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| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
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| Strings? | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Mon Nov 1st, 2004 04:06 pm |
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1st Post |
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Clawhammerinfool Approved
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I'm sure you folks have experimented with different types of strings. I have tried several diffent brands and have yet to find a set that I am sold on. On my old banjo from the late 1800's, I use the lightest gauge that I can get my hands on because I don't want to stress the neck too much. I have also used nylon strings on that one but not enough volume for me. My other banjo is the one that I keep trying different strings on. When I bought it, i believe it had GHS mediums on it. I have changed strings several times and I did try another set of GHS mediums on it but the ones that I bought were stainless steel and I did not like them at all. I will find another set of regular GHS Mediums and will probably go online and find some if I have to but I was just curious what other folks might be using to get a nice old time plunky sound. My old banjo has a calf-skin on it but my newer Chuck Lee has a 12" fiberskin head on it. Don't get me wrong.....it sounds great but I am always trying to get it to sound even plunkier than it already does. Thanks, Mark
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| Posted: Sat Nov 6th, 2004 11:15 pm |
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2nd Post |
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No Picks Approved
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Hey Mark, I use ghs strings also, have used them on the banjo and I believe you can get brass strings from them also, to me they sound better, but I dont know how they would be for the old time plunky sound your looking for, also I dont like the stainless strings either, I had them on my dulcimer and I replaced them with brass strings.
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| Posted: Sun Nov 7th, 2004 03:35 am |
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3rd Post |
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Clawhammerinfool Approved
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Thanks. I'm gonna look for some brass GHS. I've been looking at stores but there are not many stores near by. I'll try online and see what I come up with.
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| Posted: Sun Nov 7th, 2004 02:13 pm |
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4th Post |
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Richard Hefner Administrator 
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Hey Mark... have you tried the Elixir strings? That's what I usually use. They have a kind of plastic coating so they stay like new for a long time. They're more expensive than other strings but since they last so long it kind of evens out over time, and is nice for somebody like me who doesn't like to change strings any more than I have to. I'm not real sure about the plunk factor though. If you're looking for something plunky they might not be what you'd like. 
____________________ Richard Hefner MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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| Posted: Mon Nov 8th, 2004 03:11 am |
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5th Post |
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Clawhammerinfool Approved
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It's funny you should mention those strings....I just saw them last night while looking at different sites for strings. I was not familiar with them and was wondering what they are like. Do you use mediums or lights? Thanks, Mark
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| Posted: Mon Nov 8th, 2004 09:18 am |
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6th Post |
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Richard Hefner Administrator
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I use lights but I think maybe you'd like the mediums since they'd give you a plunkier sound. There's something else I thought of that you might want to consider. Have you heard of "Aquila Nylgut" strings? They're immensely popular with uke players. They're synthetic gut strings and they just came out with banjo strings. Here's a link to their website: http://www.aquilausa.com/ Click on the "uke" link on the left when you get to their website and you'll find the banjo strings listed at the bottom of the page. They're $8.25 a set. 
____________________ Richard Hefner MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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| Posted: Mon Nov 8th, 2004 03:08 pm |
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7th Post |
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Clawhammerinfool Approved
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Yes I have thought about trying nylon strings, in fact I did try them on my old turn of the century banjo but I didn't like the lack of volume. Of course, I did try those when I had just gotten that banjo and at that time, I didn't play nearly as well as I do now. It's possible that it was me and not the strings. It's also possible that nylon strings on my Chuck Lee banjo would sound much louder than they did on my old banjo. I guess I need to do some more experimenting. Thanks, Mark
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| Posted: Fri Nov 12th, 2004 11:06 pm |
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8th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator 
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When I bought my Deering Goodtime, thee dealer threw in a set of Martin Vega Mediums. I have since bought two more sets, one is currently in use, and the other set is in the case (current set has been on the 'jo for over 1.5 years). I haven't found the need to change strings, I still like the sound of the current set. I did buy a set of nylons the other day, and am going to try them soon - I want to see what they sound like.  Keep on pickin'Brad
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Sun Nov 14th, 2004 03:26 pm |
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9th Post |
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Clawhammerinfool Approved
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When you give those nylons a try Brad, tell us how you like them. Maybe do a recording and post it. I finally figured out why strings have been somewhat of a problem for me. I have a very old banjo that I struggled with for a long time because I wasn't happy with the sound of it. At one time I did have nylon strings on it and didn't like them at all....with the calfskin head, the nylon strings just weren't loud enough for me. I put light steel strings on it because I am afraid to use mediums on this old banjo with no truss rod. Well, I still didn't like the way it sounded, then I finally stuffed some handkerchiefs under the dowlstick and could not believe my ears when I played it. It sounds awesome! Because I liked it so much, I played it all of the time and neglected my Chuck Lee banjo for a while. When I finally picked it up again, I was then disappointed with the sound and the feel of it. Well. it took me a while to figure out the problem. What it boils down too is, I just can't go from light strings on one banjo and then pick up another one with medium strings. It takes too long for me to adjust to the difference. I don't know why it took me so long to figure this out, maybe it's because I am still a beginner. Anyways, after putting light strings on my Chuck Lee, now I have two banjos that I love both the sound and the feel. I also found that by stuffing some hankies under both ends of the dowl stick on my Chuck Lee, it takes away the overtones of the light gauge strings perfectly. On my old 1880's banjo.....just stuffing it at the end of the stick is sufficient. Thanks for the responses to this post guys.
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15th, 2004 01:52 am |
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10th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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Will do (both). And, that's exactly why I have an old tee-shirt stuffed inside the pot on my Goodtime. Keep on pickin'Brad Hey, Richard - we need some banjo emoticons, if you can find any!
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Fri Dec 10th, 2004 01:06 pm |
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11th Post |
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playthebanjo Approved 
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Hey. I use nylon strings on both my banjos. I started using them when I was playing in an irish-punk band http://www.whiskeyandthedevil.com and had to get in front of an elec bass and full drum set without getting tons of feedback. The nylons did the trick. Once I got used to them I never went back to metal strings. I use Chris Sand's Medium Nylons on my 1880's Dobson and the Heavy ones on my Longneck OME. I got them at elderly.com but maybe there are other sites to get them???? There is an MP3 of me playing cluck old hen on this site on the OME with the nylon strings. Maybe it is just the banjo, but in circles at festivals it DECIMATES the volume of "normal" banjos with and without resonators and with metal strings. (but it is a pretty loud banjo). But I think it is also the technique you use in playing that will help determine your volume level regardless of the banjo or the strings. If you want to hear it, it is under "Andrew Lentini" or Cluck old hen. : ) let me know if you want to hear something else and I can record it without any guitars or anything. Andrew
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