Aquila Nylgut Mandolin Strings

**morgan** · Nov-28-2011, 12:29pm

I saw that Elderly is selling Aquila Nylgut mandolin sets. Does anyone have any experience with these? I'm having a hard time imagining the sound.

**Mike Scott** · Nov-28-2011, 12:38pm

I'm with you. I have them on a couple of ukes, but mandolin.........................................I don't think so.

**Jim Garber** · Nov-28-2011, 1:21pm

I think they are meant to be used on a uke that you want to tune like a mandolin. I would imagine that they do not have enough tension to drive the top of a std carved instrument. They might work ok on a flattop mandolin but I am not sure of that either.

I did buy a set some time ago but haven't had a chance to try them on one of my ukes yet.

**morgan** · Nov-28-2011, 1:31pm

I learned about them in the context of mandobanjos, where they would probably do a great service by removing some of the jangle. Perhaps that is their intended use.

I have Nylguts on a uke and a piccolo banjo - I like them.

**cerrogordo** · Nov-28-2011, 1:33pm

I used some on a uke, but cant say that I loved it -- I could play all my mando tunes, but the effect wasn't that great for me (I guess I like uke for its own tuning and chord sounds). They sound good like other aquila strings.

**Jim Garber** · Nov-28-2011, 1:50pm

Maybe a mandolin banjo might be a good use. or some sort of hybrid uke mandolin. BTW some of the regional non-Neapolitan/Roman mandolins that were around around the turn of the last century in Italy used gut strings in varying tunings and configurations. The Brescian mandolin was tuned the same but in single-string courses of gut. These might be excellent for that style.

**Tim2723** · Nov-28-2011, 3:27pm

I know they make a set intended to tune a uke like a mandolin. How many strings are in the set? Do you have a link?

**Big Joe** · Nov-28-2011, 3:48pm

Love them on uke. Some love them on old time banjo. Never heard of them for mandolin. It would be different!

**Jim Garber** · Nov-28-2011, 3:51pm

Here they are... Aquila 1M Mandolin Set

**gypsy1** · Nov-28-2011, 8:12pm

When I first started building nylon string mandolins they were the first company I contacted. This was two years ago and they were in the process of development. I believe that since they are an Italian company that the European market was already making the demands. I ended up using nylon guitar strings for the GG & DD with Nylgut Aquilas from a tenor uke set for the aa & ee. They worked great! As Jim pointed out I believe they are designed for flat top instruments, makes sense since they are a European Co.
I'm really quite excited about it and will be ordering a set or two.

Walt

**Loretta Callahan** · Nov-28-2011, 8:40pm

I'm game. I love them on my little soprano ukulele. I'll get a set for my flat top and find out how they sound for myself.

**gypsy1** · Nov-28-2011, 8:43pm

I remembered this youtube clip, the young man who is doing the demo is a cello player, he came in cold on this. Micheal Levin is a friend of mine who was at the coffee shop next door when I was still in Scottsdale. The mando is a custom 10-string which was equipped with a McIntyre Feather. He plays it both unplugged and plugged in.

Walt

**morgan** · Nov-28-2011, 9:19pm

Walt - Nice sound on the 10-string! Is there something unique about the construction so that the nylon strings can drive it, or would it be reasonable to expect that from most flat-tops?

Loretta - please give us a report if you give them a try

**gypsy1** · Nov-28-2011, 10:10pm

Thanks Morgan, I think they would work on most flat tops with a simple X bracing, although I have yet to try theirs.

The 10-string was a modified Torres style bracing typical to the bracing used in classical guitars.

Remember though I used the Nylgut strings from a tenor uke sets plus had to experiment a lot to end up with the guitar string/nylgut combo. With the 10-string I used the 'E' for the 'CC, 'A' for the 'GG' 'D' for the 'DD' all from nylon classical sets, (hard tension strings).

Walt

**mandroid** · Dec-01-2011, 4:12pm

did they just double the prior GDAE uke set, ? so a 2 fer less for 4 string users?

**JCook** · Dec-02-2011, 12:06pm

How do you fasten the strings at the peghead post? With metal strings you can bend the end around after it goes through so it doesn't slip out, but how do you do that with these strings?

I've got a banjo mandolin I'd like to try these on.

Jack

**Malcolm G.** · Dec-02-2011, 12:25pm

Originally Posted by JCook

How do you fasten the strings at the peghead post? With metal strings you can bend the end around after it goes through so it doesn't slip out, but how do you do that with these strings?

Jack

And how about at the tailpiece? Loopended?

I use these on soprano and baritone ukes and love them, but to replace steel?