Best strings for a four-string emando?

[Santiago]

I'm currently using D'Addario M67s on my Kentucky e300 with a Bill Lawrence humbucker (rails), but wondering what others use.

[mandroid]

Break the balls out of electric guitar strings, if it has a loop tailpiece..
Rather than let others choose for you, and sell a set,
pick a gage set that suits you, from the abundant choices..


still have some loop end round wound electric strings
for my EM150 4 string conversion, .050" for the low C.
they were bought as an each ..
D'Addario LEO[SIZE] Loop End , Nickel Wound.

[Santiago]

I don't have a problem shelling out five bucks or so for a balanced four-string mandolin set. I'm just wondering which ones people like.

[Jacob]

I'm a big fan of Jazzmando Flatwound Ball-end Strings. I only use flatwound strings on my e-mandos.

[mandroid]

I'd love to try Flat wound strings , have to order them remotely.. , got a D'Add
FW74 11 15 26 36, so middle heavy but G is light. yet to plug them in
on my 8 string electric FM61, it has nickel round wound , from a bulk buy

since they are loop strings and the Fender is using ball end thru the body to 4 ferrules

I may have to get some more Cello balls from the repair guy and double up the loops on those balls .

It worked before.., the guitar ones jam together so changing one means de tuning both.. any how.

Other use is the acoustic Lebeda, with a Piezo so the magnetic characteristics are not used.
Got Monel on it, now so since those are not yet needing replacement that is waiting..

MAS side effect I play a different mandolin till all need new strings , then I have to get a bunch.

[journeybear]

I use whatever I get from emando.com. No idea who makes them, but supporting a member's bidness seems like a nice way to go. Good price and quality, fast service. I use ultra lights (.009/.013/.022/.034) because they bend so easily - even three frets, very fluid, makes me almost not miss a whammy bar.

[Tom Wright]

I found the short scale made nickel strings dead too quickly, and I have been using Ernie Ball stainless steel wound strings. They have a nice "clang" and last a while. My gauges are .010p, .014p, .024w, .040w, (and .056w for C). I buy singles from Just Strings.

[Santiago]

So you can't get a good pre-balanced Mandolin set? I'll have to try a few of these winds. Most strings come out of the same two factories, but the type is important.

[mandopete]

I use whatever I get from emando.com.

Me too, great service from Martin!

[CES]

I usually use Ernie Ball Slinky guitar strings and mix and match strings from a set of 9 and 10's to closely approximately the Jazzmando set's gauges (they're not all exact, but pretty close). I've been meaning to order the Jazzmando set from eith Ted or Martin, but never seem to think about it until I really need a change, and the EBs are readily available locally and work quite well. They're also a good excuse to check out the inventory at a couple of local favorite guitar shops...

[Santiago]

Not a big Slinky fan... at least on guitar.

[mandroid]

So you can't get a good pre-balanced Mandolin set?

balanced to whose tastes, though..?

the seller may have different ideas about their needs Vs what you like..


I'd bet that Slinkys act differently when half as long a scale,
and an octave higher in pitch.

[Santiago]

That may be true. I'll have to try a few different types. Thanks.

[mandroid]

There are 8 string electric mandolin (loop) string sets, consider it a 2-fer with a 4 string..

[Chinn]

I'm guessin' the answer to this question really depends on what you're playin!

Personally, I guess my taste in strings is closer to JourneyBear's.

[Soundfarmer Pete]

I usually go for D`Addario single electric strings 0.010", 0.014", 0.024"W and 0.036"W.
As an aside, people criticise the Mandobird 8 bridge for not having individual saddles but with the above gauges, once the G and E are set, the intonation on the D and A are bang on (assuming nut and bridge heights are ok)!

I`m not a fan of Ernie Balls.....cause too much fret wear.....the guitarist in our band needed a set of strings in a hurry.....normally swears by Ernies but had to make do with a set of D`Addarios........been telling him for years and I had to refret one of his Strats....anyway, with one guitar strung with each, he said he could definitely feel the difference, the Ernies being rougher......

Ah well, he`s stubborn.....still likes his Ernies.....he got a new Strat around 3 months ago and guess what? .....fret dress coming up!

[Tom Wright]

Pete, all the serious fret wear I see is from my plain strings, with my Buchanan already very notched from a year of D'Addario plain steel A and E strings. Ditto on my 5-string. I can see some small ridges from the wound strings, but the actual dishing is tiny. The deep notches are from the plain strings.

I will definitely choose EVO or stainless for replacement frets for either instrument, but I am going to wait until it won't play.

[craig.collas]

Another for the emando strings they come in light med and heavy as well as custom.
Martin is also a font of knowledge about this stuff and gives great advice.
I have these string on my weber maverick.