In this guide we’ll explore the best mandolin strings for bluegrass I could find. Here I selected mostly medium gauge strings, as this thickness is perfect for the balanced and bright tonality of bluegrass music.
Quick Look: Best Mandolin Strings for Bluegrass
★ #1 Best Mandolin String Overall: D’Addario EJ74 Phosphor ★
- Best Cheap Mandolin Strings for Bluegrass: Ernie Ball Earthwood
- Best Mandolin Strings for Bluegrass for Beginners: D’Addario EJ74
- Best Mandolin Strings for Bluegrass for Intermediate: Ernie Ball
- Best Mandolin Strings for Bluegrass for Professionals: Elixir Strings
I’m a professional music composer and rock/folk musician. I really enjoy playing and learning new things about the mandolin, as it’s a unique instrument that never stops surprising me with its beauty and tone.
Join me and dive deep into this guide about the best strings you can use for your bluegrass riffs.
What is a Mandolin String?
Mandolin strings are quite similar to guitar strings.
Mandolin strings use the same construction and materials as guitar strings. It’s a well-studied formula that provides the best tonality possible.
Types of Mandolin Strings for Bluegrass
There are several factors to consider, such as the thickness and the material used in the production of the strings. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Gauge
The thickness of the strings will define the overall tone of your instrument. There are three main types to choose from.
- Light: Light gauge provides fast speed and bright tones all around the spectrum. This gauge is perfect for beginners.
- Medium: This gauge provides the middle ground between heavy and light, giving a balanced tone with enough treble and low tonalities.
- Heavy: This thickness is recommended for the most experienced players, as you need to use more force to make them sound, which will limit the speed of playing but will give a deep and rich tone.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Mandolin String
You might need to consider several things before buying a new set of strings. The most important part is the tone that your new strings will provide. After that, you might consider your budget, as some string sets are quite expensive.
Sound
The overall sound and tone are quite important, as different sets of strings might change drastically the sound of your mandolin. One of the important factors to consider is the gauge and material used in the production of the strings.
Price
Most string sets for the mandolin are quite cheap overall, although you can find some brands with higher prices. Overall there is a good selection of low-budget and more professional strings for each level.
10 Best Mandolin Strings for Bluegrass
Let’s get into more detail about the best mandolin strings for bluegrass and the brands behind them. You will find that most of them are in a medium gauge, as this thickness is recommended for intermediate bluegrass players.
1. D’Addario EJ74 Phosphor Bronze Mandolin Strings, Medium, 11-40
- Gauge: Medium, 11-40
- Material: Phosphor bronze
- Tone: Clear and bright
- Best for: Intermediate and beginners
D’Addario EJ74 Phosphor Bronze Mandolin Strings, Medium, 11-40 is the most popular set of strings for the mandolin for all styles of music, especially for bluegrass. This set of strings is frequently mentioned on every forum and is probably the best-valued set of strings for the mandolin.
✅ Durable
✅ Rich tone
✅ Versatile
❌ Common sound, as this set is frequently used
Why I Recommend It
If you’re looking for a perfect set of strings with a rich and bright tone, D’Addario has got you covered with this versatile and professional set.
2. GHS Strings A270 Phosphor Bronze Mandolin Strings, Medium (.011-.040)
- Gauge: Medium, 11-40
- Material: Phosphor bronze
- Tone: Bright and clean
- Best for: Intermediate and beginners
GHS Strings A270 Phosphor Bronze Mandolin Strings, Medium (.011-.040) is a high-quality set of strings with a bright and crisp tone, perfect for bluegrass or country. Some players prefer using the heavier gauge of this brand to get more punch on the low tones.
✅ Clean tone
✅ Good sustain
✅ Durable construction
❌ Less definition on low tones
Why I Recommend It
GHS Strings are quite popular among many musicians around the world, as they provide consistent quality for a reasonable price.
3. Martin Guitar Mandolin Strings M465, 80/20 Bronze, Medium-Gauge Mandolin Strings
- Gauge: Medium, 11-40
- Material: Bronze
- Tone: Clear and bright
- Best for: Beginners and intermediate
Martin Guitar Mandolin Strings M465, 80/20 Bronze, Medium-Gauge is a high-quality set that can satisfy even the most demanding musicians. The bronze construction will help maintain the natural tone of your mandolin and might add some unique harmonics to your sound.
✅ Great tonality
✅ Versatile
✅ Easy to play
❌ Less durable compared to other sets
Why I Recommend It
This set of strings will add better projection and good dynamics for your mandolin all around the spectrum. I personally use this set quite often, and I’m very pleased with the consistent quality of this brand.
4. Dunlop DMP1034 Mandolin Strings, Phosphor Bronze, Light, .010–.034, 4 Strings/Set
- Gauge: Light, .010-.034
- Material: Phosphor bronze
- Tone: Bright and clean
- Best for: Beginners
Dunlop DMP1034 Mandolin Strings, Phosphor Bronze, Light, .01-.034, 4 Strings/Set is a budget-friendly set of strings made by the famous brand Jim Dunlop. This set will help your mandolin maintain its natural tonality and will improve the sustain.
✅ Easy to play
✅ Affordable
✅ Great for beginners
❌ Can easily overstress and brake
Why I Recommend It
Jim Dunlop is one of the most famous string producers, as their long trajectory made this brand an expert in the field.
5. Ernie Ball Earthwood Mandolin Light 80/20 Bronze Loop End Set, .009 – .034
- Gauge: Light
- Material: Bronze
- Tone: Clean and crisp
- Best for: Beginners and intermediate
Ernie Ball Earthwood Mandolin Light 80/20 Bronze Loop End Set is a high-quality set of strings that will bring the most professional sound and tone to any beginner or intermediate player. It’s a great, affordable set that’s easy to install and quite comfortable on the fingers.
✅ Easy to play
✅ Clean tonality
✅ Affordable
❌ Prone to overstress and break
Why I Recommend It
This set of light strings has a subtle and clean tone, which can give some more dynamic range to your mandolin.
6. Elixir Strings Mandolin Strings w NANOWEB Coating, Medium (.011-.040)
- Gauge: Medium, 11-40
- Material: Bronze wrap with NANOWEB coating
- Tone: Bright and rich
- Best for: Intermediate and professionals
Elixir Strings Mandolin Strings w NANOWEB Coating, Medium is a high-quality set with an interesting system of special NANOWEB Coating, which gives you a low noise level and smooth feel on your fingers.
✅ Low noise level
✅ Durable materials
✅ Good protection
✅ Easy on fingers
❌ Expensive compared to other sets
Why I Recommend It
This set is very responsive and has a distinctive bright tone. With this professional set, you will be able to play faster and more comfortably.
7. John Pearse JP2150M Phosphor Bronze Mandolin Strings, Medium
- Gauge: Medium
- Material: Phosphor bronze
- Tone: Balanced and natural
- Best for: Intermediate and beginners
John Pearse JP2150M Phosphor Bronze Mandolin Strings is a great mid-range set of strings with a unique and natural tone. Simple to install and use, this set is a great choice for any intermediate or beginner players.
✅ Balanced tone
✅ Easy to play
✅ Durable construction
❌ Prone to overstress
Why I Recommend It
I used this set a few times, and it has nothing to envy from bigger brands like Jim Dunlop or D’addario, as this set has a unique tone and feel to it.
8. Black Diamond Phosphor Bronze Mandolin Strings
- Gauge: Light/medium/heavy
- Material: Phosphor bronze
- Tone: Clean and bright
- Best for: Intermediate
Black Diamond Phosphor Bronze Mandolin Strings is a very durable set of strings with a bright and clean tone. This set is easy to install and is available in medium, light, and heavy gauges.
✅ Easy to use
✅ Durable construction
✅ Bright tone
❌ A low definition on high tones
Why I Recommend It
Simple but effective, this set doesn’t innovate in any way but refines the old phosphor bronze formula to a higher level of quality and durability.
9. LaBella 770M Stainless Steel Mandolin Strings, Medium
- Gauge: Medium
- Material: Stainless steel
- Tone: Bright and crisp
- Best for: Intermediate and beginners
LaBella 770M Stainless Steel Mandolin Strings is an affordable set of strings that takes inspiration from bluegrass and country music. Comfortable and with great tonality, this set will satisfy any beginner or intermediate musician.
✅ Comfortable to use
✅ Durable materials
✅ Bright tone
❌ Inconsistent quality
Why I Recommend It
LaBella 770M is a budget-friendly set of strings that can be used for many different styles of music, but will shine much more in the bluegrass and country musical styles.
10. Alice Silver-Plated Copper Alloy 4-String Mandolin Strings, 3 Pack
- Gauge: Dimensions here
- Material: Steel core and silver-plated copper alloy
- Tone: Clean and bright
- Best for: Beginners and intermediate
Alice Silver-Plated Copper Alloy 4-Strings Mandolin Strings is an incredibly cheap pack of three sets of strings, each one with a special anti-rust coating that will protect your strings and give them extra durability.
✅ Easy to use
✅ Anti-rust coating
✅ Durable materials
❌ Low dynamic range
Why I Recommend It
This unique pack is a budget-friendly option for any beginner musician that needs a great volume of strings to use and abuse.
Best Mandolin String Brands
There are numerous brands that produce strings for the mandolin, but only a few of them are able to create a durable and comfortable set of strings.
Let’s take a look at some of the best brands that specialize in the production of mandolin strings.
