Nylon string advice

[sebastiaan56]

I’m sick of breaking E strings. It’s an experimental instrument 4 string at 355mm string length. What strings are terrific? I’m breaking nylagut classics.

Thx!

[Jim Garber]

Write to Aquila. They have excellent customer service folks. Maybe they can suggest a gauge tho I would think you might go lighter. Do these strings break in the same place? Do you use a pick? What kind of bridge do you have on this mandolin — is it like a uke bridge or more like a standard Mandolin?

[John Flynn]

I get a lot of guff when I suggest this here, but it was recommended to me by the designer and builder of Risa instruments and it has served me well for years on my Risa Uke, which I have tuned GDAE. The Risa has a 368mm scale length and I use .04mm monofilament nylon fishing line, 20 pound test, for the E string. It sounds great and I have never had an E just break on its own, without me doing something that caused it. Also, you can buy a spool of it that would last you a lifetime for not much money.

[ProfChris]

A number of ukulele makers and players string with fluorocarbon fishing line (not nylon). Fluorocarbon stretches less, and is generally better behaved as a string, plus the sound is a little closer to metal strings. Plenty available in the small sizes via eBay, the heavyweight stuff for lower strings can be harder to find.

[Nevin]

Have you checked the bridge, nut and tuner for sharp edges or binding spots? It also helps to keep the string from twisting when you install it.

[Rodney Riley]

Like John, I replaced the Aquila e-strings on my nylon stringed Mandolin with fishing line. Not home now to see what I did get. But I just looked for line as close to the size/gauge as the Aquila string, with heaviest pound test rating. Not broken one since.

[sebastiaan56]

Thanks guys,

I have no objections to Flourocarbon strings, I believe Seaguar is the preferred brand. But I do prefer the Nylgut. I like the sound and look of them.

Jim, the instrument is considerably lighter than a standard mandolin, flat top, minimal bracing, bridge is a adapted classical guitar design with a bone saddle. Ive made sure there are no catches. Under an eyeglass the strings have broken from stress, there are no scratches. I havent used a pick yet, like i said they keep breaking. Ive written to Aquila.

Instrument sounds good BTW. It seems to meet the iideas I had.

[Jim Garber]

I actually prefer fluorocarbon strings on my ukuleles. I tried the Aquilas on my 5K and 3K and hated the tone. Even on the modern ones I prefer the fluorocarbon strings. Nothing wrong with fishing line as long as you can find the right gauges.

I have a charango in which the high strings are super thin and I have broken many of those so I did the same -- bought roll of quality fishing line.

[sebastiaan56]

The Flourocarbon hasnt broken and holds tune so all good. Im still waiting for the new Aquila strings as I do prefer their tone. Photos on the WIP thread.

[mandroid]

How about just be happy with FCGD?

[John Morton]

I get a lot of guff when I suggest this here, but it was recommended to me by the designer and builder of Risa instruments and it has served me well for years on my Risa Uke, which I have tuned GDAE. The Risa has a 368mm scale length and I use .04mm monofilament nylon fishing line, 20 pound test, for the E string. It sounds great and I have never had an E just break on its own, without me doing something that caused it. Also, you can buy a spool of it that would last you a lifetime for not much money.

You probably mean .4mm, not .04mm, which is thinner than a human hair!