"A" String Problems

[ourgang]

Here's a question that may have gone around several times already. Why are the "A" strings on a mandolin always so much of a problem? Every mandolin player that I know, including myself, always has a problem. Seems the A strings are always going out of tune, or if there is a dead string, it is always the A. Any thoughts on this?

[LaVonne]

Well, I don’t have an answer but I can certainly second your observation I have 2 quite different mandolins, a Weber Absaroka and a Collings MF. I think A string problems especially more easily going out of tune is more pronounced on the Weber but its noticeable on both.

[Unseen122]

I noticed that and I have no idea why. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[potatoe]

if i remember correctly the 'tension at pitch' of the 'a' string is considerably less then that of the other strings. at least thats how it is on my J74's. ill try to get some numbers on that.

[vkioulaphides]

[QUOTE]"...the 'tension at pitch' of the 'a' string is considerably less then that of the other strings."

I think so, too, although I have no scientific evidence to support my impression. That's exactly why the Lenzner company (in Germany) makes wound A-strings for its "Consort" set. I have used some of those and —surprise!— the A-strings stay in tune for an eternity and then some. The Consort set is: bronze-wound G's and D's (with hexagonal steel core), aluminum-wound A's, plain (steel) E's.

[Randy42649]

I think part of the problem here (at least with me) is the way we rest our hand on the bridge and our palms end up putting pressure on the A strings and that can pull them out of tune. I realize that isn't the entire problem but I think it is a significant contributor. The tension thing is probably the major player in the problem.
Randy

[Dfyngravity]

i have found that too on normal sets of strings. however, i use and have been using flat tops for some time now and the A string stays in tune for me just as long as the rest of em.

[Tennessee Jed]

Maybe it's just me but I think that play the A string more than any other and that can be the part of the reason that it gets out of tune.

[Tim Saxton]

I was told it is because the compensation is off on the Loar style bridge? Any truth there?

Tim Saxton

[dixiecreek]

My A string is always always always flat. The first one gives me a lot more grief than the second one. Don't know what that's about, but it drives me nuts. I've tried 3 different brands of strings, and they all have given me the same problem. So yeah. Ugh.

[Michael Lewis]

A very common problem with staying in tune is that there is so much friction in the nut. The slots need to be at least as wide as the strings that fit in them and they shoud be smooth in the bottom, and lubed with graphite. When all this is well adjusted you should not have problems staying in tune.

[Rich]

I also have made this observation about the A sting and have gone with the Tomastik middle gauge flat-wound A sting. I use J-74s on the others, but the Flat wound A string does a much much better job of staying in tune. The A string is the hardest part of playing the mandolin -- I think it's just a "second" string problem. On the guitar it's always the dam* "B" string!