Phosphor Bronze Strings

[Picking Dick]

When I bought my Gold Tone Mando Banjo, I got some extra D'Addario Phosphor Bronze strings with it. Since then, I've noticed some negative comments about them, but I don't know why they're unpopular. Most of the mandolin strings I see for sale are PBs. So what's wrong with them?

[mandroid]

Opinions abound .. this site's posting members are a small minority , so please your self ..
not online strangers..

I have GHS A 240 on my Vega Lil Wonder mandolin banjo..

brand really a distant second, or 3rd, behind gage and winding wrap metal ..


Tenor banjo strings are typically nickel wound, two sets of those may be worth trying ,

to form your own opinion.

[Willie Poole]

Different companies make strings that are called "phosphor Bronze" and a lot of folks on here like one brand better than another, some prefer GHS, some prefer D`Addario, some prefer the DR strings and there are others...I don`t find anything wrong with phosphor bronze stings it`s just that I prefer one brand over another one depending on the set up of my mandolin, some pickers like steel strings the best and that is a different ball game...

Willie

[sblock]

When I bought my Gold Tone Mando Banjo, I got some extra D'Addario Phosphor Bronze strings with it. Since then, I've noticed some negative comments about them, but I don't know why they're unpopular. Most of the mandolin strings I see for sale are PBs. So what's wrong with them?

Sorry, you are mistaken. D'Addario phosphor bronze strings are by no means "unpopular," as you wrote. On the contrary, their EJ74/EXP74 (medium) and EJ75/EXP75 (heavy) lines of phosphor bronze strings are, arguably, the most popular brands of strings used for "modern" carved-back mandolins, that is, those similar to the Gibson A and F models. There is nothing wrong with them. They are recommended constantly here on the MC. I have no idea where you got this misinformation.

[Picking Dick]

Well, it's good to know my extra strings are okay, and I can use PBs in the future. Thanks, all.

[Bertram Henze]

Maybe they are unpopular because I use them
But that should not hold you back.

[Tobin]

Nothing wrong at all with D'Addario PB strings. It's the PB&J strings you have to watch out for. They're a bit sticky.

[Picking Dick]

Nothing wrong at all with D'Addario PB strings. It's the PB&J strings you have to watch out for. They're a bit sticky.

Yeah, I've already found that out. The A and E strings are good for cutting cheese though.

[sblock]

Who cut the cheese?!?

[Picking Dick]

Who cut the cheese?!?

I knew someone would say that. It really makes a mess on a banjo top, but they slice well.

[Mark Gunter]

Finally a practical use for a banjo

[MediumMando5722]

Finally a practical use for a banjo

Aside from being loud enough to drown out the peanut gallery?

I would venture that, at least amongst bluegrass players, phosphor bronze is by FAR the most used string on mandolin, guitar, and dobro.