Strings

[mezamurillo]

I have a Weber Bitteroot with maple upgrades, I bought this mandolin about 7 months ago and I would like to change the strings any suggestions out there on what type of stings to use for Bluegrass playing.

[mikeo2]

I'll throw in a recommendation for D'addario J74s. There are plenty of bluegrass players better than me that would back me up there.

[lawdawg]

I've got a yellowstone custom. I've tried J74s and GHS Silk & Steel (250s). I liked the S&S best. However, I just this week tried exlixir meds. I hoped that I would not like them because they cost 2xs the others. I must report that I think they are absolutely great! I would recommend trying them.

[reely989]

I prefer d'addario flat tops. They are more expensive, but for my style, they work great. I usually have trouble with the tuning on the A string slipping on both my mandos, but with the flat tops i don't have a problem. Also, they last a good while longer for me.

[Kevin Briggs]

I have the same mandolin, mostly. Bitteroot with Maple, tone bars, traditional bridge.

I had great success using D'Addario J75s. They were just too tough on my fingers. I never got used to them. They sounded so great though. I've never heard a better mandolin than my custom Bitteroot with J75s.

I dropped to J74s, after trying flatops and S&S, and found they sacrificed some tone, but were much easier to play. They also sounded better with lower action. I had super high action with the J75s.

Then, I tried EXP J74s. They were the magic number, or whatever. They are a little beefier out of the box, and they hold their tone about twice as long. To me, they are the perfect string. The only sacrifice is they are not as bright right out of the box. But, they maintain a more even, great tone for a longer period. They also cost more.

[Mikey G]

I like the J74s as well. The EXPs sound a little metallic/tinny IMHO.

[F5G WIZ]

I've strayed from J74's a time or two but always end up coming back to them. Haven't found anything else that I like better yet.

[cooper4205]

has anyone tried the J74 nickle steel yet?

[Slim Pickins]

J74s on my Bitterroot Custom. Sounds great.

[fatt-dad]

If you are playing bluegrass and haven't experimented with string changes yet, you really should try several of these over the next few months. Bear in mind your mandolin is set up for the string gauges that are on it. I'd bet dollars to donuts that it's set up for the gauges of the J74 set. Going to the J75s would likely increase the action at the nut slightly (you can always lower the bridge if you need to). If you ask me, I'd recommend you try the J74s, the J75s and the Gibson "Sam Bush" monel strings. Coated strings are a different family. Silk and steel strings just don't strike me as bluegrass strings (I've used them on my A3 and liked them for a more mellow/woody sound).

fatt just-a-little-free-advice dad

[Smyers]

I agree with Fatt-Dad.

You'll have to try several to see what you like. #I have what is basicaly a Weber Custom Gallatin, called a special edition. #It had J74's on it when I bought it few months back and it sounded great, or I would not have bought it obviously. #I changed them out to Gibson Monels (Sam Bush strings) a couple of months ago, just to try something a bit different. #Definitely makes it warmer (more rich low mids) gives it more low end harmonics even though it was great in that department to begin with. #A hard chop is like being hit with a bat with this mando with the Monel strings. #Good stuff.

I did lower my action a bit with the monels, as they are a little stronger than the J74's. #It is now easier to finger than it was even with the J74's. #I should have lowered it sooner! #It would probably play like soft butter now with J74's.

While I like the monels, the J74's sounded good too. #They are just different. #I think what I like most about the monels is that with the right pick, the mando sounds "right" for playing just about anything. #With my "classical" pick, celtic and eastern european music sound smooth and lilting, as it should. #Then I can change to a harder, more rounded pick for bluegrass stype music and it sounds "right", with a deep woody chop and the correct tone for the style. #On my previous mando, I couldn't seem to make this happen, but I never tried monels on it either. #Not that monels are the "secret weapon" strings or anything. #They just work well on this particular mando.

But every mando is different, even in the same model. #There just isn't any short cut to experiementation with different strings on different mandos. #And since most strings don't cost that much, it won't break the bank to try a new set every couple of months. #I would suggest leaving each set on at least a month to give them a fair run. #Have fun experiementing! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[RI-Grass]

I like Monels on my Webers. No adjustments necessary ... just slap 'em on. In my opionion, they make the mando sound "sweeter".

Sal

[Harrmob]

I have the same mando, and use J-74s. #Actually when I purchased it (new), the nut slots were too narrow for 74s. #I had to get a little set up work on the nut, but I still apply a little chapstick every couple of months on my saddle and nut to keep them lubbed up. #The 75s normally buzz for about a week for some reason, so I stick with the 74s. #That Weber tailpeice can be a pain sometimes to re-string. #I find it best to hold the mandolin upside down, headstock to the floor and look directly down the tailepeice to get the loop of the string in (putting the string in tailpiece in the direction of the bridge to strap pin).

[keymandoplyr]

I like JS74s as I dont care at all for bronze phosphor seems like they turn dark and black my fingers way too soon. Just my opinion http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[biscuit]

You just can't beat J74s.

[Blueglass]

for some reason I liek those D'addario string on my Weber too. Seems a common theme.
John Pearse makes a nice string and for a while I remember Weber mandolin came shipped with them on.

[Greg H.]

Or, if you like the heavier G string on the J75s but want the lighter treble strings of J74s the Gibson Bill Monroes are a good compromise (also, if you break strings at all, just try and find singles for the 11.5 E strings in the J75s). That said, J75s are generally my choice of strings, most other just feel too light to me.