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Thread: The Monel strings worked

  1. #1
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    The J62s which I use on my MKs just didnt cut it on the Eastman 514. They were TO bright. To jangly(for lack of a better word)But I needed some strings that would accomodate my arthritis. So I tried the .011 Gibson Momels and they work. Real easy under the fingers with a lot warmer sound on that oval hole without giving up the bass. Think I may try a set one of the MKs but only after a brief period of decompression after two string changes in a week.

    A question. What is Monel?
    " Eastman 514 #31 "

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    A monel is half of a donel

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    I think it means a metal alloy

    I love the EDIT feature



    "First you master your instrument, then you master the music, then you forget about all that ... and just play"
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    Registered User RichM's Avatar
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    Monel is a trade name for an alloy that is made of nickel, copper, and small amounts of other metals. Its high resistance to corrosion make it good for marine applications, and, as it would happen, mandolin strings!

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    Thanks Rich. Still have your old MK Classic and doing real well with it. Now if I only had your old Eastman A!
    " Eastman 514 #31 "

  6. #6
    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by (RichM @ Oct. 25 2005, 19:28)
    Monel is a trade name
    It may actually be a natural alloy.
    ¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

    '20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A

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    Well, I finally get to answer a question that I know a little about.

    Monel is not a trade name, but rather one of many of a group of nickel-copper alloys, first developed in 1905, containing about 66 percent nickel and 31.5 percent copper, with small amounts of iron, manganese, carbon, and silicon. Stronger than pure nickel, Monel alloys are resistant to corrosion by many agents, including rapidly flowing seawater.

    Since human sweat contains a high concentration of salt, monel is one of many suitable alloys for musical strings. Monel is easily worked by many methods such as fusion, powder actuation, hot rolling or even cold-forming.

    Now, exactly which type of Monel is used for the manufacture of musical strings, I'd have to look at the package to see.
    Al Henderson
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    Yikes!

    Thanks for the expertise, Al. I LOVE the internet!

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    From... here

    Monel or Alloy 4000, is a nickel alloy containing 65-70 percent nickel, 20-29 percent copper, and small amounts of iron, manganese, silicon and carbon discovered due to the efforts of Robert Crooks Stanley, who worked for the International Nickel Company (INCO) in 1901. The new alloy which was named in honor of the president of the company, Ambrose Monell, was said to be:

    Stronger than steel
    Malleable
    Resistant to corrosion
    Low coefficient of thermal expansion
    Highly resistant to alkalis
    Improved sanitation (??)
    Fairly inexpensive
    Can be welded, brazed and soldered

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    F4Fake:

    No problem. Like has been quoted here before, "musicians have day jobs".

    I am a mechanical engineer by training and have done a large amount of metalurgical research. Inconel, hastelloy and monel alloys are some of the metals that I have looked in to.

    It is amazing to me that such an expensive alloy can be made into a relatively inexpensive set of mandolin strings.



    Al Henderson
    Jacksonville, FL

    "Only two kinds of people never make mistakes: Dead people and people that do nothing!" [Al's Dad]

    '81 Gibson F5L Fern, J Rowland
    '07 Arches A Style #11, "Hoss"

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    I have a handmade F5 and am a bluegrasser. I got a great deal on Monel .011 sets and am using them on my great sounding mando currently. I find I actually like them a lot.
    As has been stated, they are not as jangly as PB or bronze wound strings, give a sweet sound for leads, and a great chop. They've been around a long time, and IMO, for good reason.
    Dave



    Striving for mediocrity and perpetually falling short.

  12. #12
    Registered User John Flynn's Avatar
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    A "fun fact" about monel that I picked up on the internet is that the Navy commissioned at least some of its dog tags in WWII to be made out of monel because the standard dogtags would corrode when immersed in sea water.

    I just started using monel strings on my Rigel A+ when I decided to take a bluegrass mandolin class. I like them a lot. As someone said, they really do minimize any "jangly" sound a mando might have and bring out a darker, woodier kind of tone. I am going to experiment with them on other mandolins, for use with other kinds of music. I think they may become my regular string.




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    I read somewhere about monel strings having less sustain than other kinds. Is this true in your experience?
    Mandolins:
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    Where's the best (read: cheapest) place to get the Monels?
    .
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    -= MAS is only life threatening if you're married =-
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    BlueGrassFire

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    First Quality Music was the cheapest last time I looked.
    If F-model mandolins have F-holes then why don't A-model mandolins have A-holes???

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    I can't find any trace of them at FQMS... Are they under the same idiotic Gibson "no internet sales" rules as instruments?
    .
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    BlueGrassFire

  17. #17
    Registered User Douglas McMullin's Avatar
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    Dunno. JustStrings.com has them online though. http://www.juststrings.com/gib-smg-sbs.html

    Janet Davis has them as well. http://www.janetdavismusic.com/s-mandst.html




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    ..yep Zed,,,just call them..Thats how I order mine..they werent listed in the catalog or on line.




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    Ok... One last question... are the A and E also Monel or only the wound strings?
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    BlueGrassFire

  20. #20
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    Anyone know? Only the wound strings wound with Monel or are the steels Monel also?

    I'd really like to try a set of these but a) can't buy them locally and b) refuse to pay more shipping than the strings cost. Anyone have a set they'd offer to sell me and mail USPS?
    .
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  21. #21
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Monel? the Windings,it be.
    tone seems holding fine, still, seems a set that can be played
    till the windings fall off the d's.
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
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  22. #22
    Registered User f5loar's Avatar
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    It's only on the strings with winding, the G and D. Others are standard steel and can be interchanged with other sets.
    I've used the Sam Bush set but trade out that darn whimpy 14 for a 15 or 16. They work great on Loars but does give a totally different sound than phos. bronze or bright bronze. Monroe used Gibson Monel excluslively in the 40's,50's and 60's so they can't be too bad.

  23. #23
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    I figgered the A and E were plain steel but wasn't sure. Yeah, that 14 A... sheesh... i'm surprised Sam likes that. I'll have a 16 there for sure. A 14 would feel like kite string.

    I done ordered me a set to try.
    .
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    .
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    BlueGrassFire

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