Strings for a vintage mandolin

[csacwp]

Hello, I'm primarily a banjoist (I play classic banjo), but earlier today I purchased an AC Fairbanks mandolin from the 1890s, complete with original case. What kinds of strings were used on American mandolins from the 1890s-1910s for the classic parlor and popular repertoire? Banjos used gut, but I'm not sure if there was gut thin enough for the high tuning of a mandolin.

[DavidKOS]

The mandolin used gut strings on the high E until the 1800's if I recall. However since then the mandolin has used metal strings on all courses.

Those older mandolins are all in the Italian style and need very light strings, like .009-.034 or so, give or take a bit.

Enjoy playing.

[Jake Wildwood]

Can't go wrong with the GHS A240 set... 32w-9 "extra light" strings which are VERY close to tension/gauge from the time judging by stuff I've fished out of old string packets.