Sorry to keep quiet after asking for help. Moving home isn't the best time to initiate a discussion! Anyway, much wisdom and much interest and knowledge from reading all the above, so thanks. These Elixir strings sound a good bet - sure, you pay more, but they last longer so are more forgiving for a casual and very much still learning mandolin apprentice, presently playing along (more harmony line than chord playing) to the likes of Alison Krauss, Tim O'Brien, Emmylou Harris et al on cd... The mandolin is a beautiful UK made, 2004, solid two pointer by Eric Beharrell, but the strings are those I acquired with the instrument a few months back, need replacing, sound a little dull and are thick and heavy for sliding up and down, though the action is good - CHRIS