Re: Heavier strings=louder volume?
Heavier strings will put an increased load on the top and, up to a point, that will increase volume. Past the maximum capacity of the top to bear the added load it will just do what Ray has said and not improve anything.
I went through a phase of seriously heavy gauge stringsfor several years when my Alvarez was new and it really drove the top hard and as soon as I went back to stock gauge sets, it really came on strong and broader in tone quality.
So, my personal, non scientific, take away from the heavy string experiment (3 years with the heavy) was that it worked for me.
The heavy set I had gauged up was 13-18-32-48 (as near as I can remember) back then my band was playing anywhere from three to six nights a week and we were young and “full of juice” as the saying goes. I doubt I’d do that again but maybe for a set or two to see how another mandolin reacts.
Just one man’s experience.
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
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