Cryogenic strings?

[vfont]

Is anyone making cryogenic strings for mandolins yet? They are very hot in the banjo world right now and known for their good tone and longevity. I'm just wondering.

[Bertram Henze]

Since all the fancy technologies are applied to bulk products first, I suspect mandolin strings will be among the last to be invaded.

"Cryogenic" just means an extreme form of quenching, an old technique applied to steel for raising the percentage of austenitic microstructure at room temperature, in other words to harden the surface. Instead of water or oil, the cryogenic process uses liquid nitrogen.

I'd rather be interested in hardened frets than in hardened strings that probably wear down soft frets faster.

Bertram

[fredfrank]

The 'only' strings that I'm aware of that is receiving this treatment are banjo strings from American Made Banjo Co. I just happen to play banjo as one of my many vices, and have tried these strings.

They sound incredible and last virtually forever. I changed a set on my banjo after four months just because I couldn't believe they were still good. The new ones sounded identical to the old ones.

I asked Tom Mirasola at AMB about whether they had any plans to do mandolin strings, and he said not at this time.

[Bill Snyder]

Martin has cryogenic guitar strings available.