Mandolin strings

[TiffanyGuitar]

I just got my first mandolin - an Eastman MD315. I like it, but the strings seem dead. Do most people put mediums on their mandolins?

[pjheff]

Originally Posted by TiffanyGuitar

I just got my first mandolin - an Eastman MD315. I like it, but the strings seem dead. Do most people put mediums on their mandolins?

On an archtop, mediums like the D’Addario EJ74’s are pretty much the standard. Some people prefer other manufacturers like GHS that include a .016 A string. Lately, I’ve been pretty satisfied with Curt Mangan sets in medium-heavy gauges.

[Mandobart]

I've been playing mandolin for over 14 years now. I've tried just about every brand of mandolin strings. These Curt Mangan fusion matched phosphor bronze strings are the best I've found yet. You can get them in a lighter gage and that may work better. Compared to playing a guitar, the high tension dual courses of a mandolin at first felt like playing a cheese grater. My guitar calluses wimped right out.

I use lighter strings on my 1930's instruments. They can't take too much tension.

[guitarman68]

GHS 270 for me - with 0.16 A string. I always consider the A string to sloppy so I played a set with wound A strings for a long time. These days I'm very happy with that GHS 270 set. Current mandolin is an Ellis F5. And I read that Tom Ellis likes that set for giving the tone he wants to hear from this mandolins.

[Dave Hicks]

Straight Up mediums on the Flatiron and various kinds of lights on the old, old Gibson.

D.H.

[Kupuna50]

I've had the same conundrum with mando strings.
Have tried 'em all.
On my guitar, I use Curt Mangan PB's, so I thought maybe Curt Mangan might be the answer.
Went on his website ans saw the different styles and gauges. Thought I'd call them and get their input.
WOW! Was I impressed when Mr Curt Mangan answered the phone!
Talked to him for over a half hour!
Based on my tone preferences, he suggested either Monel or Nickel Wound.
As I like a deeper tone, he suggested 11's or 12's.

What a fun and educational experience. And what a very nice guy!

[Mandobart]

Mr. Obvious here, but being as its your first mandolin.....remember if you take all the strings off at once like you might on a flat top guitar, the bridge will fall off and you'll have to reset it correctly.

So just change the strings one pair at a time.

[cliff_the_stiff]

I put thomastik flatwound mandolin strings. I like how they sound, and are comfortable and quiet to play.

[lfoo6952]

Originally Posted by TiffanyGuitar

I just got my first mandolin - an Eastman MD315. I like it, but the strings seem dead. Do most people put mediums on their mandolins?

You said you like your Eastman MD315 but the strings seem dead. Was this a brand new mandolin or was it used? If used, it may be worth buying a new set of strings as used by Eastman. They use D'addario XTM1140 medium phosphor bronze strings.

[packmule]

Another vote for Curt Mangan strings - I really like the Bluegrass medium set.

[frankmcr]

I like Thomastiks.

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by frankmcr

I like Thomastiks.

On my Breedlove FF (F Styyle), I LOVE the Thomastiks, on the Breedlove OF (A style), I prefer the Phosphor Bronze D'Addario EJ74. I'm considering trying the Thomastiks on my Gibson F-5G but I really like the way it is sounding with the EJ74s on it.

[Br1ck]

Depending on where you bought your mandolin, you may want to get it setup. Mandolins need a perfect setup. Go to that mandolin site, search for Rob Meldrum. He'll e mail you a setup guide. All the info to check your setup, and even do the job yourself. There are stores that give you a setup mandolin, like The Mandolin Store.

You got a very good mandolin to start on. Setup is key. Any good quality string will do, the D'Addario EJ 74 being a very popular choice.