Mandolin Players: Need Strings Advice

19 Aug 01 - 11:45 AM (#531158)
Subject: MANDOLIN PLAYERS
From: PLONKER

ARE THRERE ANY PLAYERS OR PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT CAN TELL WHAT GAUGE STRINGS I NEED THE TUNE A MANDOLIN IN C TUNE eg C G B D . THE NORM BEING G D A E .AND WILL THE MANDOLIN NECK TAKE IT .

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19 Aug 01 - 01:03 PM (#531200)
Subject: RE: MANDOLIN PLAYERS
From: Willie-O

Well...why would you want to do that on a regular mandolin? It will essentially make you an antisocial mandola player like me.

The strings marketed as mandola strings, last I looked, had gauges like telephone poles...won't be going anywhere near my instrument.

I suggest you try regular mandolin strings medium gauge. That's what I use on mandola.

Won't harm the mandolin, since you're using a lot less tension rather than more. The fact they they'll feel a bit flabby at first...that's just the way it is. At least they are properly gauged, as a set, for tuning to fifths.

Willie-O

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19 Aug 01 - 03:11 PM (#531261)
Subject: RE: MANDOLIN PLAYERS
From: Jon Freeman

CGBD: Have I got the right notes compared to GDAE tuning.

D = 5th fret on A string
B = 2nd fret on A string
G = 5th fret on D string
C = 5th fret on G string

If that's the case, I would guess:

Standard mandolin E would tune down OK to D
The next 2 strings are only 1 tone either side of the A string - probably an A string would work either way but may feel a little odd
The D string would tune down to the C

I haven't got a set of mandolin strings to hand but I've tried to find some gauges.

I'll throw 10, 12, 15, 26 into this as a suggestion (I could be way out) and see what others think or come up with.

Jon

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20 Aug 01 - 01:20 PM (#531880)
Subject: RE: MANDOLIN PLAYERS
From: PLONKER

THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO ( TO WILLIE-O) I PLAY AN OLD TENNER BANJO IN C TUNNING I FIND THE CHORDS EASY TO PLAY SO HOPEFULLY IN SHOULD BE OK ON A MANDOLIN THANKS AGAIN

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