View Full Version : string guage
Greetings. I was wondering if they make Sam Bush Monels or GHS Silk and Steel strings in a lighter guage. I love the warmer, woodier tone of both of these strings, however, I think I would benefit from a lighter guage. I've used a lighter GHS bronze wound string on one of my mandolins, but don't like the bright metallic tone. I see that the Thomastik Infield strings come in a light guage, but would I still get that true bluegrass sound with a lighter guage and with this string. I wish they weren't so expensive too, in case I don't like them. Any ideas on this string guage question would be very much appreciated. Thanks. Becky Rose
Ken Berner
May-15-2006, 7:38am
Hi Becky, I recently got some very good string advice from Tony Williamson of Mandolin Central. You might run your questions by him at www.mandolincentral.com and you can click on their e-mail address to contact Tony. He is extremely helpful.
Kevin K
May-15-2006, 9:38am
Ken,
You want to share the string advice with us?
Thanks,
Kevin
brose
May-15-2006, 11:11am
Thanks Ken, I emailed Mandolin Central after I read your reply, but yes, I'd like to hear your interpretation of the string advice he gave you too, if you have the time. Thanks again. Sincerely, brose
Gail Hester
May-15-2006, 11:37am
You may want to try, D'Addario J67s, Nickel, .011 - .039. They are a little lighter than the Sam Bush's.
Mandoe
May-15-2006, 11:50am
Or maybe try the D'Addario JS74 stainless steel strings. Same guages as the J74 and EXP74 strings but with lower string tension.
I've been using JS74 strngs for a while now on my F-5's and really like 'em. They last a long time and aren't so expensive.
They sound really metallic at first/I think, but sound old and woody when broken in.
I use J67 nickel srings on my vintage oval hole and am very satisfied with them.
mandroid
May-15-2006, 12:16pm
The issue is Guage?, then smaller wire guage within a set would be looking at the numbers...
0.010", versus 0.0105"/ 0.011", 0.15", vs 0.16", etc.
what the lower pitch strings are wound with is a separate issue. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif isn't it??
Pete Martin
May-15-2006, 12:22pm
Wish I could find the Monels in heavier gauges!!
i used the sams for a long time, and had the same feeling about the sound, but the too heavy g course- i now use the jazzmando strings- don't be fooled by the name. these strings are not just for jazz- warm tone and easier on the fingers.
Alex Fields
May-15-2006, 2:08pm
Depending on how much lighter you want...
If you want something medium but a little lighter/more playable try D'Addario Flattops (FT74s). They are medium gauge but I think the semi-flat structure of the strings makes them feel lighter and play easier. They also sound considerably different, so in any case it's a worthy experiment.
Thomastiks are warm, have excellent tone (arguably the best), and are very playable not just because of the lighter gauge but because they're flatwound. You can get starks (which is like a medium light) if the others are too light for you.
GHS makes some strings in lighter gauges, some without bronze. I have Silk and Steel mediums on my Silverangel right now (only because I was too cheap to buy anything nicer) and they have a warmer sound than do bronze strings, pretty good strings actually (although I would never use anything but light gauge flatwounds if I had my way).
John Flynn
May-15-2006, 4:47pm
With respect to the other posters I have not had good experiences with multiple sets of J67-s and J74-s on different mandos. I cannot recommend either set. The 67s just sounded bad to me right out of the box. The 74's sounded good out of the box, but did not last long. Both had breakage issues in excess of what I have with other strings.
I have had decent luck with the T-I's and the Labella JM-11's, alhough they are both too sedate for my tastes going forward. I am about to try JS74's on my Rigel and J62's on my Parsons flat-top. We'll see how that goes.
Alex Fields
May-15-2006, 5:08pm
Johnny--how does that Parsons flattop sound? Will lives very close to here--my fiddle teachers is good friends with him. He did some work on my old Gibson for me. I've only played one of his mandolins, an F5, and it was pretty good but it didn't blow me away...
WOW! Thanks for all the responses. I will enjoy trying the various strings. Seems like everyone likes the Thomastik Infields. So when ordering, I should probably get the T-I Starks, because they are medium-light? I'm used to playing the GHS Silk and Steel strings, and have just switched to the Sam Bush Monels, so even though I love the tone, I think I'd be better off with the medium light strings. I'll try the T-Is on my Gibson F-9 next time. Thanks again for the all the info. !!!!
Sincerely,
brose
_
"I went to Staten Island, Sharon,just to buy myself a mandolin...." Joni Mitchell(Song for Sharon)
Ken Berner
May-15-2006, 5:19pm
Sorry, The information I was seeking is relative to octave tunings and not relevant to this particular subject. Good luck, Becky!
