This applies to other instruments too: do you have a strong preference for one of the options (or maybe you just don't notice a difference)? There's phosphor bronze, 80/20 bronze, nickel wound, and stainless steel. Then there's the more expensive coated strings such as EXP. I'm not sure it's worth buying these as I'd probably change them just as often. I get a lot of string breakages because I hit the strings quite hard. Unwound strings can get corroded quite quickly. I've mostly been using d'Addario stainless JS74 and I think I prefer them and I like the bright sound, but the unwound ones are just the same as the other packs. With phosphor bronze strings I get black hands and more string corrosion. I'm trying La Bella mediums at the moment - I must say they are lovely and silvery and look fairly corrosion resistant. I like a slightly heavier E though for volume. With tenor banjo, breakages aren't a problem, but I'm still interested to know whether people prefer bronze or nickel. Is fret-wear a factor?
I like the thunk of phosphor bronze strings on all my tenor banjos and have not noticed big problems with corrosion, breakages or fret wear. I use Newtone strings which are mighty fine IMHO.
I use nickel wound every time. Not as bright as Phosphor bronze to begin with, but the brightness lasts longer. String breakages should'nt be a problem unless you have some friction issues at the nut or bridge. In my experience, a light rub of a rag moistened with light oil or "fretfast" or similar product, should look after the corrosion issue.
You are one of the unfortunates whose body chemistry rots bronze stringes. I have several friends who are like that and they have to use stainless strings no matter how they sound because of their super-power to destroy strings.
On the other hand, stainless and nickel last longer. I tend to use a mixture of strings on both banjo and mandolin (with mandolin I mix J74 and J74S so I have a bronze and a stainless string on each course. What can I say? I am weird, but at least I have two sets just alike <G>)
Mike - I'm sure you're right! Sorry to bring up the subject of sweat, but in the summer in particular the strings corrode and often break at the bridge even though I've carefully checked the grooves and put graphite in them. This makes my mandolin a dangerous weapon so I try not to point it at people to my left.
A question please for Mike Keyes. I would be interested to know if there is much difference in tonal quality between the two strings of (presumably) the same gauge but made from different composition. Having them on the same instrument would make a good way to compare.
Richard - as strings are the inexpensive part, you should try them all, and see what sounds/plays best on your instrument and to your ear. I play teens and 20's Gibson A mandolins and only use d'Addario J74's on them, which are phosphor bronze. I believe these are 11 to 44 in weight. While I like the sound of new pb strings on my guitar, on mandolin I prefer them really broken in, so I only change them every sevral months. I'm told that these string weights are what these instruments were designed for, and I think they are pretty universally used for them. I haven't had a broken string in several years, but nut/set-up and how hard you play are obviously factors in that. Let us know how you like the nickel and stainless, if you try them.
Keith - I'm envious - tried a vintage Gibson A (a Jr) recently and loved it - too expensive in the UK though but it had a touch of magic about it. I'll experiment with different strings, and probably revert to getting the JS74s with some spare E and A strings as I do get through them quickly. After a couple of weeks I can see them corroding, though the stainless wound strings are fine.
Are the wire strings stainless too? I'll have to try them sometime, as long as they are the same weights as J74's. I confess to being lazy about that...
If I were closer to the source, I would love to try playing a Sobell, or a Foley. I recently heard Dennis Cahill (who plays with Martin Hayes) on a Crump mandolin (an American West Coast builder, mostly know for bouzouki's) which sounded really great - better than the Collings I'd heard him play before. Of course, all of these are pricey options.
The thing about these Gibson A's is, while there are lots of them kicking around (in the US), not all of them are great sounding. The A-jr I have was purchased on eBay for a really good price - I was lucky. It takes vigilance, and an extended effort to find one like that. If you have access to a good luthier/repar person, that helps open your options too.
No, the JS74 pack of strings just has the same A and E as the J74, but the wound ones are stainless steel. The A-jr I tried was priced at £1350 I think - translate that into dollars and you'll wince, but it did sound good.
Wow - that's really high for an A-jr (unless perhaps it's a snakehead, which are more sought after). But I guess they are harder to come by over there. You have access to typical US prices online; one highly regrded webdealer who's website is a great resource is Charles Johnson:
The A-jr I got on eBay was $750 (about 379GBP); it was a good price, and was in great condition (though it doesn't sound nearly as good as my A-2); like I said, I was lucky.
That's strange that the wire strings aren't also stainless - maybe the tone is not good with pure stainless...
Mandolin (or banjo) string characteristics
Mandolin (or banjo) string characteristics
This applies to other instruments too: do you have a strong preference for one of the options (or maybe you just don't notice a difference)? There's phosphor bronze, 80/20 bronze, nickel wound, and stainless steel. Then there's the more expensive coated strings such as EXP. I'm not sure it's worth buying these as I'd probably change them just as often. I get a lot of string breakages because I hit the strings quite hard. Unwound strings can get corroded quite quickly. I've mostly been using d'Addario stainless JS74 and I think I prefer them and I like the bright sound, but the unwound ones are just the same as the other packs. With phosphor bronze strings I get black hands and more string corrosion. I'm trying La Bella mediums at the moment - I must say they are lovely and silvery and look fairly corrosion resistant. I like a slightly heavier E though for volume. With tenor banjo, breakages aren't a problem, but I'm still interested to know whether people prefer bronze or nickel. Is fret-wear a factor?
