Strings on a bowl back?

[sstiner]

I just received a nice old bowl back from *bay for use while my eastman is in getting larger frets. What type of strings should I use? I have some martin Bluegrass 80/20 bronz .011-.038 that I will never use. will they do the job?
Thanks for your help http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[brunello97]

Well, my advice would be to use very light strings (09-34). This may sound pretty wimpy if you are used to archtops, but bowlback necks are quite susceptible to over-tensioning. I use GHS extra-light and while they don't last real long, they sound decent. There are more expensive/longer lasting strings, many recommendations of which can be found using the SEARCH over in the Classical section of the MC.

What type of bowlback did you get? Do you have any photos to share?

Mick

[sstiner]

Mick...thanks for your response and non to soon! I was just cleaning it up and was really thinking about the bluegrass strings and never gave a thought to the neck and the tension! you probably just saved me and my mando.I will make a trip into town and get some light strings.
I do not have any pictures but here is the link to the auction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360034104338

It looked good and was pretty cheap. The actual instrument is very nice 24 ribs and the are very nice. the fret board is some open gain wood maybe oak and is swtained and finished. I can't wait to hear it.
Thanks for your thought on the strings

[Joel Spaulding]

I guess I should probably change the Bill Monroe set that is on my Sakis bowlback?
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif #
Our local(within 15 minutes) stores don't have much selection with regards to strings - Perhaps the set of Elixir lights (0.010 - 0.034") I recently obtained would be more appropriate - and better for the instrument's health?

Should I expect a major difference in tone w/ the change, ie, will it sound more "like a bowlback should"? To this point have only played "medium" Gibson, GHS or D'Addarios.

Thanks for any info!

Joel

[Jim Garber]

What you have (I think) resembles the Suzuki made bowlbacks and they are not quite a delicate as the vintage ones. Still I think you might not want to put bluegrass gauge strings on it. I would go with J-62 Daddarios or other light gauge ones. I think the ultralight will prob be too light and unnecessary. Those Suzukis are not the most responsive insturments as I recall and you need some tension to drive them.

[vkioulaphides]

Having played (but never owned) several of Sakis' bowlbacks, I would recommend the same kind of light strings as you would use on any bowlback. Also, since Greek mandolins have virtually no cant to speak of, I would be VERY cautious not to cause the top to cave in by excess pressure. As a matter of personal taste, I would prefer extra-light bronze-wound strings on such an instrument (e.g. GHS, Lenzner/Fisoma, etc.) At least that's what I have on my own Greek mandolin (not BY Sakis, but similar). These instruments are SUPER-responsive, even to the lightest of touches. You don't need to string them heavily for them to resonate nor, of course, do you want to dampen them with, say, Thomastik flat-wound strings.

[sstiner]

Thank you all for your response. I ordered some GHS extra light for bowl back from juststings.com last night. Actually ordered several things I needed. First time I used them but they sponsor the site so I gave them the business.
Thanks for telling me my mando is greek. I thought spanish. If you have any info I would love to hear about it. How old so you think it is. It is very nice shape. I cleaned it and cleaned the frets and it looks just as good as the photos. I thought the price was good! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Joel Spaulding]

vkioulaphides -

Your advice is much appreciated! I happen to have the elixirs in hand so they will be changed out when I return home. I have not noted any issues with the top at this point even after keeping the instrument in tune for several months with the heavier strings - but the possibility has always been floating in my subconcious(ness). I will order several sets of bronze wounds to compare with the elixirs (which I have never actually tried).
Can you tell me anything about the Sakis instruments in general - or point me in a proper direction? I don't mind doing my own research, but to this point I have only discovered a few citations on-line and very little in english. I made this purchase #honestly because I received a bonus, walked into a music store and the Sakis was the only mandolin in residence and the tone and looks were very appealing.
Again I appreciate you sharing your expertise.
thanks,
Joel

sstiner -
See jgarber's post above. I believe the Greek origin was in reference to the Sakis mandolin in my first post. No intentional thread hijack! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #- Sounds like we have similar questions, both answered by the knowledgeable crew on this forum.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif #( now we need a mandosmiley wielding a bowlback...)

[8ch(pl)]

I posted this advice in another thread, but if you want to string it up without ordering the appropriate strings, you can use 2 sets of Tenor Banjo strings, that are .009 to .032 or possibly a bit lighter. it wil cost a bit more but you should be able to locate them almost anywhere.

[Jim Garber]

Thanks for telling me my mando is greek. I thought spanish.
Yes, another poster noticed also. Suzuki was and is a maker in Japan and they made many similar bowlback models (as well as violins and other instruments) under their own name as well as others. They are all decent instruments and some models are actually quite nice tho the one I had was one of my first bowlbacks and did not have the ringing sweet tone of subsequent ones.

Here is the one I used to own.

[vkioulaphides]

Yes, Sakis, a.k.a. the Matsikas (http://www.matsikas.gr/) firm is Greek— as am I. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif Please just call me Victor, though; I forgot to sign my post above with my far simpler first name. Sorry...

The site is in Greek but, let me help you out: from the home page, hit the second link from the top (it reads "Products" in Greek). Once you get to the Products page, hit the second link on the second COLUMN (which reads "Mandolin" in Greek). You will then get to a three-page PDF with all the models currently on offer, and will easily find the one like yours.

Mátsikas is the only "mass producer" of mandolins in Greece; there are also 40-some luthiers building mandolins —secondarily, only, their primary products being of course bouzoukis— in smaller, private ateliers. Sakis/Mátsikas instruments are quite respectable, considering they are factory products. While I am certainly no salesperson for the firm (nor, as I mentioned above, do I actually own any of the firm's mandolins), I believe that they deliver a very favorable quality-to-price ratio, and FAR above what you get from, say, Musikalia.

On the other hand, if one is willing to spend considerably more, there are Spourdalakis, Dekavallas, Tsakirian, who can work wonders—#for a price, of course. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Cheers,

Victor

[John Bertotti]

Just when I thought I was over the Spourdalakis mas bug Victor has to bring them up! and now the dollar is down so far. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif