On the advice of Will Kimble, I tried using a 016 A string with my normal EXP74s. It makes for consistent tension. from the D'Addario site, normal exp74s are:
Diameter Tension Item# Note inches mm lbs kg EXP7401 E 0.011 0.28 23.2 10.53 EXP7401 E 0.011 0.28 23.2 10.53 EXP7402 A 0.015 0.38 19.2 8.72 EXP7402 A 0.015 0.38 19.2 8.72 EXP7403 D 0.026 0.66 23.3 10.59 EXP7403 D 0.026 0.66 23.3 10.59 EXP7404 G 0.040 1.02 25.1 11.37 EXP7404 G 0.040 1.02 25.1 11.3 So you can see the 015 A has a few pounds less tension. Using a 016 A gives you about 22# of tension per string, much more consistent with the other strings. You can order them from FQMS as individual strings (tell them D'Addario loop end singles). They won't be coated strings though if that matters. Don On Wed, Feb 10, 2010 at 1:13 PM, Dasspunk <[email protected]> wrote: > Well I suppose it's good that you have extra strings David--12s or > otherwise--as you broke the 74s I brought you in less than a set. What > DO you do to that poor mando that makes it act out like that? > > Whatever it is, keep doing it. > > B > > > 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]<taterbugmando%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en. > > -- 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.
