Tried my first Thomastik Infield strings

[LaVonne]

Hi everyone,

I’m currently playing my first 2 sets of Thomastik Infield strings (mediums) on my 2 mando’s. I put the first set on my Collings MF in mid July and they still sound and feel like new. I play at least an hour a day. I love these strings and can’t imagine ever using anything else. My question is how long to they typically last? I know everyone has different body chemistry and playing style so this is a pretty subjective question. I’m just wondering what others have experienced.

Thanks
LaVonne

[MikeB]

I wish I could answer that, LaVonne. I put TIs on my MF, too, loved them for about a week, then lost it, I guess. Same thing happened to my buddy on his Brentrup.
I missed the crispness of bronze, I guess. I'm back to GHS Silk & Bronze.

Glad you are satisfied with yours....I should send you mine. They are hardly used. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Dave Voyles]

I just put a set on my Muth. A real change from the EXP74's I was using and just the sound I wanted for playing in the Mandolin Orchestra. If I could just figure out how to quick change back when I play Bluegrass. I guess the only answer is to buy another mandolin???

[John Flynn]

I agree with MikeB. I am really ambivalent about T-Is. One one hand, they have a nice feel and a great, mellow tone, but on the other hand, they lack any significant volume or punch. My first reaction after putting a new set on was: If a set of J74s sounded like this, I would say they were dead as a doornail and I waited way too long to change them. I think they are fine for playing solo or heavily amplified, but don't try to hunt banjos with them. I think how long they last is subjective. They hold the tone they have for a really long time, but to some extent, they are dead from day one. I will leave them on my beater/practice mando, but give me J74s for playing out.

[Jmoss]

Baker and I have been using Thomastik Superflexibles
since the 1970's. #I wouldn't use anything else.

On the other hand, Frank will only use Gibson strings.

Jim Moss
FWB

[mikeyes]

I think it depends on several factors. The first is what kind of sound you want from your instrument - TIs are great for orchestral and Celtic if you have a bluegrass style mandolin and they do mike well, even in a BG environment.
Each instrument will have a different response to TIs and I found that my A-5 clone worked best with them. Overall they are not the best for my instruments for BG music as the J-74s and JS-74s have a crisper and louder sound that I find works on my two F5Ls.
They have several advantages: they last forever and they are easy to play. I really like them (in spite of the cost, but hey, an mandolin can cost $7000 so why be stingy with the strings?) and they did the job I wanted them to do, play Celtic in a group. Now I am more BG oriented and have changed them out.

[wah]

I finally changed the TI's on my '60 Gibson A-5 last month. I put Stark's on her last July so I guess they lasted a while. I just don't know why I would want to put any other string on her - it's a marraige made in heaven and sounds like it.

Wayne

[Doug Edwards]

I used them (Stark) for 10 weeks. I really liked the feel and they sounded good. Like MikeB, I went back to the GHS Silk & Bronze. They had a better bottom end and crisper sound. The TI's had great mids and trebles but lacked some on the bottom end.

[wah]

So far the GHS silk and bronze are my favorite on the Pomeroy F. I've still got a couple of strings I want to try. But, like I said, those TI stark's on the Gibson A (it is an oval hole) just sing.

Wayne

[Hubert Angaiak]

They are nice strings and I've tried them on '14 F-2, Nug and Old Town emando. I really liked the mids and the treble, but it either what you are used to or what you use them for. I ended getting back to phos-bronze and nickel strings. I've tried both the mids and starks and they are expensive, but sometimes you just have to break down and try them out.

[John Craton]

I use Infelds almost exclusively, but I would say with the others here that it depends on what style you play. They were designed mainly for mandolin orchestras, though many classical soloists in Europe use them as well. Don't know how they sound on anything but bowlbacks. I play classical, and they're great for what I do, but I feel they probably lack the oomph you'd want for bluegrass-type playing.

[Bob A]

I'm pretty sure that the bowlback I just got has Thomastik strings on it. I've got several bowlbacks, and love the way they sound, but I'm not all that pleased with the new one. I'm pretty sure it's the strings that are keeping me cool toward it, but I'm too cheap to change what looks like a new set of expensive strings. Bowlbacks should be a lot brighter-sounding than this one seems to be.

The German classical mando tradition is tilted heavily toward flatwound strings and rubbery picks that give no pick noise, and big tubby mandolins. Best of luck to them - it doesn't float my personal boat.

[mandorado]

To answer your question (and not go off on a tangent about how good or bad TI's sound, or give you some other bla bla bla about other strings), I think you will find they start to go after about three or four months. I can usually hear them start to loose some of their tone, and it seems like they all go about the same time for me.
I like the TI's a lot. I also throw on a pair of J74's between every set just to remind me what I don't like about them ... on MY mandolin.
My Pomeroy has a great bottom end, and it seems to sound just as loud with TI's as with the J74. Different, but just as loud. What I like is the SWEET tone they have. Make's tuning and playing a joy.
That's my 2 cents. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Steve S.]

I'm thinking about going from mittels to starks on my rigel a+. Is the change in tension, etc. significant enough to be concerned about having to change the set up? Also, will the change in the feel of the strings be noticeable? I like the way the mittels feel and how they hold tune, but find the tone uninspiring to put it mildly. Does anyway think that changing to starks will be an improvement tonewise?

[Ted Eschliman]

Steve, it won't be a problem. No special adjustment to the instrument (just the player).
I didn't think they sounded much louder when I tried Heavies on my Flatiron A, but I backed of to the Mediums, more because the feel. I have a light touch, and don't require a lot of "meat" to push the sound.
I use them exclusively on just about all my mandolins, including my fave the CT-110 (http://tannah.net/ted/images/CocoBlue.jpg).
(Warning: Blatant self-promotion) I also sell them on my website.

[Steve S.]

Thanks, think I'll stay with the mittels then. The set I have on is going on six months and that likely accounts for the "leakage" of tone. Will take you up on the blatant self promo when I'm ready to order.

[ronlane3]

LaVonne,

I use them on my mandos and get about 6 months of use out of them. I generally change when I break one. I do use the starks (heavy) strings, and while they are mellower than all others, I like them. I have no problems with the volume of my main axe. Good to have another member to the fan club, so that T-I will continue to make them.

[thistle3585]

Anyone feel like the mediums are louder than the heavies? When I went to the heavies it seemed like I lost a little "oomf". I thought going to the heavies would allow me to alternate between various music genres a little easier, but I did loose a lot on the chop. Thought about trying a maple bridge to see if that helped balance them out.

[Jack Roberts]

Like Wah, I have TI's on my '58 A-5, and I do believe it is a perfect match. #I have not found a better sounding string for the A-5, and it makes it sound so good that the good mandolin players keep taking my A-5 away from me!

The first thing I did with my Collings MF is put TI mediums on it. #I deliberately wanted to get a different sound than what I was getting from the hard J-74s that were on it when it came. #Great volume, great tone, significant chop, easy to play, but a slightly less "new mandolin" sound. #I think not every mandolin can sound good with TIs from what I read hear on the Mandolin Cafe, but they work on mine.
I get enough low end volume and a great bluegrass chop when I need it--not as much as I might be getting with the J-74s, but they are really nice when played up the neck on on all four strings. #

Before I installed the T-Is I spoke with Customer Service at Collings, and they had no experience with them, but were going to get some and try them out. #Definately a high end string for a high end mandolin.

[Jack Roberts]

Baker and I have been using Thomastik Superflexibles
since the 1970's. #I wouldn't use anything else.

On the other hand, Frank will only use Gibson strings.

Jim Moss
FWB
But didn't I read somewhere that Frank baked his mandolin in an oven to get it to sound better? Or is this a Frank Wakefield legend?