What are some good high quality strings for 4-sting electric mandolins?
571357
You need nickel or steel wound strings for electric-guitar type magnetic pickups. The Fender mando-strat uses ball end strings. Ball end strings are much less likely to break than loop end strings and will fit on most instruments. Buy your strings from emando or you can sort through 8-string mandolin sets in stainless or nickel steel for ball end strings. Here are several sets you can choose from: THOMASTIK 154K MANDOLIN SET BALL END - Strings are plain steel and flatwound chrome on a steel core, ball end, their medium gauge 009 014w 020w 031w, 127.2 pounds tension, 34cm scale length. THOMASTIC 154 FLATWOUND CHROME MANDOLIN STRING SET These top-of-the-line sets are known to be quite durable and are a favorite with jazz players. Flatwound strings are the best. I use stainless because I am allergic to nickel. The Gold Tone GME-5 5 string electric mandolin has about the same scale length as the Fender and most other mandolins and uses these string gauges: CGDAE - .052w, .040w, .026w, .016, .011 Of course, on a regular mandolin, the lowest note is G. On a mandola or 5 string, the lowest note is C. Hope this helps.
983224
According to the D'Addario website, the Prelude strings have a solid steel core. The Pro-Arte synthetic core is on the Pro-Arte nylon strings, which cost roughly twice as much. See descriptions at http://www.daddariobowed.com/BowedProductDetail.Page?AxPageID=5371&Mode;=0&ActiveID;=4495&productid;=120 and http://www.daddariobowed.com/BowedProductDetail.Page?AxPageID=5371&Mode;=0&ActiveID;=4495&productid;=129 for further information.
1079288
WITH THIS BASS, ALWAYS GET SUPER LONG STRINGS!String gauge is a matter of personal taste and playing style. Remember, every guitar needs to be setup for a particular string gauge to ensure proper tonation and neck tension. If you are wanting a sharp, slap bass sound, I suggest round wound strings. Much brighter sound but harsher on your fingers and the fretboard. If you want a smooth, low tone, flatwound strings are the way to go. Much softer to the touch and easier on your fretboard.
1725028
I would reccomend Elixer Nanoweb 80/20 strings for almost any steel string acoustic guitar.
1922810
There are two versions. A 4 string, and an 8 string. The one I own is a 4 string. Might pick up an 8 stringer in the future.Note that the fretboard is a bit shorter than a regular acoustic mandolin, and also note that (last time I checked a few months ago) Fender does not sell a case for these. You'll need to get a soft gig bag for a-style mandolin and use that.
1573544
The mandolin definitely has 8 strings . It is based on the 4 strings of the violin - and like a 12 string guitar - each of the stings are doubled ( if that makes sense). Hope that helps .
1922808
Wish i had asked that. It only has four. Saw a really nice classic 8 string mandolin yesterday w impressive pickup at Sam Ashe in Phoenix. Can't remember make.
1998602
This was designed to be a STEEL STRING guitar. Personally, if I were looking for a classical NYLON STRING guitar for around $100.00, then I would look at a HOHNER, they make good quality instruments.
1204719
The important thing to remember here is the strings are NOT silk and steel, the label reads "silk and steel SOFT". If you want a less bright sound get real silk & steel. Martin and D'addario both make them. I have used both brands, they are both mellow. They seem to be more suited to finger picking and strumming with the thumb and finger pads. Try to strum with a pick and you might say "what the heck happened to my guitar"
1780901
Since squire woods are not the best, you would have great result going for a Seymour Duncan pre-wound shield. Sounds great. As for strings, I'd gonfor d'addarios. Very comfortable, great sound and not expensive. Best of luck for him! Frank
1744934
Anywhere, Amazon if you like. There are so many styles to choose from. It all depends on personal sound and comfort preference. This model will take steel strings. Other smaller models will only take nylon. I found that silk and nickle wound strings are gentle on little fingers.
1167769
Excellent question! I've been using this Cherub on my violin for a while now, and it works great. Today I shopped for a mandolin at the Guitar Center and brought this exact pickup with me to try it out on different mandolins. I settled on a Washburn mandolin with an oval hole, and it sounds beautiful even without amplification. This pickup will go in the oval-hole, and it sounds great, BUT the clamp part sticks up a little too close to the strings and you end up hitting it with the pick sometimes. I considered taking the spring clip off and just taping the pickup part down near the hole with some of that easy off painter's masking tape. But, I haven't done that yet as I saw another Cherub pickup that is supposedly made for guitars with round sound holes and it looks like it doesn't stick up as much. I just ordered that model. If that still is too close to the strings I'm going to try the tape method. The model of Cherub pickup is WCP-60G. Which, I guess is G for guitar as opposed to the WCP-60V for violin. I can't imagine there's anything different about the pickup, only the style of the clip. The violin clip has a loop part on a spring which meets the pickup from inside the instrument. The guitar model looks like it just clips on. I figured these are cheap enough to try both.
1299394
I've not played steel strings but my guitar teacher told me to get nylon strings because they are easier to play in terms of your fingers & the callous factor. He also suggested a capo as it made it easier on your fingers.
300236
Aquila strings, or if you want more of a banjo twang, Aquilas with a wound C string. http://www.amazon.com/Aquila-AQ-28-Banjo-Ukulele-Strings/dp/B00MXUIMWS
1237955
The mandolin plays very well - it has pretty good action and stays in tune. If you can play guitar already, you have an advantage of knowing how to strum or pick. Since mandolins are tuned differently (GDAE, which is the same as standard tuning for a violin/fiddle) the chord shapes are different. I mostly play notes like a flatpicker and seldom do chords. shapes are different.
1645944
Just received a Mandolin A style, I know nothing about them. I am looking for a tuner & maybe a mike for it. ???. I ordered new strings & a strap. Tried tuning from YouTube, not working for me. Got some help from my son, but he is just learning to play the guitar himself. It has a plug, but I just want to learn to play without the acoustic sound. Any advice ??? Thank You Brenda.
1391688
I do not think the Glaesel Violin Ultra Practice Mute will work on a Mandolin. Violin have only four strings, a Mandolin has eight, plus Mandolin Bridges are wider and have a curve that is not the same as a violin. Experiment with wooden clothes pins on the bridge or soft sponges under the strings next to the bridge. Good luck.