Re: Good Strings For My 17.5" Mandola?
I would suggest you try a few picks that are heavier than you are used to using on the banjo. I understand it’s nice to have a pick that flexes a bit on the banjo strings, but on mando You have to get used to a different attack and the high-tension double-string courses have a lot more resistance. Try in the 1mm range for a start, a lot of players like the blue chips and stuff but that is radically different than you are used to and pricey to boot. I suggest starting cheap by trying Jim Dunlop Tortex of various gauges, when you find a gauge you like, then maybe spend a few more bucks on Primetones or whatever.
Admittedly the tension is less on mandola than on a mandolin but it’s still more than the tenor.
Personally I like a .73 for tenor banjo and an .88 for mando or mandola. Happy pickin!
2009 Eastman 505
2011 Collings MTO GT
2008 Toyota Sienna
2018 Sawchyn mandola
Mandoline or Mandolin: Similar to the lute, but much less artistically valuable....for people who wish to play simple music without much trouble —The Oxford Companion to Music
Bookmarks