austin Clark. Guess you already know him.
I have a two point on order from Austin. How do you like it?
That E string at 12 seems really light. A 15 would be more appropriately tensioned compared to a 52. I recommend using the gauges for mandola strings which should get you into the ballpark assuming the instrument is built sturdy enough. 52, 35, 25, 15 is what D'Addario has for a medium mandola set. Tuning those gauges to GDAE on a 20" scale will be about equivalent, but you could bump it down to lights, 49 34 23 14 which could be more in line depending on the instrument. As for the strings themselves, buy the bulk strings from JustStrings. The come in tubes of 12 per gauge and are the most cost effective way to get custom sets, even if you can't imagine using 12 sets.
Or, as mentioned above, ask the builder or a friend who builds.
Hope this helps,
Baron
MandoLessons: Free Online Mandolin Lessons
Velocipede: My Fiddle Tune Duo
Old Time Mandolin: Solo Old Time Mandolin Album
Peter,
Austin makes a great two point mandolin! I have had offers to sell mine but its not going to happen its a keeper as they say. Believe me it sounds just us good as it looks!! You will be very happy with it. Here are some photos of the one Austin made for me back in January 2019 showing the wood Austin selected and the finished Clark 2 point mandolin.
Last edited by Darwin Gaston; Oct-01-2020 at 10:31pm. Reason: Add pics
2023 A. Lawrence Smart A5
2022 Girouard Griffith Tribute A5
2021 Ellis F5 Special
2021 Girouard Concert Master F Oval-hole
2020 Heiden Artist Plus A5
1992 Givens A6
1919 Martin Style C
Baron,
Thanks for your recommendation on buying bulk strings from Just Strings.
Darwin
2023 A. Lawrence Smart A5
2022 Girouard Griffith Tribute A5
2021 Ellis F5 Special
2021 Girouard Concert Master F Oval-hole
2020 Heiden Artist Plus A5
1992 Givens A6
1919 Martin Style C
I discussed string options with Austin when I bought my GBOM. One reason he builds them for ball ends because the choice of strings is greater which may be in the US but options are limited/expensive in the UK. Fortunately, we have “Newtone” who will put together whatever sets you like.
I have a Northfield Maple Octave mandolin and was thinking about trying Thomastik Mandola strings on it. I’m willing to take the risk on the sound possibilities because I like the sound and feel of Thomastik strings but I’m concerned that the mandola string length is not long enough for an octave scale length. Any ideas, Thanks!
"I have a Northfield Maple Octave mandolin and was thinking about trying Thomastik Mandola strings on it. I’m willing to take the risk on the sound possibilities because I like the sound and feel of Thomastik strings but I’m concerned that the mandola string length is not long enough for an octave scale length. Any ideas, Thanks!"
Hi Alan,
The Thomastik 174 set (European mandola, a.k.a. octave mandolin) is sized for a 45cm scale length. Your instrument (unless it is custom) has a 22 inch scale length or about 56 cm, which is far too long for the 174 set. You could use the 185 set, which is for liuto cantabile (CGDAE) which is sized for around 61cm, discarding the C string, but this is fairly expensive option (around $100 a set, currently in the US). Fisoma (available from https://lordofthestrings.com/en) makes a set for 46-50cm, but even this is too short for your instrument (I used Thomastik for years but have switched to Fisoma, equally good and less expensive).
Robert A. Margo
The Thomastik 174 set (European mandola, a.k.a. octave mandolin) is sized for a 45cm scale length. Your instrument (unless it is custom) has a 22 inch scale length or about 56 cm, which is far too long for the 174 set.
Hi Bob
Thanks for this response. I was thinking the scale length would be an issue and now that confirms it. Looks like I’ll be staying with the strings I got.
Alan
I have a 21" F4 OM with an Allen tailpiece that takes ball end strings. I use guitar strings, I buy them as singles from my local music store:
G - .048"
D - .040"
A - .024" (wound)
E - .013"
I'm think more and more that you have to purchase single ball end strings. Because I have called Strings by Mail and they don't carry octave mandolin strings. Also, I called Elixir and they don't make octave mandolin strings.
So far the only place that I have found that are willing to make ball end octave mandolin sets of 13 24 36 52 Phosphor Bronze strings is Curt Mangan.
