D’Addario flat tops

[mandolinstew]

Does anybody use these strings ?

[Bill McCall]

Don Rigsby. I tried them, they’re ok, not the feel of real flatwounds, nor the price.

[bigskygirl]

I use them on my Northfield, liked them alot.

[mandolinstew]

Flat tops are not flat wound

[bigskygirl]

Flat tops are not flat wound

Ha, never noticed the diff…here’s an old thread about them..

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...-vs-Flat-Wound

[mandolinstew]

Thanks for the link Bigsky.I’m surprised the flat tops have been around so long.

[lenf12]

I've been using D'A EFT-74s for years on a 1956 F-12 and more recently on a 1992 A5-L. They have the sound and projection of regular PB strings (for BG and folk styles) without the string "zing" of round wound strings (YIKES!!). Also, the wound A strings make for a smoother transition from the wound D to the wound A strings. I did however switch to D'A flat wound EFW-74s on my 1916 F-4 to get a different, more classical sound but I love them both for my mandolins. Highly recomended!!

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[dhergert]

I use D'A EFT74 GG and DD strings on the lower 2 courses of my mandolins.

I use custom gauge plain loop-end D'A strings (.017" and .015") for the upper 2 courses.

These are always the strings I use on my mandolins...

I also always use a non-standard tuning (GG CC EE GG) on my mandolins.

[Jim Bevan]

I use 'em on my 1921 H2 – they sound great, but the tension is (a) um, challenging, and (b) a little worrisome on a 101-year-old instrument.