Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: do many of you mix strings

  1. #1

    Default do many of you mix strings

    its fairly common in the violin world. wondering how it is in mando land!
    Last edited by JEStanek; Feb-12-2020 at 8:12am.

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Dallas, Texas
    Posts
    482

    Default Re: do many fo you mix strings

    I have in the past but found the hassle of it not worth the small change in tone and playability. I have learned how to make standard sets sound like I want them to sound.

  3. #3
    Registered User sblock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Redwood City, CA
    Posts
    2,335

    Default Re: do many fo you mix strings

    No, not many folks do this. First off, the A and E strings are generally all steel (with rare exceptions for the A), and sound pretty much the same in all brands, provided that the same gauges are used. Chris Thile used to mix the D'Addario J74 (medium) gauges for the two lowest strings (0.040, 0.026) with their J75 gauges for the two highest (0.016, 0.0115), but this combination is now commercially available from D'Addario as their 74CM set, so there's no need to mix.

    Of course, if you break an E string and replace it with a generic E that you buy as a single string (or in bulk), I suppose you're technically "mixing" strings, but that doesn't count!

    Also, it doesn't count, in my opinion, if you're making up a mixed, custom set for a mandolin-family instrument that's not a 'standard scale,' 8-string mandolin, like a 5-string (10-string), mandola, bandolim, octave, fan-fret, electric, and so on!
    Last edited by sblock; Feb-11-2020 at 2:26pm.

  4. #4

    Default Re: do many of you mix strings

    thanks
    Last edited by JEStanek; Feb-12-2020 at 8:13am.

  5. #5
    Distressed Model John Ritchhart's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Mars Hill, North Carolina
    Posts
    1,036

    Default Re: do many of you mix strings

    Yea, I found that coated strings or things like nickel plated strings last longer on the G and D strings but the A and E strings corrode like normal J-74's. I asked this question on the Thomastik thread as well. So what I'm doing is ordering bulk A and E strings from Just Strings and replacing those while leaving the bass strings on. So you get both the broken in sound on the chop and the bright trebles on the highs. Works for me.
    We few, we happy few.

  6. The following members say thank you to John Ritchhart for this post:


  7. #6
    Gibson F5L Gibson A5L
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    2,526
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: do many of you mix strings

    I have mixed sets for both guitar and mandolin. Fiddle and violin players are often using mixed sets. I do mix sets on my fiddles. I have yet to find a coated string I liked the feel of so I generally replace the strings all at once. The light on the bottom and medium on the top set that D'Addario now sells is a favorite. I regularly did that on guitar with lights on the E A and D and mediums on the G D and E. I have in the last few years moved to Curt Mangan strings light gauge due to increasing troubles with my joints. So yes , no, and enjoy the process. It's always going to be about tone. . . . at least we are not replacing cello or bass strings. Cha ching $$$ R/
    I love hanging out with mandolin nerds . . . . . Thanks peeps ...

  8. #7
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    24,807
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default Re: do many of you mix strings

    I have messed around with mixing from among various sets of strings. It hasn't, in my case, made enough difference to settle in on a mixed set. What makes the most difference to me is just changing them regularly.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  9. #8
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Outer Spiral Arm, of Galaxy, NW Oregon.
    Posts
    17,103

    Smile Practical Mixing

    The manner in which the Neutone plain strings winds their loops, reminds me of why Gibson tail pieces have those 4 extra hooks..

    Their simple twisting method can come undone, so I have replaced those with D'add/GHS for A & E,

    The nickel wound G & D have been fine, for years ( loop made then winding wrapped over it.. originals on my Hodson D'jangolin)


    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  10. #9
    Lurkist dhergert's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Blue Zone, California
    Posts
    1,867
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: do many of you mix strings

    I mix, but I mix for string tone since I routinely use a non-standard tuning on mandolin. I use DA EFT-74 8-7 (G 0.039) and 6-5 (C 0.026) with DA custom 4-3 (E 0.017) and 2-1 (G 0.015).

    I originally got used to mixing and selecting strings decades ago on banjo for various scale lengths and tunings.

    I also routinely mix strings on double bass (standard 4ths tuning).
    -- Don

    "Music: A minor auditory irritation occasionally characterized as pleasant."
    "It is a lot more fun to make music than it is to argue about it."


    2002 Gibson F-9
    2016 MK LFSTB
    1975 Suzuki taterbug (plus many other noisemakers)
    [About how I tune my mandolins]
    [Our recent arrival]

  11. #10
    Registered User Tom Wright's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Rockville, MD
    Posts
    1,919
    Blog Entries
    7

    Default Re: do many of you mix strings

    Certainly for a custom set like for 10-string I have to do something other than packaged sets. After settling on the best gauges I now buy in bulk, a dozen of each gauge at a time. Saves money and I have the set I want. A set of 10 strings costs me about $5. Ditto for nickel-wound which I use on my solid body electric 10.
    Bandcamp -- https://tomwright1.bandcamp.com/
    Videos--YouTube
    Sound Clips--SoundCloud
    The viola is proof that man is not rational

  12. #11
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Bozeman, MT
    Posts
    1,252

    Default Re: do many of you mix strings

    I have yet to spend time doing it, but have wondered about mixing brands or styles of string by the course(regular g and silk-n-steel g) or one flat top with one round wound. I suspect that the lack of paired sympathetic vibrations might decrease the cohesive sound of the course...
    I guess I’ll only know if I try!
    2007 Weber Custom Elite "old wood"
    2017 Ratliff R5 Custom #1148
    Several nice old Fiddles
    2007 Martin 000-15S 12 fret Auditorium-slot head
    Deering Classic Open Back
    Too many microphones

    BridgerCreekBoys.com

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •