Custom string sets for OM

[restlesscourage]

I'm curious: those of you who create your own custom string sets for your octaves, what are your preferred strings? What sort of pro/con lists have you come up with for the ones you've tried?

I've been really happy using D'Addario strings for my regular mandolins, and so far they're working out okay for my octave, too, although I'm still fine-tuning which gauges work best. But I'm considering trying something new, mostly in terms of string composition. I like the sound of PB strings just fine; my A-style mando is strung with J74's and sounds fabulous. But I also have an F-style mando strung with FW74's, and I'm loving the mellow tone that those produce, too. I'm wondering if I'd like a more mellow tone for my octave.

If I had the money to experiment, I'd try building a custom set of Thomastik acoustic guitar strings. But that's a $50 experiment. Would it be worth it?

[Pete Braccio]

I use nickel wound D'Addario's on my 24.5 scale Beard. 44W, 30W, 16, 13 (tuned GDAE). I use the nickel wounds because my sweat burns right through PB strings. I like the sound of these gauges on this particular mandolin.

If you're going to experiment, I suggest that you read the info on the D'Addario site concerning string tension paying close attention to what They say they are using for an octave's scale length and then measure what your instrument's scale length is. You can then do some calculations and come up with a gauge set that has tensions that fell right for you.

Pete

[Ted Eschliman]

Using D'Addario Chrome series: Build our own Flatwound sets.

[foldedpath]

For my 22.5" scale Weber OM, I've settled on the D'Addario J80's with a substitute pair of .013's for the E strings, instead of the .012's in the package. I don't know why D'Addario doesn't use .013's in that set, since the tension of the .012's is much lower than the other strings and feels wimpy to me at this scale length.

I have several other instruments that do need full custom gauges, so I'm not averse to assembling custom sets if I have to. However, if most of a package is close enough like these J80's, then I'll use it to keep the cost down and simplify string changes.

My $.02 on string material and wrap... I'm not a fan of flatwounds on OM's unless it's for solo playing, and not trying to fit in with other instruments. Most OM's have a fairly dark and moody tone to begin with, and I don't think they're helped by using a string that accentuates that end of the tonal spectrum. A bright-sounding material like phosphor bronze on the low strings helps cut through the mix of other instruments in a session, or if I'm trying to fit the OM into a recording mix.

The low notes on Bouzoukis stand out a little more clearly, due to the longer scale length and lighter gauge strings, but I still think they're helped also by bright strings with some "zing" in the tone. Flatwounds just don't "zing," and to me that's a characteristic sound with this general class of instrument.

YMMV, of course, and I do think flatwounds can be a good option for solo playing where you're not concerned with those low notes being stepped on by other instruments. Strings are cheap enough to experiment with (well, everything except TI's), so try different types and see what you like.

[restlesscourage]

That's a good point, OM's do already have the dark, moody tone. I'm leaning away from flatwounds, I think. I mostly use the OM for chording; at this point my hands aren't flexible enough to do much with melody on that scale length. Maybe someday.

I just strung up my 21.5" Freshwater OM with a set of J72 mandola strings, and I think I may have solved my problem. With the slightly heavier strings (I'd been trying the J80's at first, and then had it strung in octave pairs on the lower three courses for a while, just for kicks), it sounds much more alive.

I'm still contemplating shaking things up with string composition for the next set, though. Maybe some GHS Silk and Bronze?

[Mandobart]

I've always made up my own sets for my OM, 10-string mandola and 'cello. D'addario P-B works for me.

[John Flynn]

I've experimented a lot with my OM stringing, which I've detailed on other threads. The one point I'd like to reiterate, though, is the value of having an Allen tailpiece on an OM, because it takes both loop- and ball-end strings. You really have a lot more options for acquiring single strings for experimentation if you can use both types, and more options for buying bulk strings once you've settled on you choices.