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I had some gift money and decided to buy the strings I could never afford. I have bought the Thomastik-Infeld flat wound, Mediums to put on my Collings MT GT, Wide nut model. I have previously loved the sound of Monels on this mandolin, so I think it is likely that I will enjoy the feel and sound of the T.I.'s. Can't hurt to try. Anyone else love these strings? :mandosmiley:
I do, Dan. I first tried them on a Gypsy flattop and now typically install them on your cousin’s early National RM-1. They feel great on the fingertips, last a long time, and add a different sound to your collection. In your case, I think that they’ll help accentuate the contrast between your Collings and Eastman. Enjoy!Quote:
Originally Posted by lflngpicker
Love them and use lights on an older Gibson and mediums on Ovation and Adamas mandolins.
I have used the 154W Thomastik-Infeld light strings on my Gibson Fern, Gibson F2 and my Austin Clark 2 point. My music teacher 1st recommended using them for my Gibson F2 and I loved them so I started using them on my other mandolins. Yes, they are expensive but they last a long time and you don't have to change strings as often on your mandolin I think they are worth the money (you get what you pay for)! Also, I like the sound of the Thomastik-Infeld stings on my mandolins. Every so often one of the string companies will put them on sale and then I purchase a bunch of 154W Thomastik-Infeld lights to last me for a year.
MT2, I thank you for your testimony. I would hope if my Collings is typically strung with mediums that the medium strings will suit it. The diameter seemed appropriate. Do you think I made the right call? Thanks!
I have typically used the Mittels (mediums) on lighter built flattops and Starks (heavies) on archtops and a resonator, but I don’t think you’ll have any problems with the set you’ve chosen on your MT.Quote:
Originally Posted by lflngpicker
I tried a set on an old Gibson A a few years ago, they were very quiet compared to the phosphor bronze strings [ J74 ] I normally use.
Dave H
I use Thomastik 154 mediums on both my MT and custom Mt2. They don't cost that much if you consider that you would buy 3 or 4 sets of regular strings before the TI's wear out.
I had a student in a class I taught last October that had two Collins and F and an A. The A had Thomastik stings on it and sounded far better than the F. She was a good player as well.
I have a set of lights on a Lyon & Healey. They make great flatwound electric bass strings.
Dan,Quote:
Originally Posted by lflngpicker
If you normally use medium strings I would stick with them. I normally use all light strings on all my mandolins no matter what brand. I have found after using Thomastik-Infeld strings it spoils you. Like I said you pay more for them but I have found they will last three times longer on your mandolin and less strings changes which I hate doing.
Also, when I used to play jazz and on my archtop guitars the only strings that I would use were the Thomastik-Infeld Jazz BeBop .011-.047. Everyone has there favorite strings that they like to use mine just happens to be the Thomastik-Infield strings.
Enjoy the strings,
Darwin
I have used Thomastik-Infield mediums exclusively on my 1906 Gibson F2, 1927 Gibson mandola, and 1908 Gibson mandocello for over two decades.
What are the string gauges on the mittels?
David,
Which Thomastiks sets are you using on your Mandola and Mandocello?
Thanks!
Thomastik 174's are on my Collings mandola. Medium gauge I believe. (when in doubt, go for medium. Then you know which way to go if you want a change.)
Dan - my signature below lists the TI's I have on three different style mandolins. I think TI's are great - but definitely, for me, not on a bowl back.
I believe the TI "Stark" (Hard) strings at .011 - .034 gauge are considered more or less equivalent to D'Addario or GHS medium strings which run .011 - .040 gauge.
I ran TI flatwound Starks on my Lebeda F5 for around a year when I first bought it and was learning to transition from guitar to mandolin. I loved the tone and the feel under my fingers. Eventually though, I switched to D'Addario J74's and then GHS Silk and Bronze when I started playing in a band, and then later in Irish/Scottish trad sessions. The TI flats just didn't have enough "cut" on the wound strings to be heard well enough in a group of fiddlers and the occasional piper.
It's a great set of strings for playing alone at home though, so I've been considering trying them again under the current pandemic lockdown. It may be a year before sessions are active again in my area, and I can play tunes with anyone other than my fiddler S.O. at home.
Hi Pat, I really appreciate your confidence boost on my gauge choice. I will let you know! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by pheffernan
MT2 and all, I want to thank you for your knowledgeable advice! Your ideas are a big help to me. They will arrive Wednesday and after I restringing, I will post a report on how they suit my MT. Thanks again, Dan
Thomastik mittels:Quote:
Originally Posted by Rdeane
.010 015 .021 .033 (guage)
17.4 15.4 15.4 15.4 (pounds)
on an arch top, I'd use the 154st. Even the, "Heavy" set maxes out at 0.34!
f-d
Flatwound TI strings are an acquired taste I reckon. Nice to the fingers. Don't seem to cut in a group setting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Hanson
Tried mittel and starks. Sounded the same when I took them off as when new.
