String recommendations for Gibson Snakehead A Junior

[MandoMan1]

As with all mandolins I have ever owned, I like to try different types of strings. Currently have Mapes PB strings on my Snakehead A-Jr. I really like them and I like being able to get custom gauges at no extra cost.

I was thinking about trying Stainless steel strings. Has anyone tried stainless steel on a Gibson Snakehead A Junior? If so please share your feedback.

I have been going with the lighter gauges .11 .14 .25 and. 38. I know about D'Addario EJ-74's, but I prefer lighter gauges for this mandolin.

Any feedback on other alloys, etc. Is welcome.

[pheffernan]

I use Curt Mangan monels on my Snakehead:

https://www.curtmangan.com/monel-mandolin-11-5-40/

https://www.curtmangan.com/monel-mandolin-medium-11-40/

https://www.curtmangan.com/monel-mandolin-light-10-36/

[lenf12]

Give the D'Addario EFW-74s a try. They are .011-.015-.026-.036 stainless steel, flat wound strings and while I don't have a snakehead A Jr. I have been using them on my '16 F-4 with very pleasing results. The "feel" of the strings under your fingers is much lighter than the EF-74 strings they replaced and they are a heck of a lot cheaper than Tomastik-Infeld strings but they sound very similar to the TIs. Try 'em, you may like 'em,

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[pops1]

The junior, while having the narrower neck of the Loar era mandolins, does not have a truss rod. I think you are right not using heavier strings. I like the GHS N250's for a slightly lighter string. They are pure nickel and I like the sound and how long they last. On my '22 A2, with the truss rod and larger neck, I use the N270's. I am not concerned with that mandolin, the neck is 1 1/4" wide and deep with a truss rod.

[MandoMan1]

Thank you all for the feedback and suggestions. I will try those strings everyone has suggested.

Do you notice any loss in volume with the flatwound strings?

[lenf12]

No, not much of a volume loss if any but definitely a tonal shift with SS flat wounds vs. PB EJ-74s (what I meant to say in my post above). A lot of the strident tone that we all love on a bluegrass mandolin is tamed to a more jazzy or classical voice, a difference that I was hoping to find (from my old mandolin orchestra days) with the EFW-74 strings.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL