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.
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