steel strings?

[Dr. Michael J. Chudobiak]

Hi all,

What do people use to string their prima balalaikas? Are .040" nylon and
0.011" steel strings still normal?

Why is Bella selling an all-steel string set for the balalaika? I have a
balalaika that came with them, and I found it unusable until I put nylon
strings on...

- Mike

[Neal Carey]

Mike,

You have a couple of choices, and yes, .040 and .011 are good
substitutes. Typically this is a guitar steel string at .011 and
nylon/gut classical E strings for the .040's. You might want to look on
eBay for Gospodin Muzikant strings, both regular and carbon (Карбон),
made in Russia, high-quality strings, a little more pricey, but much
better than stuff like Bella! Why would Bella sell all strings? For the
tourist balalaikas that are so prevalent in the West, and they should
know better!

BTW, the Gospodin Muzikant strings are measured in mm and the carbon
ones measure at 0.30 (German Steel) and 0.86 (Carbon).

- Neal

[danb...@virginia.usa.com]

people use strings on the balalaika- 1 steel, 2 nylon, 3 nylon. but some people use all steel strings for balalaika, it doesn't sound good.

and the thicknes is    1st   0.3mm(.011inch) Steel (A),  

                         2nd  1.0mm(.040inch) Nylon (E),

                         3rd  1.0mm(.040inch) Nylon (E).

sincerely,
Daniel Brover

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[Me Allan]

I listen to the russians playing their Balalaikas with all steel strings and they sound great. I prefer  mine with all sucunda with all nylon, my prima has all steel but that is what my friends prefer when they come over to visit. It is kind of a matter of what your prefer.
Allan

[danb...@virginia.usa.com]

no Im saying that its professional when balalaika has nylon strings, the sound is more rich and deep.
i been playing balalaika for 10 years and i meet some big professionals, i mean thats just my advise.
you want to watch this video on youtube  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWToyAAIPEc&feature=related
one more http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6pPP2kfHzU&feature=related