I recently bought a Trinity College octave mandolin and I am still experimenting with string types and gauges. I want a good quality light-medium gauge string and I was wondering if anyone could recommend what to buy. Are the gauges the same for bouzouki and octave mandolin? I don't want to risk messing with the neck/tension of my instrument. Right now I have standard D'Addario strings with gauges .042, .032, .020, .014. I guess this would be about medium-heavy? Please advise.
I also own a Trinity Octave Mando, and have found that it responds much better with a medium guage set than light. I presently have it strung with GHS phosphor bronze Octave Mando Set 12-44. As far as in the states, what we call a bouzouki has a longer scale than what we call an octave mando, I believe the shorter scale wants a lighter string..
For the same tuning, shorter scales need heavier gage strings.
Your OM should have a 23" scale or so and the set you picked will do well with it. There is another way of tuning the OM which involves using octave pairs (one string an octave above the other), but you are OK the way you are.
The TC OM has a 20.5" scale, while their bouzuki is longer. I tried many, many strings on my TCOM before settling on 15,24,34,47 and I buy individual strings in five-packs from First Quality Musician's Supply. If anyone knows of a wound 16 gauge that can be tuned up to "e" at the 20.5" length, please let me know; I think it would sound better than the plain steel 15 that I settled with.
Strings for octave mandolin
Strings for octave mandolin
Hello -
I recently bought a Trinity College octave mandolin and I am still experimenting with string types and gauges. I want a good quality light-medium gauge string and I was wondering if anyone could recommend what to buy. Are the gauges the same for bouzouki and octave mandolin? I don't want to risk messing with the neck/tension of my instrument. Right now I have standard D'Addario strings with gauges .042, .032, .020, .014. I guess this would be about medium-heavy? Please advise.
Thanks,
Taylor210
# Posted on March 2nd 2008 by Taylor210
Re: Strings for octave mandolin
I also own a Trinity Octave Mando, and have found that it responds much better with a medium guage set than light. I presently have it strung with GHS phosphor bronze Octave Mando Set 12-44. As far as in the states, what we call a bouzouki has a longer scale than what we call an octave mando, I believe the shorter scale wants a lighter string..
# Posted on March 2nd 2008 by fife
Re: Strings for octave mandolin
For the same tuning, shorter scales need heavier gage strings.
Your OM should have a 23" scale or so and the set you picked will do well with it. There is another way of tuning the OM which involves using octave pairs (one string an octave above the other), but you are OK the way you are.
Mike Keyes
http://www.mikekeyes.com
# Posted on March 2nd 2008 by mikeyes
Re: Strings for octave mandolin
GHS Octave Mando Strings and for bouzouki D'Addario Irish Bouzouki Strings.
# Posted on March 2nd 2008 by Odin
Re: Strings for octave mandolin
The TC OM has a 20.5" scale, while their bouzuki is longer. I tried many, many strings on my TCOM before settling on 15,24,34,47 and I buy individual strings in five-packs from First Quality Musician's Supply. If anyone knows of a wound 16 gauge that can be tuned up to "e" at the 20.5" length, please let me know; I think it would sound better than the plain steel 15 that I settled with.
# Posted on March 3rd 2008 by justjim