Strings: Andrew Tatnell mandolins

Recommended strings for my instruments

Mandolins

I find most instruments work well with light strings as this allows the soundboard to resonate freely. It is also ok to use slightly heavier strings, such as 11-40, if it suits your particular instrument or playing.
GHS Americana Series Mandolin Strings A255 Light 10-38 or
D'Addario EJ73 Phosphor Bronze Mandolin Strings Loop End Light 10-38

Pre 2022 Mandolas — 17" (432mm) scale

If you bought your mandola before 2022, the scale length is 17 inches. I recommend 12-44 gauge strings such as an 'octave mandolin' set for these mandolas if you are using standard CGDA tuning. (If you tune it to DAEB then you could use lighter strings.) Note that strings labelled as 'mandola' are not suitable for my instruments as they are usually too heavy.
GHS PF285 Phosphor Bronze Octave Mandolin Strings, Regular 12-44 or
D'Addario EJ80 Phosphor Bronze Octave Mandolin Strings Loop End Medium 12-46

Post 2022 Mandolas — 17.8" (452mm) scale

D'Addario EJ74 Phosphor Bronze Mandolin Strings Loop End Medium 11-40.
Note that these are 'mandolin' strings. My mandolas have a slighly longer scale length compared with some traditional mandolas, so strings labelled as 'mandola' are not suitable for my instruments as they are usually too heavy.

Octave Mandolins

GHS PF285 Phosphor Bronze Octave Mandolin Strings, Regular 12-44 or
D'Addario EJ80 Phosphor Bronze Octave Mandolin Strings Loop End Medium 12-46

Bouzoukis

D'Addario EJ81 Phosphor Bronze EJ81 Irish Bouzouki Strings 11-40.

Mandocellos

I use two sets of baritone guitar strings and put on the gauges: 22-29-48-70.
D'Addario XT Phosphor Bronze Baritone Acoustic Guitar Strings XTAPB1670 16-70

Tips for changing strings

Tip 1. The bridge is not attached to the instrument, so rather than removing all strings, it is easiest to keep a couple of strings on to hold the bridge in place.

	To give myself room to wind on the new strings at the head, I temporarily leave on these two old strings furtherest from the nut.

	Then put on a new low string and new high string closest to the nut.

Then you can remove the two remaining old strings and install the new strings progressively from the nut towards the end of the head.

Tip 2. Sometimes the loop end of the string comes off the tailpiece while installing each string; this can be annoying.

	To keep each new string on the tailpiece, temporarily place a piece of tape over the loop end and press it down around the little post, leaving the tape on until you have tension on the string.

Tip 3. Be aware that the bridge may tend to lean forward (towards the sound hole) while tightening the strings.

	Look from the side as you tighten each string and gently straighten the bridge if it starts to lean forward as you increase tension.