2023 A. Lawrence Smart A5
2022 Girouard Griffith Tribute A5
2021 Ellis F5 Special
2021 Girouard Concert Master F Oval-hole
2020 Heiden Artist Plus A5
1992 Givens A6
1919 Martin Style C
As I said above, Newtone will make up sets of anything and call them whatever takes your fancy.
Bear in mind that there’s no such thing as an octave mandolin/guitar string - they’re all simply strings. Some may have balls and some may have loops but, providing that they’re long enough, they’ll be fine for any instrument you care to put them on.
That 40 for your D seems extremely heavy. I personally wound be worried about that much tension, both for the string and the instrument. I love to use this tension calculator and aim between 20 and 25 lbs per string.
https://tension.stringjoy.com/
For example, your G has under 20 lbs and your D has over 30. If it works for you and you like it, I'm not trying to say you are doing it wrong, but I've personally run into tuning/intonation/structural problems when I push tension higher than 25 or so, and I *love* heavy gauge strings.
Thanks,
Baron
MandoLessons: Free Online Mandolin Lessons
Velocipede: My Fiddle Tune Duo
Old Time Mandolin: Solo Old Time Mandolin Album
I have a related question. I hope this is not considered hi-jacking the thread - if so, please ignore me. I am looking for flat wound strings that would fit a 23" scale. If you have any ideas I would GREATLY appreciate your help. I asked one of the big string suppliers but he had no leads. Thank you.
“There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” ― Albert Schweitzer
1925 Lyon & Healy Model A, #1674
2015 Collings A (MT2-V)
I currently am using flat wound electric guitar strings on my OM. Recognize that the plain steel strings really are about the same from brand to brand and style to style - the E strings from a phosphor bronze, 80/20, monel, etc. are pretty much the same (except for gage).
Figure out whatever gage strings you want and buy a set of flat wound guitar strings that will cover them. Buy single strings for your E's if needed. For a 23" instrument you're nearly at a guitar scale, so anything from .011 to .013 should work.
If you need ball end, great you're there. If you need loop end just snip the brass "balls" with sude, diagonal or end cut pliers. This stuff ain't rocket surgery....
"I have a related question. I hope this is not considered hi-jacking the thread - if so, please ignore me. I am looking for flat wound strings that would fit a 23" scale. If you have any ideas I would GREATLY appreciate your help. I asked one of the big string suppliers but he had no leads. Thank you."
Assuming this is referring to an octave mandolin see my response to Alan Epstein. A simple, but expensive solution is a set of Thomastik 185 strings, which are for the liuto cantabile (CGDAE), sized for a little under 61 cm (24 in) and so would be fine for a 23-inch scale. You would discard the C string (or keep it, if you ever get a mandocello). www.juststrings.com carries these, look under "lute strings".
Robert A. Margo
Martin has you covered: http://www.emando.com/shop/strings8_flatwound.htm
1924 Gibson A Snakehead
2005 National RM-1
2007 Hester A5
2009 Passernig A5
2015 Black A2-z
2010 Black GBOM
2017 Poe Scout
2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
2018 Vessel TM5
2019 Hogan F5
Thank you guys so much!!!! That seems to clear up the search!
“There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” ― Albert Schweitzer
1925 Lyon & Healy Model A, #1674
2015 Collings A (MT2-V)
On an instrument with a short scale, I have had good luck using the D'Addario mandola set.
Not sure how my Sobell compares with your instrument, but I use 12, 21, 30 and 42
David A. Gordon
$100.18!
As I said, expensive. The strings last a long time, however.
Robert A. Margo
I have happily played TI’s on a flattop (Mittel) and an archtop / resonator (Stark), and willingly spent the ~$40 for the privilege. I don’t see me spending $100 just so I can toss the C strings when I’ve struggled to buy the $34 set at emando.com. Maybe Santa will surprise me.
1924 Gibson A Snakehead
2005 National RM-1
2007 Hester A5
2009 Passernig A5
2015 Black A2-z
2010 Black GBOM
2017 Poe Scout
2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
2018 Vessel TM5
2019 Hogan F5
Maybe I could buy your tossed TI C string for my octave banjolin that I want to tuned to EBF#C#. Maybe it would work as the E string for me.
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