So, what size of strings do you use?

[cam]

I've got a GHS 11-16-26-40 set on just now, described as medium, but they feel pretty tough to me especially for chords and hammers/pull-offs.

[mandoJeremy]

11, 14, 26, 41

[potatoe]

J74s

11 - 15 - 26 - 40

[John Flynn]

At least 21 inches long. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[evanreilly]

.012, .016, .026 & .040. I buy them in bulk from Juststrings.com.

[mandroid]

some instruments get .010,{A-0/A4} some less,.009[MB} some more,.011-40 set on the F5,which was setup with lower action so the heavier strings don't have far to go to frets W/7+ 'dwarves' #it depends. {aka adult Nappies) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[sandcastlefaith]

I use the Thomastik-Infeld heavy guages, and they don't tell you what guage the strings are, other than heavy. I guess I'll have to find out. I used to use Elixir .011's.

[AlanN]

not sure of the guages, but I got EXP on now, really like them

[Dennis Schubert]

I use 0.011 to 0.040, seems to be a pretty common choice.

Cam, is your action set too high? Maybe a few turns on the bridge adjustment screws would take a bit of the pain out of those string gages.

[Will Little]

I use gibson monel wound strings as using bronze strings with my pickup seemed to cause some problems with amplification.

I'm pretty sure I use .11s

[Potosimando]

I have what I assume is an odd "combination" of strings on my Givens that sure seems to work well for it. #I use FT74's on the G and the D strings (semi-flat-wound .039 and .026) and J75's on the A and E (.016 and .0115). #This appears to give me more strength on the upper end than the FT74's offered, but left that mellow resonant lower end that FT74's are so good at delivering.

My Coombe came with FT74's, which seem just about perfect for that instrument (no surprise that Peter would find just the perfect string for his oh-so-carefully-designed-and-crafted instruments, huh?). #However, I put some TI heavies on the Coombe the other night and am not sure whether I prefer the added sweetness of the TI's or the noticeably "stronger" FT74's. I plan to leave the TI's on the Coombe for a couple of months and then switch back to the FT74's to get a better feel for which would be better on that instrument.

[STLmandoteacher]

I've been using this set for a couple of years now:
http://www.daddariostrings.com/Resources/JDCDAD/Images/Products/J75.gif

They sound great on vintage Gibsons. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[straight-a]

I use the Gibson Monroe set but I wish I could get the G in .39 rather than .41. It's just slightly heavier than I like for my mandolin.

[jimshanks]

Anyone help with gauges of strings for a mandola? I have just broken the first string. The instrument has five pairs of strings. The bottom four pairs are tuned an octave lower than a mandolin and the top pair (one of which I have just broken) is tuned to B.The string length would haave to be >25inches.

[Bandersnatch Reverb]

I'll add this just for the oddballs in the crowd (like me).

Tacoma mandolin (flattop). Was using .009 Ernie Balls. But that was because the nut was cut a bit high and it made the action a little easier at the first two frets.

Now I've recut the nut and will be graduating to .010 of some sort, probably D'Addario or EB, both have given me good service on acoustic guitar

[8ch(pl)]

I usually put Darco (Martin) lights on my Mid Missouri. Or GHS ligts, which Mike Dulac says is the factory supplied strings. I don't know if a medium string is better, or recommended for the MId Mo.

I had mediums (.011 to .040) on my Samick A and have a few sets of these which I am going to use up on the Samick.

The Darco lights have a really nice sound, especially when new. They seem to deteriorate "suddenly" and that's when I chage them.

I like a lighter monel wound for my oval holed mandolins, but for the my Loar and all other F or S holed style mandolins I use .115, .26, .34, .41 Black Diamond Bluegrass heavy. They really give the punch I'm after.

[mandonewbie]

Been using the GHS Lights, and I really like them on my
KM-150S