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by RichardB
Re: Mandolin (or banjo) string characteristics
I like the thunk of phosphor bronze strings on all my tenor banjos and have not noticed big problems with corrosion, breakages or fret wear. I use Newtone strings which are mighty fine IMHO.
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by nick b
Re: Mandolin (or banjo) string characteristics
I use nickel wound every time. Not as bright as Phosphor bronze to begin with, but the brightness lasts longer. String breakages should'nt be a problem unless you have some friction issues at the nut or bridge. In my experience, a light rub of a rag moistened with light oil or "fretfast" or similar product, should look after the corrosion issue.
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by Backer
Re: Mandolin (or banjo) string characteristics
I like to use the Thomastik flatwound on my mandolins. They have a great feel and sound. The also seem to last forever.
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by Martinfamilyband
Re: Mandolin (or banjo) string characteristics
RichardB,
You are one of the unfortunates whose body chemistry rots bronze stringes. I have several friends who are like that and they have to use stainless strings no matter how they sound because of their super-power to destroy strings.
On the other hand, stainless and nickel last longer. I tend to use a mixture of strings on both banjo and mandolin (with mandolin I mix J74 and J74S so I have a bronze and a stainless string on each course. What can I say? I am weird, but at least I have two sets just alike <G>)
Mike Keyes
http://www.mikekeyes.com
http://www.banjosessions.com
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by mikeyes
Re: Mandolin (or banjo) string characteristics
Mike - I'm sure you're right! Sorry to bring up the subject of sweat, but in the summer in particular the strings corrode and often break at the bridge even though I've carefully checked the grooves and put graphite in them. This makes my mandolin a dangerous weapon so I try not to point it at people to my left.
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by RichardB
Re: Mandolin (or banjo) string characteristics
The coated strings last a lot longer, on a mandolin, and no one breaks mandolin strings.
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Mandolin (or banjo) string characteristics
A question please for Mike Keyes. I would be interested to know if there is much difference in tonal quality between the two strings of (presumably) the same gauge but made from different composition. Having them on the same instrument would make a good way to compare.
# Posted on May 12th 2007 by len
Re: Mandolin (or banjo) string characteristics
Richard - as strings are the inexpensive part, you should try them all, and see what sounds/plays best on your instrument and to your ear. I play teens and 20's Gibson A mandolins and only use d'Addario J74's on them, which are phosphor bronze. I believe these are 11 to 44 in weight. While I like the sound of new pb strings on my guitar, on mandolin I prefer them really broken in, so I only change them every sevral months. I'm told that these string weights are what these instruments were designed for, and I think they are pretty universally used for them. I haven't had a broken string in several years, but nut/set-up and how hard you play are obviously factors in that. Let us know how you like the nickel and stainless, if you try them.
# Posted on May 12th 2007 by Keith Dubinsky
Re: Mandolin (or banjo) string characteristics
Keith - I'm envious - tried a vintage Gibson A (a Jr) recently and loved it - too expensive in the UK though but it had a touch of magic about it. I'll experiment with different strings, and probably revert to getting the JS74s with some spare E and A strings as I do get through them quickly. After a couple of weeks I can see them corroding, though the stainless wound strings are fine.
# Posted on May 13th 2007 by RichardB
Re: Mandolin (or banjo) string characteristics
Are the wire strings stainless too? I'll have to try them sometime, as long as they are the same weights as J74's. I confess to being lazy about that...
If I were closer to the source, I would love to try playing a Sobell, or a Foley. I recently heard Dennis Cahill (who plays with Martin Hayes) on a Crump mandolin (an American West Coast builder, mostly know for bouzouki's) which sounded really great - better than the Collings I'd heard him play before. Of course, all of these are pricey options.
The thing about these Gibson A's is, while there are lots of them kicking around (in the US), not all of them are great sounding. The A-jr I have was purchased on eBay for a really good price - I was lucky. It takes vigilance, and an extended effort to find one like that. If you have access to a good luthier/repar person, that helps open your options too.
# Posted on May 13th 2007 by Keith Dubinsky
Re: Mandolin (or banjo) string characteristics
No, the JS74 pack of strings just has the same A and E as the J74, but the wound ones are stainless steel. The A-jr I tried was priced at £1350 I think - translate that into dollars and you'll wince, but it did sound good.
# Posted on May 13th 2007 by RichardB
Re: Mandolin (or banjo) string characteristics
Wow - that's really high for an A-jr (unless perhaps it's a snakehead, which are more sought after). But I guess they are harder to come by over there. You have access to typical US prices online; one highly regrded webdealer who's website is a great resource is Charles Johnson:
http://www.vintagemandolin.com/
The A-jr I got on eBay was $750 (about 379GBP); it was a good price, and was in great condition (though it doesn't sound nearly as good as my A-2); like I said, I was lucky.
That's strange that the wire strings aren't also stainless - maybe the tone is not good with pure stainless...
# Posted on May 13th 2007 by Keith Dubinsky