View Full Version : Find the good string ( help)
mandolman
Jun-07-2005, 2:08am
Hi everybody,
I want to do the same thing as John Doyle.
John Doyle use a 0.72 bass string on his Martin to have a low D ( 1 octave under the usual D on DADGAD). This sound is great. www.acguitar.com/issues/ag108/gear108.html
But if i want to do the same thing on my Octave Mandolin ( scale lengt 24.5) for 1 G string ( one octave below) what is the good string/diameter ?
The string tension calculator on Internet doesn't answer me.
Thanks
Jonathan #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Mandobar
Jun-07-2005, 4:22am
contact bob abrahms at trillium instruments. he built john's octave. he might be able to tell you the guages.
Paul Hostetter
Jun-07-2005, 2:16pm
Try an .045". Could be as light as an .040" but the heavier gauge will have a darker tone. Strings are cheap, and you could try as heavy as an .050" and not have to worry about doing any damage.
mandolman
Jun-07-2005, 4:40pm
Ok, thanks but if for the Freshwater Cittern the low C is .052 my .50 will be too thick and will buzz. Isn't it ?
steve V. johnson
Jun-12-2005, 6:22pm
"Ok, thanks but if for the Freshwater Cittern the low C is .052 my .50 will be too thick and will buzz. Isn't it ?"
Hard to tell. It may take some change in the neck relief, i.e., the truss rod adjustment, &/or bridge and nut adjustments, but it's worth a shot.
I tried really heavy strings when I first got my Crump, and buzz or relief weren't a problem with the big'n's, I just didn't prefer the sound, but then Phil had the action set pretty high on that one then (and I didn't change it at all).
stv
Ken Sager
Jun-12-2005, 8:13pm
My octave is a 21.5 in scale and uses .047 for the G. You want to go an octave lower than that? That's low... You're going to want to experiment with guages. I'd try a few strings out, starting with .060, .065, .070. Eventually you'll need to file your nut and bridge, once you find something that sounds/feels good, but if you get the tension right the truss shouldn't need anything.
My 2 bits,
Ken
A little off topic here, but for fun once I restrung the bottom two courses on a mandola with bass-side strings tuned up an octave higher using very light gauge strings; very carefully choosen of course. It sounded very great for strumming.
Mandobar
Jun-13-2005, 8:27pm
zan macleod's sos octave is strung with octaves on the G and D strings. i believe this is quite common. i could be wrong though....don't quote me.
steve V. johnson
Jun-13-2005, 10:58pm
No, it's ok, you're right, it's that way in Zan's Homespun instructional tape/dvd.
You're quotable! <GG>
stv
mandolman
Jun-15-2005, 5:07am
Ok, i use a 0.50 G electric bass string.
IT'S VERY GREAT !!!! More percussive sound. No Buzz, and more sustain.
It's not a low G, but the same note
With the D'Addario other string, i have a new instrument. !!!
I think, if i use a low G, it didn't sound enough on my octave mandolin for sessions.
Perhaps with a bigger box.