S_Heriger - Posted - 11/16/2013:  06:46:22

In addition to mandolin, I also play OM and bouzouki and I've been wanting to pull a bit more brightness out of my Trinity College OM. I love the low end on this thing...I was impressed with it right out of the box when I got it a year ago, and have no complaints. But I've also never been really happy with the high end and was wondering if someone could suggest a string change and/or setup adjustment that might pull a bit more brightness out of the high end.

I'm currently using D'Addario J-80 Mediums. The A and E just aren't very punchy, and without it, chords sound a bit muddy. I mostly pick, but when I play in jams I do both. Any suggestions for how to brighten things up? Currently, my A string is .022 wound. Would going to a .016 unwound help? Might be a worthwhile switch, it would seem. 

I have a friend who always puts an arch in the middle of his bridges so that only the outside ends are seated on the face. The two mandolins he has set up this way have a really nice bright ring to them, but as I never heard them before he did it, I can't vouch for this method. Anyone hear of doing this? 

Edited by - S_Heriger on 11/16/2013 08:33:27

UsuallyPickin - Posted - 11/16/2013:  10:43:52

Going from a .22 wound to a .16 plain will certainly change the tone. Try some John Pearse strings.They have a different tone than D'Addairo. THe GHS strings I have tried over the years had a fairly bright tone as well. I have not heard of anyone else setting up mandolin bridges like that..... R/

S_Heriger - Posted - 11/16/2013:  10:57:40

Thanks! I primarily play fiddle, so I fall into the habit of just buying the same strings over and over for the mandos and not really experimenting. 

UsuallyPickin - Posted - 11/17/2013:  03:29:42

A new instrument prompts a new search for "the" string set. I recommend JustStrings.... Luck.. R/

Jim Yates - Posted - 11/17/2013:  10:20:44

I have a TC OM as well.  I use D'Adderio J7604 mandola strings.  They are .015, .025w, .035w, and .052w. 

I use a GDAD tuning.

The local music stores don't stock OM strings, so I started using mandola strings twenty some odd years ago, which, for some reason, they do stock.  I'm quite happy with these.  I did use Flatiron OM strings for a while, when I first got the OM, but had to buy them by mail.

I have added a venire to the bottom of the bridge when it developed a buzz on the first string.  I replaced the tailpiece when one of the hooks broke off and added a pick guard to cover the scratches on the top and prevent more from happening.

Edited by - Jim Yates on 11/17/2013 10:32:44

TC octave mandolin

S_Heriger - Posted - 11/17/2013:  17:42:32

Thanks for the feedback, Jim. I think I'll start messing around with some different string combinations and see what happens. 

Noto - Posted - 12/20/2013:  07:47:45

A thinner pick for rhythm playing would brighten things up also.