Mandola strings on a short scale octave?

**restlesscourage** · Jun-13-2012, 4:07pm

Hey, all,

I have a 21" scale octave. The strings that came with it were a slightly heavier gauge than the D'Addario J80's. I'm wondering if the J72's (the light mandola strings) would be long enough, because they're about what I want, gauge-wise. It would be cheaper than buying a custom set every time, for sure, but I don't want to get them and then not have enough string for the scale, you know?

**Eddie Sheehy** · Jun-13-2012, 4:12pm

They should fit - measure from the farthest peg to the tailpiece, add an inch or two, and run that measurement by Elderly and ask them if the J72 strings will fit... but I seem to recall using J76's on a 21" OM...

**restlesscourage** · Jun-17-2012, 12:09pm

In case anyone is wondering, the answer turned out to be yes. Also, my octave has a 21.5" scale, not a 21". But yes, the J72's work just fine.

**Jim Yates** · Jun-26-2012, 3:10pm

I have been usingd'Addario J76 mandola strings on my TC OM. They are similar gauge to the Flatiron octave mandolin strings that I used to use. .015 .025 .035 .052

**Mo Soar** · Jun-27-2012, 10:26am

J80s are .012-.046, and I am looking for something slightly lighter until I get the hang of playing this. Any suggestions? I could just get an Allen tailpiece that allows for ball end strings and have my pick of gauges, I know, but I was looking for a quicker fix.

**restlesscourage** · Jun-27-2012, 10:31am

You can make yourself a custom set of loop end strings over at juststrings.com, they sell individual strings and I've always been really happy with the speed of service. (NFI.)

**Eddie Sheehy** · Jun-27-2012, 11:59am

J80's are about as light as I'd go on an OM...

**Rvl** · Jun-27-2012, 5:21pm

Will the J80's fit longer OM's ?
I have 22.5" and 24.8" and 26"

Thanks

Robert VanLane

**Eddie Sheehy** · Jun-27-2012, 5:50pm

Yep, J80's are zouk strings and zouks are usually 25"-plus scales...

**Rvl** · Jun-27-2012, 6:34pm

Sorry I meant the J76 mandola strings
Will they fit 22.5" and 26"
I have 44-12 on my Hathway mandocello and tuned in GDAE and found that the strings were too light
I tried tuning to FCGD and it really woke up the Hathway, so I think a 052 string would work alot better tuned in G

Thanks

Robert VanLane

**Eddie Sheehy** · Jun-27-2012, 8:07pm

On a mandocello - tuned CCGGDDAA? I wouldn't use anything lighter than a .060 and tune it to C on a long scale instrument. I assume that's the 26" scale instrument - if it's tuned GGDDAAE then it's a zouk and NOT a mandocello... put .074 on the C strings (mandocello) and it had better be a solidly-built mandocello... otherwise use the light side of .050, tune it to GGDDAAEE or GGDDAADD and call it a zouk or a long-scale OM...

If you want a more specific response let's discuss each individual instrument - hopefully with full specs and pics...

**mandobassman** · Jun-27-2012, 8:51pm

I have a custom made 22-3/4" octave and I got my strings here.

http://www.emando.com/shop/strings8va.htm

They come in 4 gauges. Heavy, Medium, Light, and ultra-Light. I used the light set and they sound wonderful. One nice feature of these strings is that they come in loop end or ball end, same price.