19" octave mandolin - tune as CGDA

Hi all. I've a lovely electric OM courtesy of Tavy - who is welcome to chime in here!

I would like to try it in CGDA tuning (hopefully)!!
If that's workable... What gauges should I use? It's an eight string one.

Were you thinking of tuning down a fifth or up a fourth?

Daniel

Up. Yes sorry good point!

Ps I find the tension calculators really confusing so appreciate being told as if I'm a complete newbie!��

I'd start with a standard mandolin set. I use D'addario EJ-74s.

The string tension calculator (http://stringtensionpro.com/) shows a reduction in tension of about 4 pounds from a standard mandolin scale length. That may be good for you. If not you could go to a heavier set.

Good luck!
Daniel

You can also use the calculator that Daniel suggested and get it to calculate a custom set for you that will feel the same as a standard set

I have a waldzither with ~18.5" scale which I have tuned like a mandola (CGDA) and I am using D'Addario EJ80's. They seem to be pretty good except for the C string, which is a bit floppy. My solution, as a bona fide cheapskate, is simply to tune the C string up to a D. That works for a large majority of the tunes I play. It also eliminates that long stretch up to the low F#. Call me a lazy cheapskate.

I really struggle to understand even that string calculator though!
I need it to be CGDA, Hank as it's for a chord backing with a few odd chords!
Appreciate your help but I didn't even know how to choose the material of the strings :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lord of the Badgers

I really struggle to understand even that string calculator though!
I need it to be CGDA, Hank as it's for a chord backing with a few odd chords!
Appreciate your help but I didn't even know how to choose the material of the strings :(

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You should use nickel-wound strings. Given that you need only four you can simply buy various singe string gauges and see. A normal D’Addario mandola set, for 17” scale acoustic, is .015, .025, .035, .052. Go down a notch in gauge, perhaps .013, .022, .032, .048. Wound strings can be had down to .018 if you need, or you could go plain on the D with a low-tension set of .011, .018, .028w, .040w.

You are in luck if you can use ball end, as pretty much the entire catalog of string types and sizes is available from the major manufacturers at web sites like juststrings.com. If you want the feel of double-course acoustic strings try the higher gauges. The light set would be emulating electric guitar feel, easy bending on A and D.

Hi Tom. Thanks! I am using eight strings though not four? Metal wise I knew it was nickel but the site suggested three options and didn't function as I expected - mind blown! Doesn't take much... :)

Using a set of EJ76 as a starting point and putting in your scale length suggests that a. 012, 022w, 030w, 044w will have a similar tension to EJ76 on a 1 3/4” scale

Awesome that is brilliant thank you!

Happy to help!

it's loop ends tho. Dammit. Was hoping local shop would help today :(

My local shop are legends. Without sounding smutty they crushed the balls for me...

I have a spread sheet of various gauges and tensions I worked out for an 18.5". I will upload it tonight when I get home.

You can use pliers to crush the ball ends and convert them into loop ends as long as you do it carefully, opens up a lot of options since you can then use electric guitar strings.

Edit - just saw the shop already did the job.

Thanks for the link to the string tension calculator. I’m rehabbing an old bowl back, and wanted to experiment with some different string combinations, but also to keep the string tension low.
Levi

Frustratingly the loops on the heavy string are too narrow to go over the tailpiece anchor things. Ah well.

Sometimes you can widen them out a little using a pen or other cone shape to gently make the loops a little bigger.

Thanks,
Baron

I have an 18.5" scale length mandola/OM that I have tuned GDAE (OM) and CGDA (mandola). I worked out string tensions using D'Addario's Tension Pro. These shouldn't be too far off from 19" scale length but you can check for yourself, if you like. I put 4 OM combinations and 1 mandola combination into a spread sheet with the columns listed below. I only put the one CGDA combination because it really works so well.

1. Tuning
2. String Type (Homogeneous, Round Wound, Flat Wound, Flat Top)
3. String Material
4. Gauge
5. Tension
6. D'Addario # (or Thomastik number)
7. Just Strings number

I converted this to PDF and have attached it here. It looks black, but click on it, wait a minute and it will open for you. If you are interested, have a look.

Hi Rob,

Apologies for not seeing this sooner, for sure you could go CGDA on that one, I plugged some numbers into a tension calculator and came up with:

A .011
D .016
G .027
G .040

That's at about 20lbs tension per string. You could actually go somewhat lighter than that, especially on the bottom end, so maybe: .011, .015, .024, .036 which is near enough a light gauge mandolin set. You will need strings that are long enough though, my usual source for custom gauges are these. Just be sure to select nickel wound and loop end when you check out. I also note they have these which are cheaper and look to be bang on the right gauges, give or take (the .014 A strings may be a bit wimpish, you would have to try and see).

And finally, a 19" scale is much the same as a tenor banjo (or indeed guitar), the banjo string sets tend to be a too light on the bottom end, but it's worth considering as CGDA and GDAE are the standard tunings to tenors.

HTH, and let us know how you get on!

Ahhhh! There is a mistake in the spread sheet I posted earlier. Left some zeros off. You would all understand what is meant, but might as well fix it. Here is the corrected version.
Attachment 176647

As we used to say back when our computers were made by Pickett or K&E, "Hey, I got the answer right, I just misplaced the decimal point."

Here you go Rob...
Attachment 176920