Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: I've seen (played) the light!

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Stow, MA
    Posts
    110

    Default I've seen (played) the light!

    I have been struggling with tendonitis in my left hand/arm. Despite moving to D'Addario EFW74s and lowering the action as far as it would go without removing wood, I was still getting a lot of discomfort and was playing the 4 string electric most of the time, leaving my sweet Northfield feeling neglected...

    But I wanted to find a solution that would let me play the Northfield comfortably since i want to use it in the upcoming swing class. So I finally bit the $48 bullet and got a set of Thomastik Infeld lights. Oh my goodness! These things are amazing. I just played an hour with no pain. The tone is lovely and dark. The feel delightful under the fingers.
    Craig Mandola
    Mann SEM-5

  2. The following members say thank you to guidoStow for this post:


  3. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    So Oregon
    Posts
    1,010

    Default Re: I've seen (played) the light!

    I saw the light around 1990. No finer strings.

  4. #3
    Barn Cat Mandolins Bob Clark's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Beautiful Salem County, NJ
    Posts
    2,004

    Default Re: I've seen (played) the light!

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Hildreth View Post
    No finer strings.
    Amen, Brother. Thomastiks are all I use on any of my instruments, any more. They may not be for everybody, but they sure are for me.
    Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album

  5. #4

    Default Re: I've seen (played) the light!

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Clark View Post
    Amen, Brother. Thomastiks are all I use on any of my instruments, any more. They may not be for everybody, but they sure are for me.
    Same with the guitar strings, not for everybody, but what a wonderful feeling of quality on your fingers and (especially for electric guitar) totally changes the tonal palette.

    Kinda like wearing $30 shoes for 30 years and finally getting a pair of $150 shoes -- Oh my, these sure are nice.............

  6. #5
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Manchester - Lancashire - NW England
    Posts
    14,187

    Default Re: I've seen (played) the light!

    I believe that on mandolins that 'suit them',Thomastik strings are really excellent - but they do need to 'suit' the instrument. A friend of mine owns a superb Heiden "A" style, & even the heaviest Thomastik strings didn't 'drive' it very well. It was distinctly 'quiet' & lacked any semblance of it's potential tone. He changed to J74's (now EJ74's) & it improved greatly,he then tried DR MD11 strings & it was even better.

    I only mention this because i suffer from Tendonitis in both hands. In the morning my hands ache. As part of my morning ablutions,i do the excercise that i was given by my Physio. when i was recovering from a Trigger finger op. - soak your hands in water as hot as is comfortable as well as a face cloth for a few minutes,then take the face cloth & wring the living daylights out of it a half dozen times. The tension & then relaxation really works to free the stiffness up & for me,it lasts for hours.

    I use DR MD11 string so 2 mandolins & GHS A270's on my Ellis. On my Lebeda & Weber,my action is also on the high side,which i prefer. To my mind,at least 'for me',that gives my left hand a good work out & up to now,i haven't had any pain afterwards. The pain i get is after hours of sleep,where my hands & tendons have more or less been immobile.

    So even using 'standard' gauge strings,Tendonitis can be ''liveable with'' - however,i do think that our wonderful hobby of playing an instrument has a lot to do with getting 'T' in the first place,
    Ivan
    Weber F-5 'Fern'.
    Lebeda F-5 "Special".
    Stelling Bellflower BANJO
    Tokai - 'Tele-alike'.
    Ellis DeLuxe "A" style.

  7. The following members say thank you to Ivan Kelsall for this post:


  8. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Stow, MA
    Posts
    110

    Default Re: I've seen (played) the light!

    Sounds like mine is a bit different. My pain is more in the forearm from the elbow towards the hand for about 5-6 inches. There is a lot of extensor activity in that area but I get flexor pain there. I stretch a lot, do a lot of grip strengthening work and sometimes use a tennis elbow band... Ah the joys of getting the body to do new things...
    Craig Mandola
    Mann SEM-5

  9. The following members say thank you to guidoStow for this post:


  10. #7
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Manchester - Lancashire - NW England
    Posts
    14,187

    Default Re: I've seen (played) the light!

    From Guido - "Ah the joys of getting the body to do new things... " At 72 years of age - i'll pass on that !. In the past 3 weeks,i've assembled 4 flat-packs of furniture as part of a spare room re-furbishing project. I spent hours on my knees on the floor, & it was sheer hell on my back,knees & toes. Screwing in dozens of screws didn't do my right hand any good at all - elec.screwdriver coming up very shortly ,
    Ivan
    Weber F-5 'Fern'.
    Lebeda F-5 "Special".
    Stelling Bellflower BANJO
    Tokai - 'Tele-alike'.
    Ellis DeLuxe "A" style.

  11. The following members say thank you to Ivan Kelsall for this post:


  12. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Stow, MA
    Posts
    110

    Default Re: I've seen (played) the light!

    I hear you! I'm going to be 59 in two weeks and my knees ache just reading that...
    Craig Mandola
    Mann SEM-5

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •