I just purchased an A-5 model from a Cafe member and really enjoy it. I need to put new strings on and would like to hear recommendations. Thanks, Mark
I too love my NewMad A5. I liked the JM11s, but now prefer the FW74s for the Mix.
I am having an A4 made right now and should see it in the next month or two (delivery to where I am in Asia is the biggest hassle). On my other mandolins my favourite strings are Elixir Nanos. Has anyone experience of using them on Mix mandolins? Also, what about Thomastik wound strings? I played them once on a National RM-1 Resonator and loved them, but have no idea if they would be 'suited' to the Mix. ron
I tried the Thomanstik but found the loss of volume and balance between the strings to be a put off especially for their price and durability.. The elixirs lights make it sound like a mini bouzuki.. and the elixir mediums are darker but still sound a little too bright, wet, and edgy for what i am looking for.. neither one of those string sound bad.. they just resonate and sustain so much.. you dont get the mandolin decay with them. I am using DAddario EXP77 and ...a wegen triangle pick, a fender heavy triangle or a pickboy 0.75mm luminous classic pick right now and getting a better "woody" sound that way.. and its a whole lot cheaper! Whatever you decide to try... remember to judge the sound by bending over the mandolin and hearing the top... its like a real mandolin... what people hear and what you hear are two different things. Good luck.
Thanks for the pointers, W. rm
I use J-74's. That's what came on my A-5 and they sound great. Dan
I really like Gibson Sam Bush monels, but the E-string loop kept slipping, and I switched to D'Addario JS-74s, which I also like on my Mix A-4.
I prefer Jazz Mando strings.
