Good evening, I have a three-course bouzouki with a very powerful, beautiful sound, but it is hard to play.
I was using 11-gauge strings and switched to 10s (the whole set), and I noticed quite a difference… The instrument became softer to play to some extent (I put on Prodigy and Mastro strings).
Do you have any other 10-gauge sets to recommend that would be even softer? I also don’t mind if the instrument loses some volume… I’m thinking of trying Spourdalakis strings.
Because the neck had moved slightly forward due to the dry conditions, I put on Marinakis 10-gauge strings, which are stainless steel. They sit very well on the instrument and their durability is excellent. I’d say the sound is quite satisfactory too, and since I’m pleased with them, I don’t think I’ll be changing brands again. I can’t remember whether Spourdalakis makes stainless-steel 10-gauge strings. If they do, you’ve got nothing to lose by trying them.
When you say softer, do you mean an even lighter gauge? I’d suggest taking the instrument to the maker, or to a luthier if the person who made it isn’t available, and asking for their opinion. Without knowing much about instrument construction, perhaps it could be made a little softer with some adjustment—for example, to the bridges. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
I’ve been using Spourdalakis 10-gauge strings for years. I’m completely satisfied with them. They have a bright tone and are durable. Since they’re stainless steel, there have been plenty of times when I’ve gone for more than a year without changing them, and they still haven’t lost their elasticity. I’d definitely encourage you to give them a try. They’ve settled in really well on my instrument!
I’ll put them on today…!
Let’s remind ourselves that the pitch of a string is determined by four factors:
a) Length: longer > lower pitch, shorter > higher pitch, if the other three remain constant.
b) Thickness: thicker > lower pitch, thinner > higher pitch, if the other three remain constant.
c) Tension (tightness): greater > higher pitch, lower > lower pitch, if the other three remain constant.
d) Material density: greater > lower pitch, and so on.
With a given instrument, the string length is fixed. The pitch we want to tune to is fixed as well. If the string feels too stiff, then we probably want to achieve the same pitch with less tension. Tension is the only factor that affects pitch in the opposite way to the others. To reduce it without changing the pitch (without making it lower), we would have to find either a thinner string—but you’ve probably exhausted that option—or one made of a less dense material.
So you’re playing with materials.
(What do you think—is my reasoning correct, or have I got it wrong somewhere?)
It’s not at all uncommon for experienced players to mix and match string sets. I like Prodigy’s purple 10s, the red 11s and Sonata strings. As for the tension, the bridge or the nut might need adjusting. If your strings are sitting high, they may need lowering (by a luthier).
From my limited experience, every instrument has its own strings, and not all strings perform the same way on every instrument.
It takes enthusiasm, time and money to find what works for your instrument.
Of course, we’ve also made quite a few references to this in the relevant thread about strings.