Mellowing Out a Rigel A+

[John Flynn]

I have a Rigel A+ Deluxe, which I have played hard for about a year and half. I really like the playability, the volume, the overall design and the fact that it stays in tune really well. Also, it was a present from my wife, so I'm keeping it, and a better second mando is not in the budget right now. It has to stay as my main mando for the forseeable future. I play church music and old-time music in two performing bands. Had I been into old-time as much as I am now a year and half ago, I might have made another choice, but that is water under the bridge.

Until recently, the tonal qualities of the A+ were not a problem for me. I was never wild about the tone, but it sounded very acceptable to me and I did get some unsolicited compliments from other musicians on the tone. Twice recently, however, I recorded my old-time band. Both were not professional recordings by any means. One was with a cheap mike and a mini-disc im my living room and the other was at a festival through the built in mike on a video recorder. The other instruments sound fine on those recordings and I am satisfied with my playing, but I am not happy with the mando tone.

As someone else on the board commented about the A+, the tone seems too "in your face." It has an almost "jangly," "metallic" sound, without much complexity, for lack of a better description. It's a tone that would actually be almost perfect for Yank Rachell-style blues, but not for old-time. BTW, the mando has a professional set up, I use J74s and a Dunlop Ultex 1.14 pick.

Here is my question: Does anyone have any direct experience with mellowing out a mandolin that has a sound like that? I have access to a great luthier and I am open to different nuts, bridges, strings, picks, etc, but I would prefer to make the changes and get it over with and not do too much experimentation. I would really like to hear from some people who have actually solved a similar problem. Thanks in advance.

[JimW]

jflynnstl, I have a suggestion for you. I know the sound you talk about and I prefer a more mellow, woody sounding instrument as well. My suggestion to you would be try some Gibson Sam Bush monel wound strings. I won't use anything else. They don't have that metalic sound to them, they will give you a woody tone right from the beginning. To my ear, they make every instrument I've put them on sound less "harsh". As a side benefit, they last forever and cost about the same as J74's.

Jim

[Steve L]

Johnny, I'm not a Rigel player, but I am a convert to the Thomastik strings. #You might try a set of their medium gauge...the effects I noticed on my 2 maple backed flat tops sounds like what you would like to happen with your axe. #They do, in my experience, last long enough to justify the price. Mandohack/Ted E. has the best prices I've found through his shop Dietz Music. #(Ted, I'm expecting a commision on any of Johnny's purchases http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif .)

[MikeB]

If the Monels don't work, try T-Is. Get "Starks." You will get mellow and wood to burn.

[Michael H Geimer]

I was looking to mellow out my Weber, and Ken Sager suggested the Sam Bush / monel strings, and I am very happy with the tone. I can only describe the change as more 'Gibson-like' in its tone ... maybe even 'dryer'.

Now, my experience was on a Weber, so YMMV, but at the cost of string change you might as well find out.

- Benig

[Mteresko]

I've tried the Gibson monels and the T-I's on my A+, and really like the monels. The T-I's, while great feeling, are a little too mellow for my tastes. I am a compulsive string tester, but I keep going back to the monels. They have a nice warm, woody-ish tone on the A+. I don't think my Rigel will ever have a truly woody tone. Its almost three years old and regularly played, and it has a very nice, lively, but inherently neutral sort of sound. If you are going to record or play amplified using the internal pickup, you might try running it through an ART tube preamp. You can find one for about $50. I've played around with one doing home recording, and they add a little extra warmth to the sound.

[Ted Eschliman]

Thanks for the plug, Steve, and the check's in the mail...
Seriously, I've been through the same thing, having gone through the D'Addario EXPs on my CT110, but now Rigel Blue is permanently strung with TIs (medium, however).
I did use the Sam Bush Monels on my F9, but my experience on that critter where they were more "metalic" than the TIs, but that was quite appropriate on that instrument.
I'm amazed at the "roundness" and balance I get out of the TI's on the CT; I use this for church, jazz, and classical, and it meets those needs quite well.
I know Peter always sends the Rigels out with the phos bronze. I have a beautiful Burgundyburst A+ Deluxe I'm getting ready to sell, and I fight the temptation to change the strings first because I know my tastes lean more towards a less "brilliant" sound.
I'd be very surprised if these strings are not your answer, and it's much cheaper than any of the other alternatives you listed.

[GBG]

You may want to try a set of the D'Addario JS74 strings (Just Strings have them). They have a heavier A string which may be an advantage over the Sam Bush set. Also, I would consider calling or emailing Rigel for their advice.

[keithd]

Does anyone know the string guages and tensions for Gibson's Sam Bush Monel sets (Just Strings does list them in detail - just .11-.41)? Thanks!

Keith

[ira]

the flattops give a nice mellow sound as well

[John Flynn]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. They are very helpful. Please keep them coming! As much as I don't like to experiment (or change strings!) I will probably wind up trying all these strings over the course of the Summer and see what happens. If anyone has any other ideas, please add to the list!

[jasona]

You can mellow the tone by using a thick pick, like a Golden Gate or Dunlop 208.

[JGWoods]

Agreed with jasona above- I get more change in tone by pick selection than anything else. After that the TI strings make a very big difference- mellower. I had them on my Rigel G110 for most of the winter and spring. Right now I am using DRs and they sound like uh, generic strings- like ghs, d'addario etc.

gw

[Joe Mendel]

John,
Give me a call. I'll have a bunch of strings to try shortly, & I might have a fossilized ivory saddle that we could try, if it fits your mando.

[mandroid]

GHS silk&steel are another option.
Theyre silvered copper like windings on classical strings, but steel core wire. .011 E

[Damnation Gulch]

WOW, $30 for a pack of T I's? I guess they must be great eh?

[Ted Eschliman]

Not to get into a pricing war, but there are reputable dealers on board that will sell these for far less than $30 (including shipping)...
And certainly, the TIs are great.

[sandcastlefaith]

I had the same problem using normal Dunlop and fender heavy picks on my F-9. If I were you, try some of the David Grisman Dawg picks. It takes away some volume from the mandolin, but makes up double in tone. Also, I agree, try the Thomastiks, they're great, and they last forever too. They may seem expensive, but in the time they last, you would probably end up buying 2 or even 3 sets of other strings. Plus, they sound and feel great.