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potatoe
Apr-08-2004, 3:24pm
any particular brand or type of strings that give that traditionally celtic sound? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Mandolin-AL
Apr-13-2004, 7:50pm
I dont know about Celtic strings mate but im havin a heck of a Job finding Ball end Mandolin Strings here in Aberdeen the biggest Shop in town which i wont name have never heard of Ballend Mandolin Strings and yet they sell Ozark Mandolins whis is the one I have and thats where I got it ......dont figure does it lol


Mandolin_AL

Dolamon
Apr-14-2004, 6:14am
You can get sets from Newtone Strings ... Listing here - (http://www.dwmee.34sp.com/traditional.htm)or buy the strings in individuals - which is expensive.

I'd take a close look at Malcolm Newton's catalogue and contact him. He is close to you (relatively) and the quality of his strings is supposedly not exceeded by many.

Bren
Apr-14-2004, 6:06pm
Al - the mandos I have all use "loop ends" - I don't have any probs getting strings.
But there's no reason why you couldn't buy guitar "ball-ends" of the equivalent gauge to mando strings - or is there?

Excuse my ignorance. Like you I have never seen "ball-end" mando strings in Bruce Millers or R & B.

mandocaster
Apr-15-2004, 8:07am
I think Ovation Adamas mandolin strings are ball end, but you probably need to mail order them.

Bob DeVellis
Apr-15-2004, 8:53am
Potatoe -
I don't think there's any particular string that gives "THE" Celtic sound. The players I know just use pretty conventional mandolin strings, like D'Addario, Martin, GHS, etc. Depending on your instrument, you might prefer lighter gauges. I like Martin lights, for example, on my flat-back instruments but use D'Addario J-74s on my Collings. I think everyone finds their own favorite combination of instrument, string, and pick to give the tone they want from their personal playing style.

Mandolin-AL
Apr-15-2004, 5:16pm
thanks for all the Info and the links fella's its much appreciated

Keep Pickin
Mandolin-AL

mad dawg
Apr-16-2004, 3:50pm
Regarding the scarcity of ball-end mandolin strings, could you remove the balls from old ball-end strings and stick the balls in the loops of new loop-end strings to turn loop-end stings into into ball-end strings? #(Did I say that right? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif )

Bob DeVellis
Apr-16-2004, 5:17pm
One thing people do, mad dawg, is to take the brass barrels off of guitar strings, run the end of the string through the barrel and then throgh the loop end of the string, then put the barrel and loop through the hole in the bridge (as with any ball-end string) and pop the bridge pin in on top of it. Is that what you meant? The only difficulty is that the loop or string might break as tension pulls it against the edge of the barrel. I've never tried this myself, but I've heard several times of others doing it.

Mandolin-AL
Apr-18-2004, 3:22pm
Went back into Bruce millers on Saterday Bren and talked to the Luthier and they are ordering me a set of ball end strings they should be there on wedensday so thats real handy........
Keep Pickin
Mandolin-AL

mad dawg
Apr-18-2004, 7:29pm
Bob: for some reason I wanted to think that balls from ball-end strings have a narrow or slotted waist around a tube, which the end of the string is looped and twisted tight -- if so, I thought that the loop of a loop-end string could be looped around the waist in a similar manner. Does this sound feasible?

Bob DeVellis
Apr-19-2004, 7:58am
It's worth a try, but I'd be concerned that the loop would either not fit or fit too loosely. If the loop is too small, end of story. I guess if the fit is loose, tension might hold everything in place. If it works, it might be a better solution than what I mentioned. Let us know if you give it a try.

Martin Jonas
Apr-20-2004, 7:10am
Newtone make all their gauges in ball end as well as loop end. D'Addario have a new (I think) ball-end set, EJ70, phosphor bronze, 11/15/24/38, which is a strange combination of gauges somewhere between J62 and J74. In the UK, you can get it at Highly Strung (http://www.highlystrung.co.uk/acatalog/Mandolin-strings.html), at the same price as the other standard D'Addario sets.

Martin

Teejay
Apr-20-2004, 2:51pm
Just a quick endorsement for Newtone strings. #Good strings and I've had good service and they'll supply loop or ball ends.
I've got a Thomas Buchanan octave mandolin that requires ball ends and am now using the strings on my tenor banjo as well.
If Bruce Millers let you down Al - let me know and I'll bring the tel no down with me to the Prince Regent - or - one of the previous posts did give a hyperlink.

Mandolin-AL
Apr-22-2004, 5:31pm
TeeJay I got a set of ballend strings from Bruce Millers on Wedensday man the Mando sounds great hahaha just wish i could play it better.
Thanks for all the help Guys

Keep Pickin!!
Mandolin-AL http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Mandolin-AL
Apr-26-2004, 6:00pm
heres an update on those Strings folks...
I got Sentor ballend strings they tuned up no problem and stayed that way with only a wee tweek needed now and again they feel great and sound real good im chuffed with them dont know if anybody else hase used them be intresting to know what others think.......

Keep Picking
Mandolin-AL http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif