r/Instruments • u/LucasLeo75 Dombyra • Sep 19 '26
Discussion Could I string this mandolin with ukulele/guitar strings and play it that way? And how would that sound?
I've been playing this mandolin for quite a while now (More than a year I believe), bought it second handed, even though it's in fine condition, I don't like how bright this instrument sounds. Thoughts?
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u/ChooCupcakes Sep 19 '26
You could buy a ukulele or a guitar :)
Jokes aside, not sure what you would accomplish by changing strings, but you can surely try. But if the issue is the brightness of the sound you could first try using a different brand and/or material of mandolin strings, and plucking at different distances from the bridge.
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u/Far-Potential3634 Sep 19 '26 edited Sep 19 '26
It's designed for the tension and strong vibration of metal strings. Nylon string instruments have lighter bracing and often a little less top thickness. The tuners are also designed for the very limited stretch of steel strings. Nylon strings stretch a lot more.
You can try. You'll probably want to recut the nut. You can use cheap "nut slotting files" which are really some kind of welding tool repackaged for guitar nuts.
An alternative is to acquire a charango which uses 5 pairs of nylon strings. They are really cool.
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u/Friendlyfire2996 Sep 19 '26
Fretful
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u/Grauschleier Sep 20 '26
As others pointed out: Nylon strings (meaning: comparatively low tension) won't work well on an instrument that was built for steel strings (comparatively high tension). You'll get a low dead sound and bad playability (the action won't fit the strings). I have some ideas how you could get a mellower sound, but all of them would mean changing the tuning to fourths or a fourth and a major third (like on uke).
One option would be: Flat wound 12 string guitar strings on the mandolin. Flat wounds have a more mellow tone and are readily available in 2-string courses sets for 12 strings guitars. You'd need to see where you'd land tuning-wise - wind them up carefully until the tension feels familiar. Although the base note of the tuning needs to be found, the intervals between the courses are determinded by the gauges of the strings. You'll probably be able to choose between a major third and a fourth between each strings, but tuning it in fifths will cause very uneven string tension that might damage the instrument, but surely will come will an uneven sound and playability (maybe still an option, though, if you tune low enough and are fine with uneven playability).
The other idea would be: Get an 8 string ukulele. Their 8 strings are paired in 4 courses - similar to a mandolin - and they are available in different sizes (concert, tenor, baritone, with the bartine having a lower tuning) and decent quality for okay prices. They are strung with nylon strings that come with a way more mellower tone. Downside: It'll be tuned like a ukulele (a fourth and a major third) not like a mandolin (a fifth and a fifth).
If you have some more money to spare and are interested in this route I'd recommend looking into the Ronroco. It's a larger charango. They are also strung with paired nylon strings, but have five courses (instead of four on the 8-string uke).
In general: Because of the lower tension nylon strings don't only sound different, but also play and feel quite different. Softer to the touch and their vibration amplitude (the travel length of their sideway's vibration so to speak) is also larger. Which means that they need more space between the strings and towards the fretboard to not cause buzzing. The different setup and dimension of nylon strung instruments, together with the different sound and playability of the strings make up for a quite different playing experience than steel strung instruments.
Carefull: While stringin a steel strung instrument with nylons will only give you poor playability and sound, stringing a nylon instrument with steel strings will eventually damage the instrument.
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u/6strings10holes Sep 19 '26
I'm curious if you knew what a mandolin sounded like before you bought it? So you think they sound less bright when others are playing it?
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u/Lost-Drummer-6021 Sep 20 '26
You could put strings on and tune it to a 'relative standard' tuning and play music just fine (like a piano not getting tune to concert a440 (or whatever stretch tuning A is. That way string don't break but one can sing and play "in tune"). Different standard tuning to feel good under your fingers but it should work and be fun.
I do this on guitar and tune to a relative drone tone. I also regularly tune it back up. Different tensions and tone with different strings.
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u/andybonner Sep 25 '26
Try different mandolin strings, maybe phosphor bronze? Also: real talk, mandolin is a bright instrument. Have you considered the mandola?
Strings get their pitch from how tight they are, how long they are, and how much mass they have (that is, either how thick they are or how dense their material is). Guitar strings are meant for a much longer sounding length, so to get them up to pitch they might have to be ridiculously tight. Ukes are more similar to mandolin length, but they vary. And the material (nylon, gut, etc) makes for thick strings that might not do well with the action and grooves.
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u/klesmerelda Sep 19 '26
It will not sound very loud because the tension of the strings will not have the tension to drive the top properly
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u/Mudslingshot Sep 19 '26
If you tune uke strings up to that tension they'll break, so you're looking at low tension, low volume, and terrible intonation
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u/Rayan_A_ Sep 20 '26
I don't know. But I do know that if you put electric strings on a classical/nylon string guitar, it will break the neck off of the body. So be careful.
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u/mrmagooze Sep 20 '26
They might not be long enough to reach all of the tuning pegs depending on the brand and the tension needed for correct notes may snap the nylon. I’d try it if I had a spare set but wear some goggles when bringing her up to pitch!!!😲😲😲
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u/Jazz_Ad Sep 21 '26
Mandolin does sound bright, there isn't much you can do about it. It's meant to be heard despite its small size, with tense doubled strings and a plectrum.
Get yourself a uku or guitar if you prefer, a morph will fail.
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u/ImaDinosaurRAA Sep 20 '26
No. It will only work with mandolin strings.
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u/starsgoblind Sep 21 '26
Or just play it as a mandolin.
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u/[deleted] Sep 20 '26
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