Cordoba Mini Alternate Strings

[FellowChap]

I found some great strings for the Cordoba Mini.
They are Pepe Romero Baritone Guilele Fluorocarbon Strings UG2,
and you can get them at Strings By Mail online. I can tune them in standard guitar tuning eadgbe or DADGAD and they sound great even at the lower tension tuning to DADGAD. I really like the Carbon treble strings. I think Carbon Trebles are the best way to go on a Cordoba Mini or any 20 inch scale guitar. I tried the Cordoba E tuning strings (Aquila) and didn’t like the sound or playability.

So give them a try, they are the best strings I have found so far for this instrument.

[MikeB1]

I have a Cordoba Mini II.

It is 22 & 7/8 inch scale.

Do you think they would work on this as well in standard tuning?

Thanks for the tip!

[FellowChap]

Actually, I think these Pepe Romero UG2 strings would work on a Mini II (I have a Mini II as well) but they were designed for a 20 inch scale. The Mini II takes High Tension regular guitar strings. The UG2 strings are actually the same diameter as regular Carbon type High Tension String sets except for the 5th and 6th strings which are .002 inch larger in diameter, ie

High Tension - UG2
5th .034 .036
6th .044 .046

Since a regular high tension set works well on the Mini II, it is slightly low tension for that guitar. So they would probably work. The base strings might be too tight though. I think I might try that the next time I change strings on the Mini II. You gave me the Idea, so now I will have to try it. If you use Drop D tuning it might help on the 6th string tension.

[MikeB1]

Well OK then, I am ordering them!

Right now I have D'Addario, normal tension, EJ45 strings on it.

I realize the Mini II is a $170 instrument, but I had a professional set up done and it needed quite a bit of work, but it plays really well now. Unfortunately, the sound is not exactly inspiring. I know it is a small box, and you can only expect so much.

Well, that is the excitement of the journey! I will let you know what happens.

[FellowChap]

I can see why you are not liking the sound on the Mini II. D'Addario EJ45 normal tension strings are pretty drab, These new Pepe Romero UG2 strings will make 100% difference.

Another alternative for the Mini II would be Savarez Cantiga - 510AJ Alliance /Cantiga HT Classical Guitar Strings, I have them on my Mini II now and they sound really good.

[MikeB1]

Thanks so much FellowChap for your suggestions!

I had no idea about the EJ45s. I previously had the hard tension version and didn't like those either. So I have basically been trying different things that I see at my local stores.

I have never heard of these two brands you suggested. I really like the Mini II, so I am very hopeful now that I am hearing the tone has more potential.

Do you have any suggestions for my Aria Sinsonido?

It is similar to the one seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5byPeaUD6U


Thanks again!