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Thread: F-4 Oval string recommendation

  1. #1
    Registered User GreenMTBoy's Avatar
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    Default F-4 Oval string recommendation

    I know this is a very personal subject that everyone has a opinion on ,but thought I would ask anyway
    I just put GHS A-270s on my F-4 Oval because I saw that it is the recommended sting on Ellis mandolins so thought I would give them a try .
    But I am finding them a bit thin sounding not a lot of punch .
    I think I had j -74s on it before and they weren’t great on it either .
    I’m looking for a string that gives me a sweet sounding ,round with a little punch to them.
    I like to play Irish music with this mandolin if that helps .
    Thank you very much for your suggestions and help if you chime in .

  2. #2
    Registered User Scott Rucker's Avatar
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    Default Re: F-4 Oval string recommendation

    Yes, it is a very personal choice and not too expensive to try different ones. My personal favorites for oval hole mandolins are nickel bronze and monel. They also last a long time. Your mileage may vary, etc.

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  4. #3
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: F-4 Oval string recommendation

    Is this a vintage F-4 or a modern one? I thought it might be a modern one since all the Gibson F-4s had oval sound holes.

    I too am a big fan of D’Addario NB strings. I have them on my A2 snakehead and other modern and vintage mandolins.
    Jim

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  6. #4
    Registered User GreenMTBoy's Avatar
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    Default Re: F-4 Oval string recommendation

    It is a 2018 F4 made by Skip Kelley ,it’s a beautifully made mandolin ,I just feel like. Haven’t found the best string for it yet and was hoping to get some suggestions .

  7. #5
    Registered User Bob Buckingham's Avatar
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    Default Re: F-4 Oval string recommendation

    I put a set of D'Addario XS strings on my oval hole mandolin early last summer. They still sound good, but were a bit bright at the beginning. They stay in tune real well and came through our humid summer quite nicely. It is still sounding quite good and staying in tune.

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  9. #6
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
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    Default Re: F-4 Oval string recommendation

    Lots of good choices here:

    https://m.juststrings.com/mandolin.html (nfi)

    +1 for trying out as many as you can, writing down what is currently being used so you can remember if you like/dislike it.
    Worlds okay-ist mandolin player

    Relative newcomer

    Weber Yellowstone F (2015)
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    https://youtube.com/@zachwilson54?si=iGum4xPlSj0pbcjj

  10. #7
    Registered User Jill McAuley's Avatar
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    Default Re: F-4 Oval string recommendation

    For ages the Curt Mangan Bluegrass medium set was my favourite (used in the past on a Gibson A-jr, Collings MT-O and currently on my Girouard Concert oval A, but for the past year I've had D'Addario monels on the Girouard and I really really like them, so they're my string set of choice for the foreseeable future.
    2018 Girouard Concert oval A
    2015 JP "Whitechapel" tenor banjo
    2018 Frank Tate tenor guitar
    1969 Martin 00-18




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  12. #8
    Registered User GreenMTBoy's Avatar
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    Default Re: F-4 Oval string recommendation

    Thanks Jill ,going to give the EJM75C a try

  13. #9
    Registered User Mandobart's Avatar
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    Default Re: F-4 Oval string recommendation

    My Sonny Morris hybrid F4 mandolin (elevated fretboard, single transverse brace, neck joins the body at the 14th fret) is usually strung with monel strings. I've used Martin, Newtone and recently Curt Mangan monels.

    On my A4 10 string mandola (flat fretboard, 12th fret body join, X-braced) I use Curt Mangan fusion matched phosphor bronze strings. They are incredible sounding. Warm, with loads of volume and sustain. I mean guitar-like sustain.

    These strings were my Curt Mangan gateway about a year ago. I now use the fusion matched phosphor bronze strings on almost everything - F5 mandolin, A4 mandola, F4 octave mandolin, 10 string F4 mandocello, Martin HD-28, Eastman E2OM-CD. I'm going to put a set on the hybrid F4 next.

  14. #10
    Registered User GreenMTBoy's Avatar
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    Default Re: F-4 Oval string recommendation

    I will try a set of these Curt Mangan Strings after I try the EJM75Cs I just ordered ,thanks for the suggestion

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