Alex Fields
May-15-2006, 7:15pm
Reading the string gauges on T-Is can be a little deceptive because they are flatwound and not roundwound. A flatwound string and a roundwound string of the same gauge will feel and respond differently. You may actually want to try the Thomastik mediums...and if they're too light move up. *shrug*
John Flynn
May-15-2006, 7:41pm
Johnny--how does that Parsons flattop sound?
It sounds unique, but good. It has really grown on me. I have more expensive mandolins that overall, I would have to rate much better, but I still pick up the Parsons a lot. It is finicky about strings. J74s are too tinny. T-Is are too muddy. GHS Silk and Steels were close to being just right. I am hoping the J62's hit the spot.
cooper4205
May-16-2006, 4:17pm
Johnny--how does that Parsons flattop sound? Will lives very close to here--my fiddle teachers is good friends with him. He did some work on my old Gibson for me. I've only played one of his mandolins, an F5, and it was pretty good but it didn't blow me away...
i take mandolin lessons from Will, is tater tate your fiddle teacher? i would see him every week at ETSU, in brooks gym where i got my mando lessons at school. i was over at Will's house today and he had just sent a sweet sounding F5 he had been working on to VA. it sounded as good or better, IMO, than most of the mandolins i played at the gibson schowcase or a gruhn's a few weeks ago.
i told Will to update his profile since he moved to TN, but he's been pretty busy i guess.
straight-a
May-17-2006, 5:58am
Dean Markley makes a steel set with .11-.39 range. I've used them and found that they have the tone that the Monels have but without the heavy feel.
Steve Williams
May-17-2006, 7:32am
I second the Dean Markley suggestion. While they are too light for my taste (I'm a Monel Man), there is a mandolin player in another band in our area who I understand uses them exclusively. He is playing (I believe) an older Kentucky F and gets a really good chop out of it. # YMMV
Steve Williams
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
DryBones
May-17-2006, 8:32am
Becky,
You really want to mess up this string issue? Try using different sizes and brands of picks on the same sets of strings. the sound possibilties in combinations of mando/strings/picks will keep you busy FOREVER http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
steve in tampa
May-17-2006, 12:59pm
The TI's will be nice on an F9. The J67's might be pretty weak.
Steven
May-17-2006, 1:21pm
I like the Dean Markleys also (11-39) phos.bronze.The gauge seems to be just right on both of my Webers.I like them much better than GHS,the J74's I had trouble with the E strings loops slipping,and they sounded very tinny.This is not to say that GHS or Dadario aren't good strings they just did'nt work out as well for me.I would recommend the Dean Markleys they seem to be very well made and consistant.
Thanks so much everybody for all the input on my string question! I ordered a set of TI mediums for my F-9, and will try some of the other ones on my three other mandolins. I don't think all of them warrant a set of TIs, or maybe it's just what they need, but I can't afford them for everything. I'm so anxious to try the TIs out, but since I just put the Monels on 2 of my mandos, I will wait awhile, because I'm "cheap". So thanks to all of you! Sincerely,
Becky Rose
Thanks so much everybody for all the input on my string question! I ordered a set of TI mediums for my F-9, and will try some of the other ones on my three other mandolins. I don't think all of them warrant a set of TIs, or maybe it's just what they need, but I can't afford them for everything. I'm so anxious to try the TIs out, but since I just put the Monels on 2 of my mandos, I will wait awhile, because I'm "cheap". So thanks to all of you! Sincerely,
Becky Rose
Oh, and Jason, I have tried about every pick too! I love picks. I didn't know such a little device could bring me such joy, but I can't seem to get enough of them. And I always keep coming back to the Dunlop blue Gator 1.14 pick, but I like several others too. Later... brose
DryBones
May-17-2006, 6:19pm
Becky,
that is my go to pick now also for my Mid Mo and my Eastman. In fact I just ordered a 12 pack of them yesterday. I also like the D'Andrea Pro-Plec 1.5mm with my Morgan Monroe MMS7 using J62 strings.
Have you tried one of these? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/JBWicklund/misc%20photos/fotwpic.jpg
Jason, I didn't know that Folk of the Wood made picks. What the thickness of that pick? I like its look. I guess I have more picks to try, and that's not a bad thing. It's a cheap thrill! Thanks for the info. brose
DryBones
May-18-2006, 7:52am
Becky,
That was just a cheapo they threw in when I bought my 1st mando from them. But it may be a collectable someday... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif