Opinions on Curt Mangan strings?

[mikedyermusic]

I'm looking into purchasing Curt Mangan strings. Have any of you guys used them before?

[mmbongo]

Mangan strings are great. Curt worked at Erine Ball for something like 17 years so he knows what he's doing.

I use DR Sunbeams mainly, but when I downtune my 34" 5 string, the already low tension Sunbeam tension gets too low even with the .130. I use Mangan .130 or .135's to mate with Sunbeams because they are higher tension and are about the only string I've found that tonally matches with Sunbeams.

I wish Jason at Bass Strings Online sold Mangan's, I'd use them more if he did

[mikedyermusic]

Thanks for the info! I know stinnettmusic.com sells them.

[blackba]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Mangan strings are great. Curt worked at Erine Ball for something like 17 years so he knows what he's doing.

I use DR Sunbeams mainly, but when I downtune my 34" 5 string, the already low tension Sunbeam tension gets too low even with the .130. I use Mangan .130 or .135's to mate with Sunbeams because they are higher tension and are about the only string I've found that tonally matches with Sunbeams.

I wish Jason at Bass Strings Online sold Mangan's, I'd use them more if he did

Ironically I can't stand Erinie Ball strings, but love Curt Mangans (speaking guitar strings only here). I need to try a set of Mangan bass strings, if they are as nice as the guitar strings, I am sold.

Here is the cheapest price I found for them. http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/bagust.html#top
Doesn't seem to be but one gauge option though 45-105 ( I usually D''Addario 45-100, so slightly different) so their selection for Curt Mangan bass strings is not very good.

[mmbongo]

I think they are somewhat similar to EB's, but I think Curt left EB because they were making crap and he couldn't stand it anymore. So he started his own company to do it right.

Mangan's are mainly sold through small independent retailers. They sell direct as well. I got the ones I had from ebay.

[funkytoe]

As recently as last year, Birdsong was using only Mangan strings for all its new basses. Don't know if that is still true or not.

[JackTheRipper]

I used a set of Curt Mangan string that I got from Pick of the Ricks on my RIC 4003. They were ok, not overly impressed, but they were good. After that I switched to Circle K strings and I like them a bit more. I'm currently using RotoSound Swing 66's and I'll probably go back to Circle K when these get tired. The Roto's aren't bad, just not as much zing as I expected.

--jack

[ricknote]

I've tried the Mangan strings on a couple of basses.
I liked them just fine except for the Low B string.
Just not happening for me on the 5'rs.

Labella, DR, and Thomasik have the only Low B
strings I've tried that have worked well for me with several basses that don't have great B's, if that makes any sense.

The two basses I have with great B's are a Zon
and a Lull.

Every Low B brand has sounded great on those instruments.

Go figure.

Some day a manufacturer will come up with a design of a Low B that will sound clear and
focused on every possible instrument like all the other strings.
Until then, the search continues...

RT

[AmadeusXeno]

I just put a Curt Mangan nickle set on my VM Jazz. They are very zingy right now. Only had them on for a week so far so not sure how they last or if the zing goes down yet. I kinda like them, but I hope some of the zing goes away after they are a little more broken in.

[randysmojo]

This will be the next set of strings I try out. I used them on my guitar when I was playing lead and loved them hands down above Ernie Ball and D'Addario. I hope I get the same thing out of them on bass.

[husky123]

I put Mangan nickels (45-105's) on all my Jazz basses. Just a nice crisp string that, for me, lasts a long time. Two thumbs up.

[greggster59]

I use their nickel wounds on my Birdsong Cortobass and after a day or two break in they sound really nice.

[Ploonter]

+1 For Curt Mangans!
By the way, you can order them right from Curt Mangans web site-

[AmadeusXeno]

I have mine broken in now. I'll never buy another set of their nickle strings again. They mellowed out from the harsh tone they had when new but still have tons of finger noise. I'm probably gonna go back to using DR.

[og61pbass]

I have mangan nickel rounds on my 61 p and on my squier vm p they sound and feel good I'm currently playing in a Blues band and i like these strings for what were doing.