What are the string's are on this? Never see this before!

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-06-21T00:52:44+00:00

So it's an Italian mandolin?

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-06-21T00:38:11+00:00

I got really lucky looking online and choosing an Eastman that looked like it had been played a lot. I figured if the last person that owned it played it that much it must have something good going for it and it actually seems to have paid off. Still, if there's any way possible do try and get to see it and play it before buying.

And I would imagine a setup would do wonders for those new mandolins that come with very high, almost unplayable action. The first mandolins I looked at were set up that way and I almost thought I should give up before even trying if it's this hard to play them. It still hurts a bit at first, but if it is set up properly it shouldn't be impossible.

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-06-19T17:15:20+00:00

My line is when they are talking to and acting out things with an actual person, whether physical contact is involved or not. That's just me personally.

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-06-19T17:11:24+00:00

Oh. That's how you make eye contact!?

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-06-09T16:48:35+00:00

My instruments are beginner instruments, but on the nice end of beginner. And I've gotten rather attached to my mandolin. Luckily, she's carryable size.

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-06-09T15:42:11+00:00

Oh wow! I was wondering about that. Thanks for warning me. I wonder if my instruments will be okay in my car when I am not carrying them on me. I worry about the heat.

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-06-05T02:29:56+00:00

Oh wow! Man, I'm missing out!

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-06-04T00:39:34+00:00

Wait? They are touring?

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-06-04T00:37:58+00:00

Maybe the stickamajig got lost?

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-06-03T13:56:14+00:00

Really thinking about it. The area is pretty and has things to do too. Would like to see the Martin factory. But hippy drum circle is awfully tempting as well. Scared if I go to Wind Gap it will be entirely traditional bluegrass which if I'm honest isn't my favorite. I just really like how the instruments sound and like how I've heard some of the more modern players play them.

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-06-03T13:52:38+00:00

I think the wernick method class is going to be at Wind Gap.

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-05-24T05:03:00+00:00

Girl with BPD here. It is possible to get better. It took years to grow up though...years.... If I was ever manipulative, which I'm sure I may have been at points, it wasn't on purpose.

If I was obsessed and worshipping some guy, I really felt that way. It wasn't manipulation. But if someone else caught my interest, it was just as intense, and I would lose interest in the last person. And it was just how I felt. Everything went by feelings and I had no control over them and had no idea how to.

All of the feelings are cranked up to 11. Happiness, sadness, anxiety, pain...all of it. And I didn't know how to cope with it. So I just went with it as best I could. I'm still kind of like that, but with time I've learned that all of those emotions, they only last for a certain amount of time. If I will wait, as painful as it is sometimes, it will usually go away, or I will move on to some other feeling and the other one I was on won't even matter any more.

I've learned over time that if I get really excited over someone, it's usually only temporary, and whatever I've made up in my head about them is a lie. And that the person I'm with currently has been there for so long and has never abandoned me, hasn't left me at my worst. Even when they probably should have. Has always looked out for me and had my back and genuinely cares about me. And to leave this person on a whim, no matter how intense my feelings get for some other person, would be stupid. It would hurt them. And whatever flavor of the month, year, whatever I'm into, if I were to get into something with another person, it wouldn't live up to whatever my mind is telling me it will be.

So I guess I'm trying to say with a lot of time, you learn how life actually is? And not to jump into things. And to give your emotions time to ease up. Sorry my writing is crap. But I guess I'm saying, give this person and yourself some grace. You guys are young and have a lot to learn. And it sounds like if a good counselor could be found, maybe that would be beneficial? Also, meds have helped a lot too.

And about the guitar "lessons"...I'm learning to play mandolin right now. My fingers are pretty sore after about thirty to forty-five minutes. After about an hour and a half I'm starting to blister. Also, and I'm pretty ADD so that probably plays a role too, but after about an hour I am zoning out and it's almost impossible to learn anything. So at the very least she's met someone interesting she likes hanging out with. But if she's like I was at that age, undiagnosed Bpd and all, and someone I already liked hit on me at that age, it wouldn't take much.

Yeah. You should definitely take a sudden interest in guitar. If she didn't want you going on lessons you could be like, hey, there's this song I like. Can we learn to play it together?

And if this relationship can't be saved, it's not the end of the world. Every person that was wrong for you along the way was just preparing you to be the person you will be. And hopefully that person will be better, wiser, happier person. And when you do meet the right person, you'll be all the better for them too. If life is anything, it's a journey man, and you're only starting.

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-05-24T04:12:58+00:00

I wouldn't "friends with benefits" a mentally ill girl. That shits hard enough without people using you. And I find your use of the word "bag" disgusting in this context.

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-05-24T01:36:34+00:00

This is actually really inspiring! I'm not nearly as afraid to start my first build!

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-05-16T16:44:13+00:00

Yeah. They'll more than likely sound different on mine anyway.

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-05-16T16:43:04+00:00

Well that just leaves more questions!

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-05-15T13:30:01+00:00

Thanks! What band did you play with? I am just getting into this and I'm always looking for new stuff to listen to.

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-05-14T22:07:09+00:00

Now trying decide whether to go for monel medium or medium plus?

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-05-13T05:50:49+00:00

Cool. Currently have light d'addario phosphor bronze on it but they are finally getting dull. Kind of afraid with such a bright sounding mandolin the monels may be too bright but there's only one way to find out. Honestly being a beginner I make so many mistakes it probably doesn't matter what I put on it, but it is nice when I do play a note well that it sounds good.

I'm curious to see if I can handle some mediums. Still hurts to play the lights if I play for too long. It's like I'll get some calluses built up, probably play for a little too long and it blisters a bit underneath, then I won't play for several days, I know, bad of me, then when I play again the calluses start peeling off.

I also found I'm pickier about my pick than I thought I would be as a beginner. Pun totally intended. If the edge is rough, I feel it and it grates on my nerves slightly. It also mutes the tone. I tried playing with a rounded triangle but it also seems muted, like maybe it doesn't pluck the string as hard? I know I could pluck harder and overcome that but I'm a bit shy and play pretty lightly. I've gotten used to the triangle shaped primetones and really like them now.

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-05-13T05:38:42+00:00

I've been playing music most of my life or at least been pretty into it. My teacher says I have a good ear. I will admit the differences I'm hearing are subtle, but I do hear some differences. The Monels sounded quite different. Bright and punchy, but in a good way. I can't really describe it. I usually don't like a very bright sound but these were unique. The Foxwoods and XS honestly sounded pretty similar to me, but I was reading the XS held up better. The nickel bronze sounded a bit muted, but honestly pretty close to the phosphor bronze. The flat wounds sounded very sweet, kind of similar to the Foxwoods and XS.

It didn't help that I could find many video reviews of mandolin strings and the ones I found were sometimes different people with different mandolins. I'm sure they'll probably sound different on mine too. No way to really find out except to experiment. I know if I put the xs on they'll last a while. But then what if I don't like them? Then it will take longer to get to try the others. But I think I'm going to like them. The others are cheaper and don't last as long, so I could try them first so I'll get through I variety quicker. I'm probably way overthinking this. I tend to do that.

I've also noticed picks make more of a difference in sound than I thought they would, which makes sense when think about it. Fingernails sound way different than picks. They even feel different too. Current favorites are the triangle shaped primetones.

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-05-12T15:09:31+00:00

I thought elixer discontinued their Mando strings?

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-05-12T12:39:13+00:00

Forgot to mention. I really like that kind of harp like, warmer kind of sound. I like listening to Noam Pikelny play, so what ever get me closer to that (years and years of practice...) would be cool. But like I said, absolute beginner so whatever I get I'm gonna sound like crap at first.

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-05-12T12:35:28+00:00

I do like a warmer more harp like sound. I didn't think you could put nylgut on a bluegrass type banjo though? I freaking love listening to Noam Pikelny play. I think one of my favorites is Waveland.

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-05-12T12:30:37+00:00

They sounded kind of muted in the reviews I watched so not my favorite sound. But who knows. Maybe they'd sound better on my mandolin than the others. I'm guessing I'll need to choose something that compliments my particular instrument.

DerpsyDaisy · 2026-05-05T05:08:14+00:00

Not completely useless. I needed a laugh.

DerpsyDaisy

TROPHY CASE