I have heard that some makers of mandolin strings will fit the longer scale of a mandola 16.5"
Does anyone know which string maker are extra long?
Thanks
Robert VanLane
I have heard that some makers of mandolin strings will fit the longer scale of a mandola 16.5"
Does anyone know which string maker are extra long?
Thanks
Robert VanLane
John Pearse strings are 32".
>>>===> Dave
Curt Mangan strings are quite long - not sure they fit a mandola but I bet they do. Might want to check. Nice strings.
Rob G.
Vermont
I've been using GHS PF-258.. their OM set, on my Mandola ... P-Bronze 12 22w 32w 44w ... feel .. nice and light on my H scale..
writing about music
is like dancing,
about architecture
As a developer of mandola strings, I can tell you the problem isn't always the scale. I tried to design a set that would fit 16-17" mandolas, but the length is as much affected by the tailpiece placement. If the loops of the strings go all the way to the end of the top of the instrument, that can add 1-1/2" to 2" of string "need."
The Labella JD13 JazzDola strings and the Thomastik 164 have silk wrappings that can also fall into the playing area. (JD13 won't work on above picture.) That can be pretty discouraging to someone who paid a pretty penny for them, only to find out the don't fit. (Especially if you start wit the plain strings first. You also have to take into account the extra length of the inside G and D courses.
I actually like the gauging on the GHS PF285 (12 22 32 44) octave mandolin strings. Plenty of length if you prefer phosphor bronze to flatwound, and they work great on a mandola.
a 22w has a fairly thin core wire , that is wound around to come in at .022'' total it's still D pitched,
to go lighter.. a plain string would be the next step..
Maybe get out the pliers on guitar strings to take out the ball, a custom set made of singles ..
writing about music
is like dancing,
about architecture
I've fitted D'Addario mandolin strings on a 17" scale mandola before now, and there was lots of length to spair.
The ultimate for long strings goes to Newtone though - they use the same length stock strings for all instruments and they are really long: I can almost but not quite string up two bowlbacks from one set of strings (it's just the D strings that aren't quite long enough to string two instruments).
John.
Individual loop end strings may all err towards length , too.
those Pete Seeger banjo necks need rather long loop end strings
writing about music
is like dancing,
about architecture
You could try Newtone Strings. I've played 'em for years on my guitars & like 'em on my mandos too. They make several trad-style strings in various guages.
http://www.newtonestrings.com/traditional_page.htm
Best
Dave
Originally Posted by mandroid
I've been using GHS PF-258.. their OM set, on my Mandola ... P-Bronze 12 22w 32w 44w ... feel .. nice and light on my H scale..
Isn't that really heavy on the 22w looks to be 13kg tension ?
My mandola is a 17" scale and I currently use 13/23w/34w/47w.
I can't answer your original question, but unless you can find the gauges you want, it won't be much help that the strings are made longer. If you can't find a good candidate, guitar strings are a solution. I use ball-end guitar strings, so that I have plenty of flexibility in available gauges, and break out the ball. I would use a bit lighter gauge D string, but .23 is the smallest easily available guitar string. The other guages work well for me.
Jeff Rohrbough
"Listen louder, play softer"
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