Larry Hunsberger
2013 J Bovier A5 Special w/ToneGard
D'Addario FW-74 flatwound strings
1909 Weymann&Sons bowlback
1919 Weymann&Sons mandolute
Ibanez PF5
1993 Oriente HO-20 hybrid double bass
3/4 guitar converted to octave mandolin
Larry Hunsberger
2013 J Bovier A5 Special w/ToneGard
D'Addario FW-74 flatwound strings
1909 Weymann&Sons bowlback
1919 Weymann&Sons mandolute
Ibanez PF5
1993 Oriente HO-20 hybrid double bass
3/4 guitar converted to octave mandolin
Larry Hunsberger
2013 J Bovier A5 Special w/ToneGard
D'Addario FW-74 flatwound strings
1909 Weymann&Sons bowlback
1919 Weymann&Sons mandolute
Ibanez PF5
1993 Oriente HO-20 hybrid double bass
3/4 guitar converted to octave mandolin
Just to add my two cents worth...
I experimented with using a wound 2nd string on a mandolin, tuned down a tone (FCGD). The set was phos bronze, same gauges as j74s, but the second string was a .16 wound. Tuned down a tone to G, it worked well. The rationale was the melody on the first tune flicked between the fifth fret on 3rd string, open 2nd string & 2nd fret on 2nd string (would be G->ABA->G in standard tuning, but F->GAG->F down a tone). Having the 2nd string wound helped to smooth out the timbral differences between the three notes.
The wound .16s snapped as soon as you approached standard tuning.
Moderators, if this is viewed as self advertisement for posting a clip of my own playing, please accept my apologies and feel free to delete.
This wasn't a pre made set of strings for mandolin. It was a custom set I ordered from Newtone strings in UK. They will make whatever strings you want. So the gauges were 11, 16w, 26w, 40w.
The 16w was never sold or advertised as a viable option for a mandolin A string. It was me experimenting to see if I could get away with using the thinnest wound strings Newtone would make, if I had the mandolin tuned down a tone. That's common in Irish trad; tuning the fiddle down a tone. Uilleann Pipes in C. A lot of the tracks of Angelina and Peter Carberry the banjo is tuned down a tone.
I did have to make a tiny adjustment at the nut. A few of the strings snapped at the nut at first due to it being cut for a plain string. I filled the 2nd string slots on the nut with pencil graphite and ran one of the broken strings through it several times and that seemed to fix the problem.
It takes longer to change them than they last, playing, until breaking.
writing about music
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