5 String Sets...

[mando.player]

The strings that were on my Mann EM-5 have been there for a long time and I finally got the inevitable break. In the past I've order sets online and while inconvenient I was able to get the exact gauges I needed.

I spent an hour or so looking to see if any electric guitar sets might fit the bill. As it turns out Elixr Mediums (electric guitar) matched up pretty close. My Mann shipped with .052 .038 .026 .014 .009. The Elixrs are .049 .038 .028 .018 .014 .011. The .018 went in the trash and the other went on the Mann. They settled in quickly and there doesn't appear to be any binding at the nut or tuning issues.

For the more budget minded player you can pick up a 3 pack of D'Addario EXL115 for $12. They are the same gauges as the Elixrs. Both string sets appear to be widely available in retail outlets.

[Christian McKee]

I just wrote down my needed guages, took them to the local one-stop-shop-and-rock and bought singles for under a dollar apiece. I think they're D'Addarios, but at least that way you're not sending one to the trash right off the bat.

C.

[Jim MacDaniel]

If you like flatwounds, you can get 5-string sets from emando.com in three different gauges:

M: .011, .015, .026, .040, .050
L: .010, .014, .024, .038, .048
XL: .009, .013, .022, .035, .045

<NFI>

[mando.player]

Those were the flats that I had on for so long. Unfortunately, I didn't have a set handy and had to go with an actual store.

[Jim MacDaniel]

Oh that's right -- I forgot that there are real stores that carry stuff like this - lol

How do you like the Elixrs compared to them?

[mando.player]

THey are a little brighter and I'm getting a slightly stronger signal. The key for me is tuning stability. I've have some crazy tuning issues with different sets of strings. Mainly the C string would go sharp after a short time of playing. Not happening so far. Maybe the string coating is helping in that regard.