FT 74's- bad experience

[erick]

I tried a set of D'Addario flat top 74's on my Collings last week. It was the first time I've ever really disliked a new set of strings enough to take 'em off while still new.

The big thing for me was the pick friction-- these strings seem to hold onto the pick longer than other strings. The pick didn't glide off the edge of the string like on other sets I've tried; the finer wind offers more resistance to the pick surface.

The other issue was the tone- the strings I tried had a kind of high harmonic buzz ( not a nut width issue) that I didn't like.

I going back to J74's and Monels...

[John Flynn]

I friend of mine in the music business uses them on his guitar and he gave me some mando FTs to try, although I haven't put them on yet. He said they really take some break in. When they are new, they have just the problems you describe. He said they come into thier own when they have a couple of week's hard playing on them. I am going to try them on my Rigel later this summer. I'll let the board know how that goes.

[Martin Jonas]

I had the same experience and found it so off-putting that I took them off after about a week. Maybe I should have persevered longer, but I also didn't like the tone much -- too muted and none of the chime-like clarity of J74s.

By comparison, I am currently using Lenzner "Bronce" strings on my bowlback. Like the FT74s, they are also polished round-wound phosphorous bronze strings, just much lighter gauge. Straight out of the pack, they had the same problem with pick friction. However, with the Lenzners, that disappeared after about two hours playing time.

In the end, string preferences depend so much on the characteristics of the individual mandolin, type of music and playing style that recommendations and dis-recommendations are of limited value; unfortunately, everyone of us is stuck with trying them all out ourselves.

Martin

[GBG]

Any strings that have a 2 week break-in period are unacceptable, unless it's on a mandolin that is not played much. 2 hours is reasonable.

[Talon]

I like them for practicing with band. Long long hours on multiple days can wear on the fingers. I find them very comfortable for this. I change them to J74's for tone, if playing out. I've heard T-I's will serve for comfort and tone better, but haven't tried them yet.

[ira]

i find a day or 2 rather than a week or 2. so far, pretty happy with em. i rub my fingers the length of the strings to give some natural oil, and that has helped. i personally love the tone= quite clean and strong.

[Dfyngravity]

it really depends on the mando too. however, i love the flat tops. the wound A string is perfect. i play a lot of classical and jazz and the just seem right to me for what i play. but they do sound great playinf bluegrass too. chris thile use to and maybe still does use flat tops. and like others said they do sound a lot better after played a lot. it usually takes me about a day to get them sounds pretty good. but i play 24/7 so i break them im pretty quick.

[potatoe]

does the wound A string stay in tune longer then say.........a J74 A would?

[Dfyngravity]

i am not 100% positive because i have never put the regular j74 on my mandolin until last night. someone gave me a set before to try and i had never put them on because i usually use the flat tops. but after i read this and replied i decided to give them a try to compare them. so far the sound is a little different to me. i haven't played them enought yet to break them in(put them on last night around 12), play on them for about 2 hours. however, the A string is definitly different, the tone is the main difference. with the wound A string is doesn't sound that different going up the strings say on a scale and playing an open A string after a G or G# on the D string. but with the non wound you really can tell. as far as them lasting longer? well i don't know yet but i will soon. depending on how much i play i can usually go through a set of strings in well less then a month. so we will find out.