Thomastik Infeld Strings - What Model?

Rob Gerety · 11-03-2009, 06:47 PM

I have to admit that I am confused by the weight designations that TI uses for its flatwound strings. I thought I bought strings that were the equivilent of J74 strings but now I'm not so sure. The TI's I have are labeled 154ST heavy. No where on the package does it give the string gauges. What do I have?

John Flynn · 11-03-2009, 06:58 PM

Just Strings lists all three sets, along with the gauges and the tensions. Generally, T-I's have a step less tension than standard strings. So the heavies have about the same tension as phosphor bronze mediums.

http://www.juststrings.com/thomastik...dmandolin.html

mandroid · 11-03-2009, 07:03 PM

May I recommend acquisition of a dial caliper , mechanical or digital.

It is a really useful tool , the ability to speak in fractions to the thousandth
of an Inch, or parts of a Millimeters is pretty useful.

a Really universal Language.

then, amongst many other things, you can measure the strings you have ,

or absent that , wait for someone that has a dial caliper , and an identical set of TI strings..

I got the caliper, but bought different strings as you may suspect.

FWIW copying from elderly.com dealers site :

"#154-H,M,L ..
heavy gauge 011 015W 021W 034W
medium gauge, 009 014w 020w 031w,
light gauge, 009 013W 019W 028W

Rob Gerety · 11-03-2009, 07:08 PM

John, I saw that listing too - but my exact strings are not listed - mine are "154ST heavy". What does that mean?

DerTiefster · 11-04-2009, 04:44 PM

The Thomastiks are made (and labeled) by German speakers:
heavy gauge == STark
medium gauge == Mittel
light gauge == Weich

Rob Gerety · 11-04-2009, 04:53 PM

It appears to me from the web site that TI strings described as Stark or heavy are actually a bit lighter than J74 strings. Is that your understanding as well? So if you are used to medium strings (J74) in standard strings you would use "heavy" or "stark" TI strings?

DerTiefster · 11-04-2009, 05:05 PM

I was interested to note, also, that three of the four gauges of Octave Mandolin Mittel and Weich (European Mandola medium and light) strings are of the same diameter but listed as having different tensions. I would have thought this to be a typographical or transcription error, but it is possible to use different materials for the core or for the winding and get a different linear mass density for the strings. This is to warn that the string diameter might not tell quite all the story. Tungsten cores, anyone?

BlueMt. · 11-04-2009, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Gerety

It appears to me from the web site that TI strings described as Stark or heavy are actually a bit lighter than J74 strings. Is that your understanding as well? So if you are used to medium strings (J74) in standard strings you would use "heavy" or "stark" TI strings?

That's the way I understand it. From a players perspective that's how they felt to me. The stark's felt lighter than J74's and the mittels's were considerably lighter feeling.

mandroid · 11-04-2009, 06:30 PM

I see German Builders making new Bowl backs for classical music , and as such a lighter string set is reasonable, for that style .. in ensembles .... no banjo parts were written by J.S.Bach.

P.D.Q. Bach may have

11-03-2009, 06:58 PM	#2
John Flynn Habitual User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 6,315	Re: Thomastik Infeld Strings - What Model? Just Strings lists all three sets, along with the gauges and the tensions. Generally, T-I's have a step less tension than standard strings. So the heavies have about the same tension as phosphor bronze mediums. http://www.juststrings.com/thomastik...dmandolin.html

11-03-2009, 07:03 PM	#3
mandroid coprolite Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Outer Spiral Arm, of Galaxy Posts: 6,472	Re: Thomastik Infeld Strings - What Model? May I recommend acquisition of a dial caliper , mechanical or digital. It is a really useful tool , the ability to speak in fractions to the thousandth of an Inch, or parts of a Millimeters is pretty useful. a Really universal Language. then, amongst many other things, you can measure the strings you have , or absent that , wait for someone that has a dial caliper , and an identical set of TI strings.. I got the caliper, but bought different strings as you may suspect. FWIW copying from elderly.com dealers site : "#154-H,M,L .. heavy gauge 011 015W 021W 034W medium gauge, 009 014w 020w 031w, light gauge, 009 013W 019W 028W __________________ mandolin wanker Blasphemy is a Victim-Less Crime. Last edited by mandroid; 11-03-2009 at 09:45 PM.

11-03-2009, 07:08 PM	#4
Rob Gerety Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vermont - Upper Valley Posts: 820	Re: Thomastik Infeld Strings - What Model? John, I saw that listing too - but my exact strings are not listed - mine are "154ST heavy". What does that mean? __________________ Rob G. Vermont

11-04-2009, 04:44 PM	#5
DerTiefster the little guy Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: S.E. Virginia Posts: 153	Re: Thomastik Infeld Strings - What Model? The Thomastiks are made (and labeled) by German speakers: heavy gauge == STark medium gauge == Mittel light gauge == Weich __________________ Michael Tiefenback

11-04-2009, 04:53 PM	#6
Rob Gerety Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vermont - Upper Valley Posts: 820	Re: Thomastik Infeld Strings - What Model? It appears to me from the web site that TI strings described as Stark or heavy are actually a bit lighter than J74 strings. Is that your understanding as well? So if you are used to medium strings (J74) in standard strings you would use "heavy" or "stark" TI strings? __________________ Rob G. Vermont

11-03-2009, 06:47 PM	#1
Rob Gerety Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vermont - Upper Valley Posts: 820	Thomastik Infeld Strings - What Model? I have to admit that I am confused by the weight designations that TI uses for its flatwound strings. I thought I bought strings that were the equivilent of J74 strings but now I'm not so sure. The TI's I have are labeled 154ST heavy. No where on the package does it give the string gauges. What do I have? __________________ Rob G. Vermont

11-04-2009, 05:05 PM	#7
DerTiefster the little guy Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: S.E. Virginia Posts: 153	Re: Thomastik Infeld Strings - What Model? I was interested to note, also, that three of the four gauges of Octave Mandolin Mittel and Weich (European Mandola medium and light) strings are of the same diameter but listed as having different tensions. I would have thought this to be a typographical or transcription error, but it is possible to use different materials for the core or for the winding and get a different linear mass density for the strings. This is to warn that the string diameter might not tell quite all the story. Tungsten cores, anyone? __________________ Michael Tiefenback

11-04-2009, 06:30 PM	#9
mandroid coprolite Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Outer Spiral Arm, of Galaxy Posts: 6,472	Re: Thomastik Infeld Strings - What Model? I see German Builders making new Bowl backs for classical music , and as such a lighter string set is reasonable, for that style .. in ensembles .... no banjo parts were written by J.S.Bach. P.D.Q. Bach may have __________________ mandolin wanker Blasphemy is a Victim-Less Crime.