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Post new topic Alternative mandolin string gauges?
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Author Topic:  Alternative mandolin string gauges?
Per Berner


From:
Skövde, Sweden
Post  Posted 23 Jun 2021 8:17 am    
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I'm toying with the idea of tuning my mandolin like the top four strings of a regular guitar (at a suitable pitch). This would obviously require non-standard string gauges, at least for the two bottom pairs.

I know this will reduce the tonal range of the instrument somewhat, but for my very infrequent use that is not an issue. I'm comfortable enough playing chords on a regular mandolin tuning (as comfortable as my sausage fingers will allow...), but playing melody lines would be so much easier with ordinary guitar grips

Has anyone tried this and can recommend suitable gauges that result in balanced string tension?
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Brad Bechtel


From:
San Francisco, CA
Post  Posted 23 Jun 2021 11:56 am    
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Try asking on the Mandolin Cafe . Good luck!
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D Schubert

 

From:
Columbia, MO, USA
Post  Posted 23 Jun 2021 4:33 pm    
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Mandolin E string is 0.010" (light) or 0.011"(medium). With that in mind, two packs of electric guitar strings would be an easy starting point, discard the heavier A and E strings.
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Mike McBride


From:
Indiana
Post  Posted 22 Sep 2021 1:50 am    
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How did it work? I'm thinking about doing it.
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Richard Sinkler


From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
Post  Posted 22 Sep 2021 3:23 am    
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I have a friend who did that so he wouldn't have to learn all these hand destroying mandolin chords. Of course with no heavier strings in the bass, chop chords wouldn't sound as good. I still can't do the G chop chord because I have small hands.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting.
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D Schubert

 

From:
Columbia, MO, USA
Post  Posted 22 Sep 2021 5:11 am    
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According to modern legend, studio guitarist Tommy Tedesco kept dozens of instruments tuned this way. Every one of them tuned just like a guitar in single, double courses, beginning with E B G D..... primarily for sight-reading. Tuning a mandolin this way, with or without re-entrant or octave strings, puts it in ukulele territory. I'm a mandolin player, but I keep my tenor banjo tuned in the Chicago style (E B G D) with telecaster strings. Brought it to a blues jam one time, just to be different. And it was.
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Tom Spaulding


From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2021 8:46 am    
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Tommy Tedesco Gauges. No octaves:

1st string (double string) E .009
2nd string (double string) B .012
3rd string (double string) G .017
4th string (double string) D .024
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Per Berner


From:
Skövde, Sweden
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2021 10:01 am    
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I think I have all those gauges as singles, will try! Thanks!
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