Does TI make any strings for an octave with a 22" scale? I know they make mandola strings but haven't seen any octaves listed.
The mandola has mittle (medium) alto mandolin (European mandola) strings. I don't know about the mandocello, but probably mediums, also.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry Canada
No, they do not. You would have to buy a custom set, emando.com has a set that is nice. A great alternative is to buy d'addario flatwound chrome steel single guitar strings in the gauges you need. FYI, the D'addario FW custom set they sell for mandolin are simply repackaged chrome steel guitar strings in selected gauges. There is a great article on this at jazzmando.com that goes more into depth on this.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rdeane
I strung up my MT today with the Thomastik Infeld medium FW’s and really enjoyed playing. The cloth wrapping on each end of the strings is a great feature, the tone is rich and colorful, but but not quite as loud. My MT has a big voice anyway, so the tone and volume feel just right for me. The comfort on the fingers is amazing! That was a very noticeable difference and made fingering runs and chords easier. I am enjoying the change and will look forward to the days ahead practicing with these strings.
Dan,Quote:
Originally Posted by lflngpicker
From the looks of your post I think you will be getting more Thomastik-Infeld strings. I agree with you 100 percent they are more comfortable on the fingers. The Thomastik-Infeld strings will last you for a couple months versus some of other strings that you have to change every month. So in the long run the price should equal out about the same. The current set of strings that I have on my mandolin now I have been playing every day for almost three months and they still sound good. The one thing I do after I finish playing is always take a cloth and wipe the strings off. I believe it helps the life of the strings no matter what brand you use and I do the same with my guitar strings after playing.
Enjoy those strings!!!!
Darwin
Thanks Darwin, I am sure you are correct about the life of the TI’s. Playing them now a couple of days, I have noticed the dynamics of the attach with my Blue Chip picks— it seems these strings allow a softer to harder attack and even more dynamic volume range results. The tone is sparkling and my speed is increasing on fiddle tunes. I am starting to consider putting the same set on my 815V. Thanks Darwin!Quote:
Originally Posted by MT2
Best strings ever.
So far, I am blown away by the the tone they produce from my MT and the ease of tension. My MT seems to love them too due to the reduced pull on the neck(tongue in cheek, but true)!Quote:
Originally Posted by Strabo
I just ordered my second set to string up my MD815V with, and this time went with light gauge since this F5 was set up for lights. Just love the tone and reduced tension with the Thomastik Infelds. Best price is at Strings and Beyond, with free shipping for this item. They play so smoothly. Intonation is superb.
How's the bass response? I've got D'A Monels on my F5S and like the way they sound in general, but the bass could use a bit more 'oomph.' I tried the D'A flats and liked the feel, but the sound was lacking character.
Haven't tried the Mangan Monels yet, but heard good things about them as well.
The search is never-ending...
I love these strings, I put them on my Northfield and they sounded and felt great. Strings and Beyond is a pretty good price, I got them last year from Amazon for $39.99 and free shipping, now that same fulfillment vendor has increased by $20 so no way.
Thanks Kevin and Bigskygirl, The bass response matches the instrument’s normal richness and natural tone. There is a subtle difference with each type of string, but the D’A Monels sounded as good as the D’A PB’s (J74’s) and the TI’s have their own subtle tone, but work beautifully on my MT. They easily pop with volume according to the attack and dynamics. They pair nicely with a thicker pick such as a 1.4 thickness. Big sky, you think the bass response was to your standards on your Northfield? Sounds like you are happy, too. I am wondering why I never took the plunge before, but I know it was price. The longevity makes up for that. YMMV
Thanks - got a couple more sets of monels to work through, but I'll give them a try. I have used TI's on my bass guitar, and once I got used to the lower tension, they were great.
I really love the D’Adarrio Monels you mentioned earlier.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Winn
Hi Dan, overall I thought they sounded great on the Northfield, to me the tone was very clear and loud. I infrequently record myself so I can’t really say for sure that the bass in particular stood out. The longevity does make up somewhat for the price, heck, under pandemic conditions they’d probably last a year for me - I generally kept them on about 6 months and could have stretched that even further.
I find the stings lovely to play however the bass is definitely not as powerful.
The strings are more laid back or you could say less upfront, less drive!
They are much easier to fret with less string noise. Great for jazz on my Phoenix Jazz mandolin.
I hear what you are saying Barry. True. My Collings has so much volume and deep bass that I can get a lot of sound from it across the courses in a balanced way. I believe the hard tension TI strings would produce more, but if I were playing in a BG band I would want phosphorus bronze mediums to get as much power as needed. I do like like the dynamic range the TI’s allow with attack sensitivity to the composition of the song you are playing. They allow for both big enough bass and drive in general, as well as quiet tones. The pick has a lot to do with those factors, too. No question there is a trade off, and my uses are home play and video recording to join in the virtual church team these days, so then I am on a mic. I agree with you, generally.
Strings and beyond has the TIs 10 per cent off. $42 and free shipping.