Gold Tone GM-12+ strings

[Dan Barnes]

This is a 12 string Guitar style mandolin. It looks and sounds like a mando, but has 12 strings and is tuned like a guitar, one octave up.

If anyone could let me know the correct string gauges for this I'd appreciate it. The three highest (GBE) are all the same guage. Also, if there's a brand of coated strings (for longer life) for Mandolins out there, I'd like to hear about it.

Thanks very much.

[Jacob]

Have you tried Gold Tone?

[mandroid]

since there are so many of them I'd go for extra light gages..
probably not just use a 12 string guitar set..
take the thing with you to the Music shop, they should have a digital caliper
to measure the strings that are on there when shipped new.

[Tim2723]

Those ideas represent the first line of defense: Don't guess, don't assume, call the manufacturer, measure the original strings and replicate that. A 12-string set might work, but don't assume it will. As for coated, long-life strings, the Elixir brand is fairly popular and comes to mind, but there are a couple out there now. How much that will cost in this particular case is a question, so compare the out-lay to potential savings carefully.

[allenhopkins]

Here's Gold Tone's string gauge chart, but it doesn't include the GM-12+. I'd e-mail the company directly; they seem very responsive to customer inquiries.

There are coated mandolin strings, by D'Addario, Elixir, and even Black Diamond. Here's a Google search.

[Dan Barnes]

Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. I should've mentioned that the Gold Tone website doesn't have this information, and I have contacted them (the general inquiry address) and so far no response, but I think I'll go to a specific person there as listed on the site. I will then assemble a set of 12 strings from some sort of package set, and a few single strings. Or order from 'just strings' or the like. It's proably end up cost 30 bucks or so every time I string it!

[Dan Barnes]

Hey Everyone, I got an answer from Gold Tone on this

The loop/nickel string gauges are:

1 2 3 4 5 6
.009, .013, .023w, .028w, .037w, .044w
.009, .013, .023w, .011, .018, .027w

The spacing doesn't work out when I post it, but you ca see what they are.

[Tim2723]

That might not be too far off from a light standard 12-string set. If the octave strings of an available set are within a mil, they'll probably be fine. You just don't want something so heavy that it hurts the neck.

[JollyHangman]

I Am planning to buy this. Called Gold Tone to ask if I can take off the low three strings in essence having the low three strings as singles and the high three strings as doubles. They said that as far as they understand, taking off the strings would not change the tension on the neck. Gold Tone doesn't actually make these instruments. They import them. Still want to get one.