4 strings on an f-5

[John L]

I am planning to buy a 4 or 5 string solid body electric, but still trying to decide which one. In the meantime, I have an F-5 copy with a pickup that I don't play much. I was thinking about putting 4 light strings on it and playing it like that for fun, and to get a bit more electric sound/experience. What kind of sound would I get? What strings should I use? Is this a bad idea? Has anyone tried this?

[thistle3585]

I would suggest using a steel set with whatever gauge you decide you want to use. Electric mandolins don't really care too much about gauge other than not to be too light. When I sell instruments to people that are playing single string for the first time they often complain about the feel of the strings as they are not as forgiving as pairs.

I use to string up mandos with .042W, .026W, .016 and .011 which are similar to a set of J-74's but recently have lightened it up to .038W, .024W, .014 and .010 or .009. I just seem to like the lighter sets.

[John L]

Thanks Andrew, I was thinking that light was the way to go... maybe I will start by just taking off 4 and go from there. The set on the mando are fairly heavy - monel. I am definitely thinking about one of your mandolins - part of my indecisiveness is 4 or 5 string.

[hotclub]

I've been using four strings on all my mandos for years, elec and acoustic, and have found that light gauge strings don't sound good, period. On elec., I like Gibson Sam Bush with the wimpy .14 A changed out to .16. On acoustic, 1/2 set of J74's or equiv. Sometimes with the .15 changed to a .16. The thin A strings just have a twang that I don't like. It still takes only half as much effort to fret.

[mandroid]

I like my conversion mando. a 4 string gibson A50
was modified to be a150 like but with a stacked humbucking
dual coil pickup.
jazzy tone in C.049,G.040,D.026,A.014;
intonation offsets , are different of course, with
a wooden adjustable bridge one would get another
top section made to suit

I might try a set of Ted's jazz'dola flatwounds next time.
though nickel wound last a long time.

[thistle3585]

Steve Smith at Cumberland Acoustic has properly intonated mandola bridges. I don't know if they are designed to fit on an existing mandolin bridge or not. How does the string spacing on your mandola tuning compare to that on your mandolin?

[mandroid]

the intonation would be altered with shorter scale, eh?
GDA intonation just shifted over
and a longer one made for the C

FWIW, my 4
string spacing sample:
A50

At nut [string centers] 15/16 overall 3/8 between
bridge 1,7/16 - 1/2 " in between, roughly

Biller made 4 string, [got out the digital]

,879 - .305 / overall 1.525 - about same 0.5"

[John L]

Just to update, I removed 4 strings from my F-5 copy just for the halibut. Sounds pretty good, although the nut and bridge would have to be changed to leave it like this. I also tried mandola tuning - also kind of cool, although intonation is definitely an issue. While I was at it I played the thing through a guitar multi-effects unit to make some truly strange sounds. Anyway, I recommend the experiment as kind of a fun way to try a 4 string emando without spending any money!