Best light gauge mandolin strings

[fergmaun]

What is the best light gauge strings and brand.

I have a secondhand Kentucky KM-171 mandolin I got from hobgoblin music shop that came with light gauge strings.

I would go for 80/20 Bronze wound or phosphor bronze wound. Any different.

Cheers

Fergus

[John Kelly]

The phosphor-bronze can offer a warmer tone, Fergus, so it depends on the sound you want to get. Equally, some string sets suit some mandolins better than others. You might want to try one sort for a while, get used to the tone, then if you feel you want a different sound, try another type. I notice that Dave Hanson has posted an answer for you over on the mandolin.org.uk site as well.

[Caleb]

I'm interested in hearing from others on this topic, though most here seem to prefer heavier strings. I recently switched to lighter strings (Ernie Ball Earthwood Med-lights) on my acoustic guitar and have enjoyed the change. I'm planning on trying some of the Ernie Ball mandolin strings as my next set. Lighter strings can lack "oomph" but can also provide some more airy and open tones. If you don't play Bluegrass (I don't) then they are a great option.

[pheffernan]

I have installed D'Addario EJ62's and GHS A250's on flattop instruments requiring lighter strings. There are also a host of medium-light options (such as EJ73's and A260's) that your Kentucky should be able to handle.

[derbex]

I put Savarez Argentine 1540s on my flattop and like them, not the easiest to find in the UK though, can't say I notice any difference in volume to heavier strings.

[MikeZito]

For what it's worth, I had a set of Martin light 80/20's on both my Eastman and my The Loar, and didn't care much for them. I subsequently swapped them both for sets of D'Addario EJ73's and found them more to my liking.

[Jim]

Though I often put Martin lights on my mandolins that need lights , I like the GHS

[Kalasinar]

I used D'Addario Phosphor Bronze EJ73s for a long while. Great strings which are kind on a beginner. GHS Phosphor Bronze A250s are good too. I tried the D'Addario 80/20 Bronze EJ62s once and I really disliked them. Too bright in an odd grating sort of way. Your mandolin may be different of course (I used these strings on my Eastman MD 504).

[pops1]

Another fan of the GHS A250's I have put them on several mandolins that need light strings and they have sounded very good, loud and plenty of depth.

[ollaimh]

i prefer bronze for mandolin over phosphorous bronze because it sounds more like a mandolin to my ear but i don't hate p/b. lights can be easier to play but you get less hammer ons and pull offs with good volume. pretty much the same volume for chording. older mandolins were built for mediums, like old gibsons. they didnt have lights back then, and they used nickel wound back then. nickel is to harsh to my ear. i know old timers who still use them.

[fergmaun]

I would go for D'Addario Phosphor Bronze EJ73 10- 38 gauge.

I use Newtone strings Phosphor Bronze on my David Freshwater Irish Bouzouki http://www.eaglemusicshop.com

On website https://www.newtonestrings.com/shop/mandolin-strings/ list different gauge sizes, core type.

What is the different round core vs hex core strings and what core usually strings like D'Addario come set up with.

different sting gauge size
8-30
9-35
10-37
11-39

Cheers

Ferg

[Frankdolin]

i prefer bronze for mandolin over phosphorous bronze because it sounds more like a mandolin to my ear but i don't hate p/b. lights can be easier to play but you get less hammer ons and pull offs with good volume. pretty much the same volume for chording. older mandolins were built for mediums, like old gibsons. they didnt have lights back then, and they used nickel wound back then. nickel is to harsh to my ear. i know old timers who still use them.

I'm a bronze lover also. To me they sound much better broken in than PB and stay that way till you wear them out. Gettin' harder to find in any thing but lights, which is a drag...

[fergmaun]

My mandolin is not the Kentucky KM-171 but the Kentucky KM-172 model.

Still has the strings that came on it and the gauge looks like 11-40 as used digital vernier caliper ruler to measure the diameter of strings.

So light or medium gauged strings.

Cheers Fergus

[Zach Wilson]

I like SIT strings light gage.

http://www.juststrings.com/sit-m1036pb.html

[fatt-dad]

Pheff beat me to it! I also like GHS A250s! I only have one mandolin (flattop) that specifies light gauge strings; however.

I'm a bigger fan of mediums and really like the EXP 74cm set!

Nice thing about Thomastik strings is they feel light. Heck, even their, "Heavies" are lighter gauge then j74s! That said, I've used their Mittles (next size down from Stark) on my flattop and they're nice. . . but expensive!

f-d

[bigskygirl]

I like the TI’s too, I ended up with the 154s which are labeled as medium but they are really lights. It did change the action a bit on mine but a quick turn of the truss rod fixed that. They are great, I’ve had them on for months now and they are holding up. Spendy yes but I change my strings about every 4-6 weeks as I was using a set from the music shop I get for $5 and they wore out quickly. If you want to stay with cheap then just keep trying different ones until you find one you like.

[Ken]

Another vote for the D'Addario EJ 73's and the GHS A250's. Been using them for years on most of my mandolin (arch tops) both f holes and oval holes. Besides being easier on my old hands, I think I get a richer sound with more overtones. No shortage of volume either. Mike Compton noted in a workshop I attended, "That's a loud mandolin!"

[pheffernan]

Still has the strings that came on it and the gauge looks like 11-40 as used digital vernier caliper ruler to measure the diameter of strings.

If you still have the same strings on your Kentucky as when you started this thread on June 28, 2017, I would suggest that a change is probably well overdue at this point.

[kurth83]

If you want to try ultra-light (.009-.0032) the GHS A240's have worked well for me.

[treidm]

GHS N250 [10-1/2 to 39], Nickel Wound
You can buy singles too, so could make a custom set

Sweet, dark and rich
(Don't buy, if you like the bright in your face bluegrass sound)

[mandroid]

I like 10 to 36 as my light set bronze wound on my '22 A ..

(brand is a secondary consideration , mostly meaningless )

[a mandolin banjo uses even lighter]




....

[Louise NM]

I usually use D'Addario EJ73s. I had one set of Martins. Disliked them at first, but since I hate changing strings, I decided to ride it out for a bit. I ended up liking them a lot. Maybe it was getting used to them, maybe it took a bit for them to settle in. In any case, I would happily buy another set.

[MandoMN18]

Another fan of the GHS A250s

[fergmaun]

I have one set of Mandolin 8-String Phosphor Bronze Light 10, 14, 23, 32 Strings costed around £3.95.

Anyone used these strings before.

I got this set of strings when I had a cheap Blue Moon BM-05 Mandolin.

[mandroid]

AFAIK, they don't sell them 'across the pond'.. here..


D'Addario & GHS are the dominant companies, distributed to shops, Stateside.