Useful Accessories For Your Mandolin
So you have a mandolin. Now what? Well, besides the obvious task of playing it, there are a few very helpful accessories available that will help you care for your instrument, protect your instrument, and even make you sound better.
A Case
A Case is an extremely useful thing to own for your mandolin. Especially if you are playing away from home or traveling with your instrument, a case will protect you mandolin from 90% of all mandolin related mishaps. The other 10% of accidents I'm afraid are nearly inevitable and you should get used to the idea of your mandolin having a ding or two. Hey, people pay extra money for their mandolin to get all banged up, like the Gibson Distressed Master Model. In any case (no pun intended), your mandolin can only benefit from a source of protection. Gig bags are less expensive than hard cases, but are not as rigid and therefore less apt to survive a fall down a flight of stairs. If you really want to keep your mandolin safe from bumps and bruises, mother nature, cars, elephants, and 747s, I would suggest you look into either a Calton Mandolin Case or a Pegasus Mandolin Case. While they aren't cheap, they offer unparalleled protection from almost any force imaginable.
If a gig bag looks like the thing for you, i suggest the Boulder Alpine Case
If a more affordable hard case is more your style, I'd try the Golden Gate Case (A & F style cases available).
One of the best cases out there for the price is the Travelite Case for F-Model and A-Model Mandolins
Electronic Tuner or Tuning Fork
If you have any intention of having your mandolin sound right, i suggest getting an electronic tuner. A tuning fork will also do the job but, while being less expensive, it is much harder to use and only accounts for one course of strings (the others must be adjusted by ear). I suggest investing in a clip on electronic tuner. Clip on electronic tuners are superior to the non clip type because they attach to your instrument and are not affected by other noises around you (they operate through vibration). I recommend the Intelli IMT500 Clip-on Tuner. For a step up in accuracy, try the Korg AW2G Clip-on Tuner.
A Strap
I highly suggest that you use a strap while playing your mandolin. Straps help remove tension that can be a result of trying to hold the mandolin while playing. A strap will let you forget about keeping your mandolin from crashing to the floor and allow you to concentrate more fully on playing. Straps are connected at the strap button and then at the headstock under the strings and above the nut if you have an a style and around the scroll if you have an f style (see parts of the mandolin). Straps are relatively simple things. You can make one out of a shoe string or a piece of twine if you wish, but most are made of leather. They are relatively inexpensive and can be bought for less than ten dollars. If your looking for something really classy, they can also cost upwards of 40 or 50 dollars.
Extra Picks
You would be surprised how many picks will lose if you are anything like me. Its good to experiment and see what picks work well for you. In general, mandolin players usually agree that a thick (between .80mm and 2mm) picks get the most tone out of their mandolins. I personally use and recommend the Pro Plec Triangle Picks. They have great triangle shape and feel great in your fingers. Picks can be found at any music store and range from less than 50 cents to over 20 dollars.
For unmatched tone and accuracy, I have recently been turned on to Blue Chip Picks. While they are not cheap and not ideal for those of us that can lose picks quicker than they can buy them (myself included), they produce a great sound and feel great between your fingers.
Strings
Strings are an essential part of your mandolin and therefore require a lot of consideration. I suggest that, much like you should with picks, you should try a variety of different brands and see which work best for you. There are two distinct types of strings, roundwound and flatwound (see string type explanation). Roundwound strings are what most people use, and are more readily available. When it comes to roundwound strings, I prefer D'addario J74 Strings because they are inexpensive, extremely consistent, and sound great. Also Elixir Nanoweb Mandolin Strings are one of my top choices. They are more expensive, but last longer and have a special slippery coating that many people find appealing.
When it comes to mandolin strings though, many jazz musicians prefer flatwound strings. Flatwounds feel great under your fingers (not too sticky, not too slippery), they last longer than roundwound strings, and they have a sound that I really enjoy. They are generally more expensive than D'Addario J74s, but some brands are less expensive than Elixir Strings. Flatwound strings have a softer, less bright tone that is more associated with jazz and folk than straight up bluegrass. Most bluegrass players use D'Addario J74s or similar strings for their bright, loud projection while jazz players often use flatwounds for their smoother, more mellow sound. I personally use and recommend JazzMando JM-11 Flatwound Mandolin Strings for my jazz explorations.