What kind of strings do use?

[jamesallen]

I usually use D'addario Phosphor Bronze and think they sound pretty good. I've only been playing mando for a little over a year and really don't try other brands that often because I like the D'Addarios and they've been my favorite strings for acoustic guitar for several years. Does anyone have any brand that you absolutely swear by? Let's hear it.

[Jim Broyles]

There are a few different sets of D'Addario Phosphor bronze mandolin strings that are very popular among players. I like the J-74s and J-75s. I also like Gibson Bill Monroes and my current favorites are GHS Silk and Bronze. They last forever and have great bass and ringing trebles. They sound great on my mandolin.

[Mike Snyder]

EXP74s Non-coated strings die too quickly under my sweaty little meathooks.
I,d like to try flatwound stuff like TI etc. but always hear that they have less volume, and that won't cut it with the loud crowd I hang with.

[mandroid]

Phosphor bronze is the alloy wrapped around the G & D strings , brands matter less than just finding the Gages that feel right, tend to be in progressively thicker sets .010-36~38/.011 or.0115 -40, ...

[Richard Russell]

Been using D'Addario J74s for awhile, just tried the GHS Silk & Steel and they are VERY NICE. I honestly like just about any set, as long as they are fairly new. I've tried and liked the Gibson Sam Bush and the Monroe sets. I will be trying the EXP74 set soon... the thought of not changing strings but having a fresh sounding set seems nice.

By the way, I just ordered an assortment from First Quality Music and I must say that their prices were fantastic! You may want to check them out.

[f5loar]

For the past 30 years I have gone with GHS PF270. Just the right guage and last the longest. Love that .16 A. Second favorite would be the Bill Monroe Gibsons and then third the Sam Bush Gibsons with a .16 in place of the whimpy .14 that Sam seems to embrace.

[Ivan Kelsall]

I like the tone & volume i get with D'Addario J74's. I must admit though,i'd like to try maybe the EXP74's & the GHS Silk & Bronze strings as well as the Gibson Sam Bush strings used by quite a few players on here. Maybe in my next order from the USA,i'll ask for a set of each as well as my usual supply of good ole' J74's. The string sets above are just too expensive over here to go out & buy a set - $28 (£14 UK) for EXP 74's if you can get 'em, & i don't know any store that stocks the Sam Bush strings at all,
Saska

[eestimando]

You should try Thomastik Infeld - they are very special. Sweet, lyrical and caressing sound. You fall in love these strings immidiately. They are handmade and very comfortable to play. I use medium set. But I expect they are not the best for every style (bluegrass?).

[John Flynn]

My current favorites are the EXP77's. They have the long life of the EXP74's and are the same gauge strings, but they they have a "drier" sound, meaning fewer overtones. I especially like them on oval hole mandolins. They really bring out that signature oval sound.

Thomastik Infeld strings are really mellow, so I like them on my travel mandolin. That instrument can sound tinny with bronze strings, but I don't need a lot of volume in the hotel room, so they are a perfect match. Also they last a loooooong time!

[Ken Olmstead]

I use Sam Bush strings currently and J74s are my other brand. I tied several others but these are the ones that sound best on my Fern. The 74s only last 3 weeks for me but the Bush strings last at least double that. I would rather play than change strings! :) Also, the Bush set works very well for the alternate tuning for "Last Day's on Earth!"

[Mandolusional]

On my mandolin, Gibson Monels sound the best, and they last the longest so it's a double win! I get a more punchy, bluegrass tone compared to J74s or EXP74s, which seem to give a tinnier sound on my instrument. It varies from one mandolin to the next I think.

[Bill Van Liere]

Whenever I acquire a new or different instrument I try out a bunch of different strings (and picks) to find the best the sound I can get on that mando and I highly reccomend that you do that also, Here is what I ended up with:

On my Italian top Brentrup I use GHS PF270, I like the .16 A string just like F5Loar says, it is very rare that I break one of these. On my BRW Adirondack top the GHS sounded a bit bright and not very warm so I eventually landed on the D....J74 thing like many else. Ben Wilcox said that was also his favorite string for BRW. I never had much luck with the EXP or any other coated string but I have talked with quite a few pros who just love those things. I use a Dunlop .88 on the Brenty and a Wegan 140 on the BR.

So go try one of each cause we are all different.

[Tony Sz]

FIREWIRE strings, they're expensive, and hard to find (available from their website, though), but I like them on a number of different mandolins. Also, once they're broken in, they maintain a consistent tone over a long stretch, at least that's been my experience.

