T-I Strings Again....

[Mike Buesseler]

I just got my first set of Thomastik-Infeld strings, and whatever I've ever heard about them taking awhile to break in, it sure doesn't apply to my mandolin.

First of all, I never had strings settle in so soon. #I was barely tuned up and they were stable. #Just the barest of tweaking to stay in tune. #It's been maybe an hour now, and they feel like they are a week old.

My mandolin was almost too loud for me, so the slight loss in volume is no issue. #The tone is marvelous, the feel, like silk. #

I love 'em so far, and thought somebody should hear it once more: #If you haven't tried 'em, GET SOME.

[jacobw]

Totally agree!

I bought some TIs from Ted Eschliman, through his excellent jazzmando.com website. #I strung up my Weber Aspen #1 with them last night and have barely put "her" down sense. #I'm still waiting a bit to form an overall opinion on the strings (mainly, how long they last. #I hate changing strings!), but so far, they sound and play great. #I second MikeB's call to check them out if you haven't already, and highly recommend buying through Ted or a site supporter, such as JustStrings.com or First Quality Musical Supplies

-Jacob Wegner

[mcmando]

Amen bother! #Ti's are the best. I've been using them for about a year now and the only problem is (and I'm really not sure it's a problem ;-))-- I have no more callouses!

Also, you'll be real pleased with how long they last-- try to wear them out and then post back when they do. #We won't be hearing form you for A WHILE-- lik e maybe a few months!

[Mike Buesseler]

I bought mine from Greg Boyd, a "site supporter" if I ever saw one. Greg has EVERYthing.

Anyone really know how long to expect the T-Is to last? The new rep (forget his name), says they last "almost indefinitely." That is a pretty long time.

[Lane Pryce]

I ordered a set of the stark tension last night from juststrings to go on an older Gibson A. I am waiting on a bridge saddle and nut blank to come from Kurt Gisclair. So I am hopeing to get a 180 outa this little A style with all the improvements. One thing I am curious about re the TI's. How is it their heavier gauge string requires less tension than the FT74's? Lp

[Mike Buesseler]

JLP, can't speak to the tension question, but I put the Heavies on my mando, too, and they certainly seem easier to play than FT-74s

I have a 20s A model Gibson, also. #I didn't think T-Is would be a good choice for it--no particular reason. #The "old timey sound" maybe. #I'd be interested to hear what you think when you get yours set up....

[Lane Pryce]

Mike I thought about that too. Phosphur bronze has a distinctive sound. The winding on the phosphur bronze is round and will impart a ring and overtones to the string. The flat wounds on the other hand should not ring as much. I've not played any flat wound strings on a mandolin so I cannot say for sure how they will be. How did the TI's perform on your A? Lp

[Mike Buesseler]

That was my point, Lane. I haven't tried 'em on the Gibson, for the same reasons you stated. Didn't seem right. But, maybe I'm wrong and was hoping to hear your results.

I sure do like these strings on my Collings, though. Man!

I put a new bridge on my Gibson recently, and it's never sounded better (GHS Silk & Bronze). If you like the T-Is on your A, I might try them also.

[The Gazelle]

Mike,
What Collings do you have them on? Have thought about stringing my MF5 them.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Scott

[Mike Buesseler]

I just bought a new MF. #From what I hear from the guy who sold it to me (Greg Boyd), it sounds just like your MF5, just doesn't look so pretty. # I'd say give them a try. # I don't know about your mando, but mine was actually a bit loud and slightly harsh to my ears. #Not any more!

[Mike Buesseler]

Btw, that 'harshness' I mentioned was a subtle thing. Might have been newness, might have been my discerning ear (not likely), might have been the strings. And most people might have wondered what the hell I was talking about. All I know is THESE are the strings for this mandolin--at least for now.

[Kid Charlemagne]

Mine were just shipped a day ago. I'm looking forward to getting them, particularly now.

Got the light gauge flatwounds - expensive, but frm what I head, definitely worth it.

By the way, do they tend to be easier to fret than standards, since as far as I can tell the tension is a little lower?

[JD Cowles]

has anyone found that the change in tension has effected their setup/action? i'd like to try out the starks but i currently play j75's and those babies have some tension. would lighter tension effect the action/setup?

thanks-
jeff

[Mike Buesseler]

Kid--from what I hear, these T-Is run light. #I had ordered mediums (mittel), but got advised that the heavies (stark?) were closer to J75s. # Whatever they are, the ones I got (Stark--heavy) are soft as silk. #Very easy to play, seems like light tension, but I don't have numbers. #

JD--I'd say the difference in tension won't affect your action, unless you were using really heavy strings before. #The starks didn't change mine that I can notice.

[Lane Pryce]

Look on the www.juststrings.com site. You can compare the tension numbers. The FT74's and J75's are much higher tension. I gotta say that was one one the selling points for myself,lower tension. It was especially important since they were going on an older Gibson A style. Lp

[MANDOLINMYSTER]

I like them too, just put a set on a 1917 Vega cylinderback, and they give that instrument a velvet like feel and tone, I'm very pleased, I may try them on my 23'A4 next.

[Mike Buesseler]

Hey, you folks putting T-Is on your older A models.....I hope you post your reactions here. I am eager to hear results. I didn't think the T-Is would give much of an old-time sound, but maybe I would like it, anway. Michael sure sounds happy with his--although I don't know how the Vega compares to a Gibson A tonewise...

[AeroJoe]

Has anyone detected more fret wear using these?...since I have no idea of the composition of these strings I'm just curious...from what you all have stated, they are a tough, good sounding brand of strings...just wonder how tough they are on a set of frets...

[Mike Buesseler]

AeroJoe--

Too soon for me to tell, of course, but these strings actually FEEL soft. #That could be an illusion, but they seem like they'd be easier on frets.

Having said that, and having started this thread, I'm having second thoughts. #(Actually, I'm having second thoughts about all of my playing ) #Does anyone else get that slight #"hiss" on the pick stroke? #I don't know how else to describe it. #The strings are so smooth, I can' t see how it can be them, and I've tried bunches of picks. #It's not loud, but irritates me....

[Steve S.]

About a week ago I put TI mittels on a relatively new Rigel A+ deluxe. Frankly, I'm a little disappointed....they sound thin, almost "nasal." They hold tune very well for new strings and certainly are very playable. Maybe I missed the boat by not going with the starks.

[Mike Buesseler]

Steve, I've been thinking the same thing--that maybe I missed the boat by not getting mittels. #Since we've invested a fair amount in this experiment, I'm going to give them awhile. # Maybe I'll adjust my stroke, or something.

Mine don't sound thin, though, I must say. #I think I'm just so used to some amount of metallic brightness, that these just sound odd to me. #I get nothing but wood, almost--which is supposed to be the Holy Grail.

Ah, the trials of being a mediocre player. #You can't even tell if you're doing it right when you do.

[Mike Buesseler]

Hey, Steve...I was just playing again, thinking about that "nasal" sound you described. If you mean it sounds sort of like your mandolin has a cold, I think I hear the same thing. I can't really decide if this is a bad thing. It has a very "pure" tone, few overtones. Not as loud as with bronze...maybe "nasal" is the word. Hmmm.???

[Steve S.]

Mike, I agree that there is a pure aspect to the sound of the TIs. At first I was going to take them off right away, but the sound is actually growing on me. Also, might be that they're mellowing with more play.

[mandough]

I put a set of Starks on my mandolin and really like them. #They are really easy to play (kind of like playing on stretched out rubber bands) except for the E strings which are similar to others and not wound.
A little loss in volume on the G bass strings. #Definitely not as much punch as J75s but then again, it's a totally different sound. #I liken it to putiing your mando through a chorus pedal (more sustain and compressed towards the middle ranges).
Not a traditional Bluegrass sound. #The strings are very balanced in sound, meaning if you play all the way up using all of the strings, there's not much distinction between jumping from string to string. #I've found that alot of other makes have too much severity in tone when jumping from the D to A string. #
Playability is the key for me though because I had a hand injury years ago and other strings are hell on my fingertips. #I can hit really clean notes with these strings for the first time. #Pull offs, slides and pinky reaches are much easier.
Playing tremolo seems a little different, maybe it's the string tension. #Anyone else experience this? #The strings seem a little more rubbery and hard to get a nice stiff tremolo going. #Maybe I need to change my pick stiffness for that. #Hmmm.
I might try a maple bridge with these strings, to try and get some volume and punch back. #Then, they would be awesome.

[c3hammer]

mandough:

I am using a maple bridge on my Absorka with the starks. It is a very nice combo.

I have found that as the strings mellow a bit you can go to a thinner pick and still get a very fat sound without the twang a thinner pick usually gives.

Now after almost a year with the TI's I've found that I dislike the sound of J74's. It's an interesting transformation.

Cheers,
Pete