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Thread: Monel strings - what to do, what to do?

  1. #1
    Oval holes are cool David Lewis's Avatar
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    Default Monel strings - what to do, what to do?

    I’ve often used the Sam Bush monels. Thought I’d give the Martin’s a go.

    So the question is - oval hole or f-hole for the Martin strings?

    What’s your experience?

    Thanks in advance.
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  2. #2

    Default Re: Monel strings - what to do, what to do?

    I really liked the Martin Monels on a 1924 Gibson Snakehead A Junior mandolin that I used to own.

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  4. #3
    Registered User Drew Egerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Monel strings - what to do, what to do?

    I only have f hole mandolins. In my experience I preferred both Cut Mangan and D'addario monels over the Martins. Of course the Martins are the cheapest.
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    Default Re: Monel strings - what to do, what to do?

    i use the Martins on a Stanley A5 and Gibson A9. They are about the same as the GHS version to my ears. A friend also prefers the Martins on his Lebeda F5.

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  8. #5
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Question Re: Monel strings - what to do, what to do?

    Match the numbers .. string gage thicknesses...

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  10. #6
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Monel strings - what to do, what to do?

    I used the Sam Bush sets and still have a bunch but switched over to the D'Addario NBs. Similar to Monels but a hair warmer and I use them on all my carved mandolins except for the Lyon & Healy. My preferred string on guitars as well. Barely use any PB strings on anything.
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  12. #7
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    Default Re: Monel strings - what to do, what to do?

    I use them on both round and f hole mandolins at the moment but the oval hole is the instrument for which it is the usual setup.

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  14. #8
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    Default Re: Monel strings - what to do, what to do?

    I’ve tried Martin and D’Addairio monels. The Martins aren’t bad strings, but I, too, prefer the D’Addairios. Have them on both my Kelly A5 and my Rigel CT-110. Don’t own an oval hole one presently.
    Chuck

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  16. #9
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Monel strings - what to do, what to do?

    Curt Mangan's are fine, but I've been mostly playing D'Addario's NB strings lately. NB is a little punchier (how's that for a technical term!). All f hole instruments.
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  18. #10

    Default Re: Monel strings - what to do, what to do?

    I tried the Martin monel strings on an F5 style mandolin a few years ago and in my opinion they sounded weak and hard to hear compared to both the Curt Mangan monels and the D’Addario monels. Of the latter two, I slightly prefer the Mangan monels, although both sets sound similar to me.

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  20. #11
    Registered User Drew Egerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Monel strings - what to do, what to do?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bill McCall View Post
    Curt Mangan's are fine, but I've been mostly playing D'Addario's NB strings lately. NB is a little punchier (how's that for a technical term!). All f hole instruments.
    I actually just bought a few NB packs again (the 11.5-40s) to shake things up. I think I like them (again).
    Interestingly, I noticed on the Curt Mangan site that they state "Monel is also known as Nickel Bronze." I thought they were a little different, maybe not?
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  21. #12
    Resident Hack
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    Default Re: Monel strings - what to do, what to do?

    Nickel bronze just didn't work for me, despite my mandolin liking monels. She likes heavier PB strings more than regular gauge monels so upcoming experiments will be with heavier monels. 14 months in on this mandolin and I nearly know which strings I should use, haha.
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