Jim Dunlop
Jim Dunlop is an innovative company that created the first modern plastic pick, which made them famous all over the world. This company also produces high-quality strings for many acoustic instruments, including the mandolin.
D’Addario
The D’Addario brand was created by an Italian string manufacturer in 1918. The young founder dreamed about creating a renowned and professional company that creates hand-tailored strings for any professional musician.
Decades later, his dream certainly came true, as D’Addario is considered the undisputed leader in string production.
Ernie Ball
Funded by a young entrepreneur, musician, and inventor, this brand made several innovations related to acoustic instruments and their accessories. This company is highly respected by most musicians and artists, as they always deliver consistent quality with their products.
Martin
Founded in 1833, the Martin brand rapidly found its place as a professional brand that creates high-tier acoustic instruments and accessories for them. This brand will satisfy even the most demanding musicians, as they perfectly understand the needs of the most professional players.
Mandolin String Aesthetics & Build
There are several things to consider when choosing the perfect set of strings for your mandolin. Material, finish, and color are some of them. Let’s take a closer look.
Material
The most common material used for the core is steel. This material adds more strength and durability to the strings. But you can find many other materials like copper or nylon, each one adding new tonality to the sound of the mandolin. Steel will give a bright “ringing” tone, and nylon, for example, will give a warm and mellow tonality.
Finish
Some strings might have a special coating made of steel or another alloy. This will give more thickness and weight to the strings and will protect them in the long run.
Color
The most common colors you will find are steel and bronze, as they leave the strings mostly unpainted. This way your strings weigh less and last longer. I would personally avoid any strange string colors, as they might dampen the sound.
How Much Do Mandolin Strings for Bluegrass Cost?
Each set of strings uses different methods or materials, which might elevate the price for some sets. The cheapest ones go for $8-$15, and the most expensive ones range from $30 to $60, depending on the brand.
What Are the Best Mandolin Strings for Bluegrass?
Let’s review some of the best mandolin strings for bluegrass that we presented on this list.
D’Addario EJ74 Phosphor Bronze Mandolin Strings: Best for Beginners
With this set of strings, you can’t go wrong, as it will certainly improve the sound and tone of your mandolin. The D’Addario EJ74 Phosphor Bronze Mandolin Strings set is a timeless classic that will never disappoint.
Ernie Ball Earthwood Mandolin Light: Best for Intermediate
Ernie Ball has a long trajectory of creating some of the best strings for acoustic instruments. This Ernie Ball Earthwood Mandolin Light set is no different, as it offers consistently high quality for any kind of gauge.
Elixir Strings Mandolin Strings w NANOWEB Coating: Best for Professionals
The Elixir Strings Mandolin is unique set of strings that brings some interesting innovation to the table. The patented NANOWEB coating protects the strings for the longest time possible, maintaining the natural tone of your mandolin.
Where Are the Best Mandolin Strings for Bluegrass Made?
The countries with the longest tradition of acoustic instrument production are some of the best in this field, for obvious reasons.
This includes the United States, Italy, England, and Austria.
Where to Buy Mandolin Strings for Bluegrass
Nowadays there are hundreds of options out there when it comes to buying instrument accessories and strings. Some might have a better selection, and others will have better offers and prices. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular and reliable retailers out there.
Amazon
Amazon is an indispensable tool in the modern age. This retailer offers incredibly competitive prices with a huge selection of products. One of the most useful features is the customer reviews, as in this section you can find really honest opinions and feedback for almost any product.
Online Music Retailers
If you need a specialized online music retailer with a better selection of instruments and better customer service, here at Into Strings we highly recommend FiddlerShop.com, GuitarCenter.com, and Sweetwater.com.
Your Local Music Store
In your local music store, you might find a limited selection of instruments, but the ability to try out any instrument they have in the store will make your decision so much easier. Sometimes it’s really nice to take your time and decide what instrument you really need.
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Table of Contents
- What is a Mandolin String?
- Types of Mandolin Strings for Bluegrass
- Things to Consider When Choosing a Mandolin String
- 10 Best Mandolin Strings for Bluegrass
- Best Mandolin String Brands
- Mandolin String Aesthetics & Build
- How Much Do Mandolin Strings for Bluegrass Cost?
- What Are the Best Mandolin Strings for Bluegrass?
- Where Are the Best Mandolin Strings for Bluegrass Made?
- In Conclusion
In Conclusion
I hope that in this article about the best mandolin strings for bluegrass I was able to help you choose the perfect set of strings. Here we explored some medium gauges, as well as some light ones, each with a unique set of tonalities and material properties.
If you liked this article, feel free to share or leave a comment, as I will gladly answer any questions or doubts you may have.
Stay safe, and as always, good luck with your sonic adventures!
