1925 Blacktop Snakehead: String recommendations, please

[newby]

I'm just getting to know this instrument -- it sat idle for over 50 yrs (!), so it's waking up after a sleep that lasted over twice as long as Rip van Wickel's !!

I have it strung with GHS Phos Brnz Medium Light: 11 - 16 - 26 - 38 . Sounds okay but what do I know . . . ?!

I'd like to hear from others out there who do know this era of Gibson. What string gauge, composition, manufacturer do you use?

[Jim Garber]

I have a 24 and since I have owned it it only has had D'Addario J-74s or EXP-74s on it. Sounds and plays great. I am sure that the GHS set you put on would be fine too.

[Chip Booth]

I use GHS silk and steel strings on my snakehead. It gives the mandolin a distinct tone, somewhat more classical sounding to my ear than phosphor bronze.

[JeffD]

That sounds like a real wonderful instrument.

I have a 1923 snakehead, and I have used either GHS professional bright bronze PF270, which are 11-16-26-40 or I have used the D'Addario J74 phosphor bronze which are 11-15-26-40. Both very popular off the shelf strings available everywhere.

Has it been lying around for 50 year with no string tension on it?

I might also get it set up.

[billhay4]

I'd have a luthier look it over carefully since it sat that long. Just to be careful.
Bill

[F-2 Dave]

I really like the sound of D'addario FT-74's on my old A4. They're a little more expensive than J74's (about $13-$15) per set. Plus, they take a week or so to mellow out. The first few days they'll sound kind of tinny and thin, but when they settle in, they sound nice and full, and less twangy than J74's. They start out as round wound strings that go through some sort of milling process to flatten out the surface, hence the name Flat Top 74's. Also, they contain wound A strings that I really like. As far as I know, the E strings are identical to the ones in the J74 set.

[Bill Van Liere]

I've got J-74s on my 24 Jr. I started out with GHS A250s, 10-15-24-36, then had it checked out and set-up for the J-74s.

[mandroid]

Battle of the brands .. phosphor bronze wound 10-15-24-36, is a good choice , in general ,
tension as a whole is lighter
and if you don't need to whomp on it for volume should be fine ..

My 21 A has some like that , silk and steel is a bit heavier the A and E strings a scosh thicker.

I have a set of those on my A4..

having the soundness of that cross brace attachment, in the top inspected is a good idea.

[hank]

My favorites for my 1915 A4 are Gibson Sam Bush, GHS Silk & Bronze and D'Addario EXP75's.

[Pete Martin]

Gibson Monels (Sam Bush sets).

[dan in va]

J45's came on my '25 A and sound great, but I actually like the lighter J73's even more...very balanced in tone and volume and even easier on the hand. Hope something really pops up for you and yours.....dan

[John Soper]

After the luthier or repair person should look your snake' over first and then set up the mando with strings that you will use- J74's are a great choice.