Campanella Due’

[Darwin Gaston]

I’m looking for recommendations for stings to put on my Campanella Due’ that Joe Cleary made for me. I like light strings and Elixir is no longer making them.

[Darwin Gaston]

I must say it was great working with Joe during the building process from the very start. During the turnover of the Campanella Due’ he took the time to explain things in detail on the way he builds his mandolins.

[Jim Garber]

I like D’Addario NB strings on my A-5. I got mine from a trade and the previous owner had light gauge PB strings. I think mediums work better in driving the top on mine. It sings! Did Joe recommend those particular strings you use?

[Darwin Gaston]

I like D’Addario NB strings on my A-5. I got mine from a trade and the previous owner had light gauge PB strings. I think mediums work better in driving the top on mine. It sings! Did Joe recommend those particular strings you use?

To answer your question, he did not recommend those particular strings. I have used them before on some of my other mandolins in the past. Since I like light strings he recommend using Elixir strings. However, Elixir has decided not to make mandolin strings anymore so I’m looking for suggestions on what to use. Thanks for your recommendation on D’Addario NB strings. It’s funny how certain mandolins like different strings and makes the mandolin sound so much better.

I also like the Thomastik Infeld 154 Medium strings and I have been thinking about putting a set of those on to see how they sound. Have you ever tried them on your Campanella A-5?

[Paulmazz]

I've been using the XT custom mediums on my due and they've been great.

[musicofanatic]

These might be appropriate...

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/200973#200973

[Jim Garber]

I have a friend who lives not too far from me and a year or so ago got his Due from Joe. We visited and compared his Due and my A-5. He had PB strings and I had my NB. I think he tried the NBs since our get-together on his Due and liked them, at least back then. Not sure what he is using now. Both mandolins sounded pretty good sand very similar in sound. Joe has his particular tone dialed in. I am guessing most of his mandolins have that nice dry yet warm sound.

[Darwin Gaston]

I have a friend who lives not too far from me and a year or so ago got his Due from Joe. We visited and compared his Due and my A-5. He had PB strings and I had my NB. I think he tried the NBs since our get-together on his Due and liked them, at least back then. Not sure what he is using now. Both mandolins sounded pretty good sand very similar in sound. Joe has his particular tone dialed in. I am guessing most of his mandolins have that nice dry yet warm sound.

Joe, definitely has the sound dialed in on his mandolins. My Campanella Due’ has Italian Spruce top with Euro Maple (Austria) back and sides. The narrow grained Spruce top is lightweight, and extremely resonant Maple with beautiful curl/flame/figure. It has plenty of output, balance - warm down low with a quick response and a pop up high.

[twaaang]

Hey, Darwin, glad to see this sale came through. In another thread last year it was just a gleam in your eye! -- Paul

[Dave Hanson]

Why ' Due ' ?

Dave H

[pheffernan]

Two-point?

[Mandobar]

Joe is very proud of his Italian heritage. Campanella means “little bell” in Italian and Due is “two”…rough translations.

He was Lawrence Smart’s apprentice for several years. Playing the two builder’s mandolins side by side, the influence is quite clear.

I think D’Addario J74s for the Adi topped mandolins and NB or Mangan mediums for the euro-topped. But lights aren’t going to drive the top hard enough on either. As for Thomasiks, I think it going to make the tone muddy and kill the dynamics, but that just my experience. The same for the flat wound. The build aesthetic might be violin-influenced, but not the tone or the playability.

[Darwin Gaston]

Joe is very proud of his Italian heritage. Campanella means “little bell” in Italian and Due is “two”…rough translations.

He was Lawrence Smart’s apprentice for several years. Playing the two builder’s mandolins side by side, the influence is quite clear.

I think D’Addario J74s for the Adi topped mandolins and NB or Mangan mediums for the euro-topped. But lights aren’t going to drive the top hard enough on either. As for Thomasiks, I think it going to make the tone muddy and kill the dynamics, but that just my experience. The same for the flat wound. The build aesthetic might be violin-influenced, but not the tone or the playability.

Thanks for the advice on using D’Addario J74 for Adirondack topped mandolins and NB or Mangan mediums string on European topped mandolins. It looks like I need to purchase some new strings because I want to get the best tone possible from the Campanella Due’.

I really appreciate the good feedback/advice from everyone one on the Mandolin Cafe in regards to what strings to use on a Campanella mandolin.

[Billy Packard]

Experiment and find the Force!

I have been satisfied with mapes.com

Billy

[D.Martin]

Happy to find this thread! I also have a Campanella Due, and consequently my great grandmother was also surnamed Campanella, though I have no relation to Joe :D

I have always used J74s on my Due and been quite happy but am wanting to try something different. Too bad Elixir isn't making mandolin strings anymore. I was hoping to try those. Anybody try the coated EXP74 D'addarios?

Doug

[Josh Levine]

Bad news. Exps aren’t being made anymore either. They do have a newer coated string that replaced the EXPs called XS strings that people (including me) have been happy with, but I don’t play a Campanella.