Electrics and String Tension

[swankerme]

I am a new owner of a Mann OEM-8 octave electric mandolin. This instrument is my first foray into both the electric scene as well as the CBOM scene. The first thing I immediately noticed is the very loose string tension. I understand electrics normally have lower tension and action to allow for easier and faster fretting. Coming from the acoustic scene though, I have a tendency to accidentally bend strings (even off the fretboard) with a slightest touch.

This mandolin has a 19" scale with a hollow body. I understand that this instrument was designed to be an electric first and foremost, but I want to get the most acoustic sound and feel out of it as possible. Jon equips them with .014-.020-.038-.052 strings. Has anyone experimented or could recommend different gauges/string material to achieve more tension feel and acoustic tone?

[mandroid]

most of the players seem to be in the 14" scale range, your longer scale will of course feel looser .
as the pitch is also an octave down
perhaps: Irish tenor banjo like gages..

try 56, 40, 24, wound, and keep the 14,

how you process the signal may help with the acousticity replication,,

chorus , reverb/delay ..