New Mando looking string recomendations

[P-E-Z]

Hi Everybody!
I'm P-E-Z I'm mostly do the singer songwriter thing around Nashville. My main instruments are high end Made in USA Ovation guitars.

I decided to branch out a bit by learning Mandolin. I knew i would need one that plugs in in the future. Not knowing much about them, I decided to go with the new Ovation Pro Series MM68AX-DS. (No USA made option at this time)

I was wondering what strings people recommend on these.
Is there anything I need to consider on strings other than gauge?

Thanks

[pheffernan]

Is there anything I need to consider on strings other than gauge?

You will need to limit your search to ball end strings in a market where most of the offerings will have loop ends.

[Willie Poole]

Contact the maker and see what gauge they say is correct....

[mandobassman]

Contact Martin at emando. He sells all of his strings in ball or loop end and has a great selection. He is also very helpful when it comes to reccomendations.

http://www.emando.com/shop/strings8.htm

[lenf12]

From the Ovation website: http://www.ovationguitars.com/mandol...essed-sunburst

Pro Series Mandolin – Distressed Sunburst
MM68AX-DS

COMING SOON

Specifications
Body

Shape: Mandolin Cutaway

Bracing: Mando Quintad

Back: Ovation® Lyrachord® Mandolin Bowl

Top Finish: Distressed Sunburst

Epaulette: Multi-Hole Only

Body Top: AA Solid Spruce

Body Binding: Herringbone

String Gauges: Plain Steel .011/.011, 015/.015, Phosphor Bronze Wound .026/.026, .040/.040

It specs PB strings in standard mandolin gauges and the picture shows ball end strings. You could use standard acoustic guitar strings in those gauges or hunt around for mandolin sets with ball ends. Your choice...

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[sblock]

By picking an Ovation, and not one of the more common models of mandolin (Gibson-inspired A-style, F-style models, etc.), you have limited your options in terms of strings. There is a wide selection of high-end, loop-end mandolin strings from D'Addario, DR, GHS, Elixir, Thomastik, and others. But the options for ball-end strings are much more limited. I suppose you could get some balls and insert these into loop-end strings to convert them, though, with a bit of additional effort. Have you considered that possibility?

[mandroid]

http://www.ovationguitars.com/mandol...essed-sunburst

looks like they still use ball end strings, so same as Guitar

so yea Match the gage and choose what the winding is for the lower G & D..
40 0r 38 and 26 or 24.. & the plain steel 15 & 11.
Bronze (acoustic Guitar)or Nickel, electric. On an acoustic they sound different.

If you want to use loop end strings You have to add the Ball ,
glue it in as the string gets tighter it will wrap around the ball tighter ..





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