[Sean Greer]

Like a few others, I'm using Gibson Sam Bush Monels on my Weber Fern. As others have said, the monels give a nice bluegrass sound without the sustain of the phosphor bronze J74s and others. I too am getting a month or more out of them, which is a bonus. I put some J75s on it recently and took them off after about 10 minutes of playing. After playing the Gibsons with the light A string the 75s felt way too tight and required a lot more finesse to get good tone.

I have a Weber oval hole that I've been using Elixir mediums on. For this instrument I like the tone and sustain that the Elixirs provide. Though I might start trying some other, like the EXPs from D'Addario.

On the Kentucky "beater" that I just acquired I'm using J74s and am reasonable happy with them so far.

All of this has reminded me: time to put in an order for strings!

[foldedpath]

I like Thomastik Infeld flatwound "Starks" (heavy, but actually more like mediums for other brands). Very comfortable under the fingers, with a beautiful woody tone. If I was only playing solo for myself, or in small jams with quieter instruments, I'd keep them on all the time.

However, I've started playing in a trio where the mando has to fit into a mix of fiddle and sometimes fiddle + clarinet, and I'm not 100% happy with how the TI's work in that situation. The A and E strings are fine, but the G and D strings are easily swamped in the mix. They're just a little too dark and soft-sounding. It's an ideal tone (to my ears) for solo playing, but I need more "cut" on the bass strings for this trio.

So I'm trying the Gibson monel (Sam Bush) strings for now. There is more pick scratch and finger squeak than the TI's, and they don't sound as sweet for solo playing. But I think they hold up better in the group mix with other instruments.

I can see where this is headed.... clearly, I need to buy another nice mandolin I can keep at home for solo play with TI Starks, so I can keep the Sam Bush strings on the gigging mando.
:grin:

[allenhopkins]

Donels. You've never heard of them. Dave Stutzman of Stutzman's Guitar Center (http://www.stutzmansguitarcenter.com/) has them made by one of the big string companies. Don't know if they're better or worse than the other brands mentioned above, but I've been dealing with Dave and his father for 40+ years, so I stick with 'em. Work fine for me.

[Mike Bunting]

I prefer the monels, replacing the A's with a heavier pair.

[Jonathan Peck]

Just curious if a the Monel fans have tried the D'addario JS 74's (stainless) set.

[mandroid]

Well, james-allen, As you can see opinions are abundant.

get a few different sets of strings , and over the next year you can try different ones,
and see what you think.

myself , different mandolins wear a number of the string options.
(just part of what makes them individuals)

silk and steel [silvered copper], bronze, brass ['bright bronze'], monel, stainless, and nickel.

:popcorn:

[Don Grieser]

I've been using EXP77s on ovals and f holes both. Not nearly as obnoxious as EXP74s when you first put them on and they settle in quickly and last just as long.

[Mike Bunting]

Just curious if a the Monel fans have tried the D'addario JS 74's (stainless) set.
Yes, I tried them but they just weren't the same.


get a few different sets of strings , and over the next year you can try different ones and see what you think.
Been there, done that. The strings I use now suit my mando for my ear at this time.

[herbsandspices]

They're made out of some kind of metal.. the bigger ones make funny noises when I scratch 'em with my fingernails.

:mandosmiley:

[mandopete]

What kind of strings do I use for what?

[JEStanek]

I like the Jazzmando JM11s, and the TI Mittels. I'm trying Silk and Bronze on the LaBraid next. Here's the string I recommend most for banjos.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Dental_floss_(whole).jpg/634px-Dental_floss_(whole).jpg

I'm kidding. Really. Tooooo easy of a joke.

Jamie :grin:

[woodwizard]

Been trying out my 1st set of TI's. (For over 4 months now) They are great! And still sound great!Atleast on my mando. I'm ordering another set but will change out to a Elixer set while I'm waiting and when the time comes I'll switch back to the TI Starks. I really like them that much. I've still got plenty of volume with them too.

[woodwizard]

JEStanek: Here's the string I recommend most for banjos.
*****************
Nice one! :))

[jimbob]

I had used J-74's until about a year ago when I was trying to find strings to give my mando a little dryer sound. I tried GHS silk and steel and they were OK, but not exactly what I was looking for. I ordered a couple of sets of Sam Bush strings and now really like that choice. I only have them on one mandolin now, but intend to try on my Bibey soon....maybe this evening. The steel seemd to help produce a little dryer sound over the bronze.

[MitchellB]

Currently I use medium gauge GHS but I have been thinking about trying the Gibson Sam Bush strings when my case of GHSs run out.

[Stephanie Reiser]

I use J-74's for my F-4 and FT-74's for my F-5. Just love that wound pair of A's.

[fwoompf]

I absolutely love Firewire strings.