 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Not logged in - | |
| Moderated by: Richard Hefner |
|
||||||||||||||
| New to Uke - Introduce Yourself - General - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
| Author | Post | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||
|
rangerrich Approved
|
Hi, I just picked up the Uke and am loving it. But I want more. I want to string my banjo and play tuned like a Uke GCEA. bought some strings from a guitar store but couldnt get it strung correctly. I saw someone who did it and loved the sound with the nylon string sounds for old timey music. I have looked into a banjo-uke but not quite what I want. If this idea fails I may invest in a four string banjo with nylon strings, but again I want to tune and play it like the Uke, GCEA. Also I am looking for a walk in store in the Ventura, Santa Barbara area of CA Thanks Richard
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
Will Approved 
|
What kind of banjo do you intend to convert? If you have a standard-sized 5-string banjo, the scale length is about 25" or 26" long, making it almost impossible to tune to GCEA, even with steel strings (the high D string would break if you attempted to go much higher than the E note). Not even classical guitar strings would work, with such a long scale. It would be possible to tune a 5-string banjo to DGBE (remove the 5th drone string, which isn't used if you are converting the instrument to a banjo uke); just purchase a banjo capo and clamp it behind the 5th fret to get GCEA. If you want the nylon string sound, you can re-string your banjo with a set of nylon classical guitar strings, but be aware that it will still be tuned to DGBE, and frequent use of a capo on nylon strings will quickly cause the metal windings on the D and G strings to wear out because of the clamping pressure against the metal fret wires. (The nicked metal windings will cause annoying string buzz issues.) For best results, you will need a short-scale banjo. If you have a short-scale banjo (the so-called "C" tuned banjo made for travel), you would be able to tune the steel strings directly GCEA. Some compact 5-string travel banjos can be had for about $200 or less, less than the cost of most banjo ukes. The Gold Tone Plucky has only a 16" scale and a smaller 8" diameter banjo head, and you can use a set of standard tenor ukulele strings. http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/PLUCKY.htm  For other travel banjos with a 20" scale length, you will need a set of special gauge gCEA uke strings made for a baritone uke. Last edited on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 08:37 am by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
|
rangerrich Approved
|
Thanks Will, Im still rethinking my options. I do not want the shorter travel banjo with the smaller head. And I do want the nylon string sound. I think I like the option of looking for a 20" scale length banjo and get a set of special gCEA uke strings for a baritone uke. That leaves my banjo untouched for use as a banjo. Rich
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
rangerrich Approved
|
Hi Again, I found a Pony banjo, 20"scale at Elderely Instruments (SS 10P). Just confirming with you. Is this the one that you suggested getting the baritone uke strings for? It is about $325. Thanks Richard
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
|
Will Approved
|
Yes, that banjo has the right scale for these strings: http://elderly.com/accessories/items/ANBP.htm
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Current time is 03:13 am | |
| ezFolk Forums > General > Introduce Yourself > New to Uke | |
