Gibson Monel strings discontinued?

[rnjl]

Hi all, Neal here coming out of lurkerdom after a while offline.

Does Gibson no long make its monel mandolin strings? I see them on Amazon but nowhere else and a lot more money than they used to be I think.

If not, what's the next best thing? The Curt Mangan monels?

This is for an 83 Flatiron A5, I liked the woody, not as bright tone of the monels, though the Sam Bush set was a little heavier in gauge than I would prefer.

Thanks all for your recommendations.

n

[pops1]

I think you are right, Gibson has discontinued the Monel strings. GHS however has just introduced a pure nickel mandolin string that you may like, there is a thread here:

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?131117-Article-GHS-Strings-Introduce-Pure-Nickel-Mandolin-Strings&p=1565987#post1565987

[mandroid]

Long thread on this has already run its course , before , to read up all those comments.

Monel is a specific alloy containing more than just nickle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monel

[rnjl]

Hi mandroid do you mean the thread on nickel strings or a different one? Thank you.

[pops1]

Long thread on this has already run its course , before , to read up all those comments.

Monel is a specific alloy containing more than just nickle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monel

If I remember Monel has copper also.

[Jim Garber]

I actually like the newly introduced D'Addario NB mandolin strings. Before that I was a fan of Gibson SB Monroe. The NBs are just a tad sweeter in tone (whatever that means).

[rnjl]

Thank you all for your replies, looks like I'll wait till the GHS strings come out and see if I like them.

[Jeff Hildreth]

A few years back when I called CF Martin Corp after I called customer service to make a recommendation of a 1 3/4 nut width small bodied guitar they suggested an OM-21. I Ordered and received one, total dog. I called back, they (customer service) recommended Gibson Monel Strings. I ordered, (received and installed same) what an incredible difference.
Gibson strings on a Martin. One point Gibson, minus one point Martin. Now all the rage is "MARTIN" monel strings.

Another feather in CFM IV's cap.. chasing Gibson.

[Bill Kammerzell]

Thank you all for your replies, looks like I'll wait till the GHS strings come out and see if I like them.

It took me quite some time to get 4 sets of Sam Bush monel strings from Amazon. Were not for sale at the Gibson site. I placed and order at Amazon and it was over a month before I got all 4 sets.

[pops1]

I have been using GHS white bronze guitar strings for a long time on my guitar and mandolin. The new nickel strings are similar, and sound very nice. It will of course depend on your mandolin, and what you want to hear. The biggest thing I like about both sets are they are not as bright as phosphor bronze when you first put them on, and not as dead as phosphor bronze two months down the road. They are a very stable string in sound for a long period of time.

[rnjl]

Thanks Pops, I am looking forward to trying them when they become available. I think this thread is cooked to perfection. Thanks all.

[Bill Kammerzell]

I'm a bit late to the party, but just realized this about the Sam Bush Monel strings this evening. Went to order and everyone that once sold them was "Out of Stock." Went to Gibson and all I could find were guitar strings. Without realizing this, I had just given the last set I had away.:crying:

[dan in va]

The wound G and D Sam Bush strings had good sound and life, but the 14 ga A strings were way too light and had to be changed out. The GHS pure nickel strings are even better on a Stanley A5, with gauges of 11, 16, 27 and 41, they seem just right in every way. 2 1/2 months and still going strong.

[Bill McCall]

Curt Mangan has monel strings as well. NFI

[pops1]

I have been using the GHS pure nickel for a year or more and always get at least two months or longer even in the humid summer here.They seem to last and not get too dead sounding.

[Jon Hall]

I use the Curt Mangan monel strings on all of my mandolins. I really like them!