I haven't been inclined to try to make up my own string concoction, but will say that I'm heartily displeased with the strings I'm now using on my Gibson A (1924 snakehead). I'm using J62s, since 74s seem too heavy for it (I use 74s on my other mandolin). My problem is a buzzy sound that suggests the pairs aren't in tune, which is particularly evident when I fret the strings. Obviously operator error is the first thing to go after, but I'm usually really good at getting a clear tone from the pairs and don't generally pull the strings when I finger them, so I'm thinking it might be the strings themselves. Difficult to try out lots of different kinds over here in India, but in the past (after I bowed to MC's superior wisdom and cut off the flat-wound Thomastiks) I used the silk and ?? bronze GHS strings. I'm thinking of returning to these, but thought maybe some of you would have other suggestions. This is a really annoying problem .... val
On Feb 9, 9:54 am, mistertaterbug <[email protected]> wrote: > Tried it quite a bit over the years, just about the age you are now, > coincidentally. I used to buy singles for them all and make my own > sets...12's on the E's, 17's on the A's at one point, mixed the gauges > between odd gauges on everything and then even, odds on the plain, > even on the wound, some steel, some bronze, blah, blah, blah. I think > Uncle Norman still does it. There are some things you can fix with it, > some not. It just turns into another fanaticism after a while. Main > thing I've found is that it varies from mandolin to mandolin. #536 > don't like the heavier strings, but #500 did. Go figger... > > Tbug > > On Feb 3, 1:48 pm, David Long <[email protected]> wrote:> This might be > of interest to some. > > > I don't know about some of you, but I frequently pick up my mandolin and am > > immediately struck with the slightest sense of annoy regarding tension and > > thickness of the E strings. Then it hit me: Why not a .012 gauge? So I > > found some tenor banjo strings (.012) with loop ends and BINGO! Problem > > solved. Maybe the luthiers on here could weigh in but they don't seem to be > > too heavy. I'm using them with the Exp-J74s. > > > My next experiment is the J-74's on the G and D's, 75's on the A's, and .012 > > tenors on the E's. Has anyone else ever tried this? > > > Reporting live, > > Miles -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en.
