Electric mandolin strings

[Dave Hicks]

I'm down to my last set. Who sells ball-end sets? My usual sources, Elderly and Sweetwater, don't seem to carry such a thing. (I could buy single strings and make my own sets, of course.)

D.H.

[Bill McCall]

Emando.com, Cafe’s own Martin Stillion. NFI, but a happy customer.

[Dave Hicks]

Emando.com, Cafe’s own Martin Stillion. NFI, but a happy customer.

Thanks, Bill. I'd seen his ads for instruments, didn't know he sold strings, too - choices, even!

D.H.

[Crazyquilt]

You also might try contacting GHS; I believe they provide the strings for Eastwood's electrics. I know the maker of my Sparrow has spec'd out a set of strings from GHS as well. That being said, ball end strings are so easy to come by, I've been just making my own sets, tweaked to my preferences.

[steve in tampa]

If you are looking for ball end, you can always use electric guitar singles.

[Dave Hicks]

Crazyquilt and steve-

I'm going by Sweetwater later today - I'll check on a single string. Thanks!

D.H.

[CES]

I usually buy packs of Ernie Ball Slinky 9s and 10s and use a combination of the strings to match the Emando set as closely as possible (it's not exact, but close). I'm usually able to get 2 string changes out of those sets and then either save the singles as spares for my electric guitars or recycle them depending on my current supply. The caveat: my emandos are both 4 stringers, not 8 stringers, so this won't work as well with 8 stringers (unless you go the single string route and match the pairs up). I took that approach mainly to support my local guys, paltry support though I know that is. But, Martin can definitely hook you up, and, is probably the easiest way to go if you're playing an 8 stringer. If you're playing a 4 stringer you get two sets with each pack!

[Tom Wright]

Because my sets are 10 strings I use the bulk strings from JustStrings. From their tone I think they are GHS. Sold as dozens, and not coiled but in sleeves, a 10-string set costs me about $6.

I change strings on both my electric and acoustic 10s after a few weeks, so I go through a lot of strings.

[mandroid]

Breaking the ball out of Guitar Strings, is a useful skill, to get Loop Ends

[pops1]

Breaking the ball out of Guitar Strings, is a useful skill, to get Loop Ends

If you save those balls you can then put them into loop end strings when you need a ball end sting, as the OP does.

[sgosnell]

Strings By Mail, Just Strings, Guitar Center/Musician's Friend. I tend to use stringsbymail.com.

[Dave Hicks]

Thanks, all. I bought a set of flats from Emando. I might try a heavier gage e string to get the volume more even. Single strings aren't hard to get.

D.H.