Vega cylinders -- strings for mando, dola, cello?

[Joe Bartl]

Folks,

I'm trying to put my house in order and to that end will put new strings on my three Vega cylinder-backs, a mandolin, a mandola, and a mandocello. I have had great advice from these forums about string choice for other mandos in my herd. What works best for these Vegas? As always, thanks for your help.

Joe

[zookster]

I use the standard D'Addario set for my '16 mandolin, but my '12 mandocello is currently strung as a bouzouki, with the D'Addario Irish bouzouki string set with the exepetion of nickel wound .018s for the A string. Since there is no truss rod, I would be wary of using standard mandocello strings.

[rcc56]

Keep 'em light. The tops on these instruments are lightly built. A lot of them have been ruined by over-stringing.

I wouldn't go any heavier than 10-14-24-38 for a mandolin, and 12-20-32-46 for a mandola.

I can't give you any numbers for a 'cello, but be aware that the off-the-shelf 'cello sets that I see will tear an old Gibson to pieces quickly, and your Vega is built much lighter than a Gibson. I'd start off very light and only increase with great caution. I might try to start with a C string in the low 50's, a G around 40, D around 28, and take the above advice for an A around 18.

[gweetarpicker]

I've been using chrome steel flatwound Thomastiks on my cylinder backs lately..expensive strings but they last a long time and I like the feel and tone.

mandocello - Thomastik Liuto Set Number 1804
mandola - Thomastik Alt-Mandola Set 164
mandolin - Thomastik Mandolin Medium Set 154

[Joe Bartl]

Thanks, folks, for the good advice. Know that you all have contributed to the wellness and future life of my Vegas.

Joe