Flatwoind strings on an acoustic mandolin

[MontanaMatt]

I'm kinda fanatical about changing strings, so I've never taken an EFT74 to the wear out point, I notice the tuning stability go and I swap.

[mcgroup53]

Dave Peters, the only person to win the mandolin championships at Winfield three times, used Thomastiks on his two Nuggets. When I asked him why he played with strings that sounded kind of thick and dull, he replied, "What does it matter what it sounds like if I can't play what I want?"

[Bill Cameron]

I buy the daddario FW74s in bulk. You need spares. Try them on everything. My philosophy is that volume is important on all mandolins, so it makes sense to put flatwounds on the loudest bluegrass-type mando--it has more headroom. Mind you I put them on a quieter small-body oval-hole too, simply because I'm hooked on the feel.

[mandobassman]

Dave Peters, the only person to win the mandolin championships at Winfield three times, used Thomastiks on his two Nuggets. When I asked him why he played with strings that sounded kind of thick and dull, he replied, "What does it matter what it sounds like if I can't play what I want?"

When I moved to Houston in 1994 I met Dave Peters and got to play with him quite a bit. The tone he got out of that Nugget A model using Thomastik's is what led me to start using them and I have been using flatwound strings ever since. Funny, I never thought his mandolin sounded "thick and dull". I always heard the sound of the instrument and not the sound of the strings. I played that Nugget a couple of times and it was the most responsive instrument I ever played. Even with the Thomastik's strings, the sound just exploded out of that mandolin with very little effort.

[Joey Anchors]

I love flatwound strings! Currently using Pyramid Gold flats.

The EFW-74 are a really good flatwound set as well.

[Mike Snyder]

I used EFW-74s on both mandolins for a long time and will in the future. Got wound up in a bluegrass band and went back to EXP 74s on the F5 thinking I needed "that" sound. And it's a good sound, just not my preference for sound. I have several sets and when they've worn out I'll go back to the flatwounds. A loud mandolin will be loud. It's also a minor hassle to order singles for the A and E courses when they rust or poop out so much quicker than the wound strings.
Mike Black has borrowed my A4 as a demo during the big festival at Winfield in the past and one tire kicker changed to J74s (he asked first, OK by me) to " brighten" the tone. And Mr. Black loads J74s on new builds, if I'm not mistaken, so there's that. The flats are not everything to everyone. I like everything about them.
Probably pertinent, I use a BC 80 on the A4 and a 100 on the F5 and I am not a bashful picker. So the strings are getting moved forcefully.

[stevedenver]

I love TI mittels, and used them for seven years on my fern.

As mentioned, the soft wire makes playing like driving a Porsche.

I heard less punch and power, ie the dead on arrival thing, but, when recorded, on stage, sounds " just like a mandolin". Not dull at all.

My fern is sitka.

I love the TIs on my Rigel A plus, too. Sitka also i believe.

On my go -to Brentrup, addy topped, i feel,like the mittels, or even medium pbs, dont impart enough energy, this from the drivers seat ear position.

Past couple of years been using jt 75s for power and tuning stability, but high fret work is more restricted with heavys.


I appreciate the info on the flat tops, as i havent tried those.

[mandobassman]

I love flatwound strings! Currently using Pyramid Gold flats.

The EFW-74 are a really good flatwound set as well.

How would you compare the Pyramid tone to the EFW-74s? They are one of the flatwound sets I haven't tried.

[Joey Anchors]

How would you compare the Pyramid tone to the EFW-74s? They are one of the flatwound sets I haven't tried.

The pyramids are darker sounding compared to the EFW74. Both sound like flatwound but the EFW74 are probably more versatile.

[mandobassman]

The pyramids are darker sounding compared to the EFW74. Both sound like flatwound but the EFW74 are probably more versatile.

Thanks Joey. That's kind of what I expected.

[Ron McMillan]

In the past I have had LaBella flatwounds on my no-name F5, and loved them. I have just installed a set of FW74s for the first time. They are a bit heavier than I am used to, but that won't take long to get used to. So far, so good.

[greg_tsam]

Dave Peters, the only person to win the mandolin championships at Winfield three times, used Thomastiks on his two Nuggets. When I asked him why he played with strings that sounded kind of thick and dull, he replied, "What does it matter what it sounds like if I can't play what I want?"

Dave had great tone and was a beast. I have Live at Ovations in my car even though it's damaged. Still sounds great between the skipping. Kelly Lancaster on guitar doesn't hurt either.

[greg_tsam]

... it was the most responsive instrument I ever played. Even with the Thomastik's strings, the sound just exploded out of that mandolin with very little effort.

I played a Gilchrist like that. So amazing.