Metal or gut?

[SWCooper]

So! I bought a Greenop banjo last year (yes, "Skeleton Dance" Greenop). Almost identical to this one at ZitherBanjo.org. My question: steel or nylon strings? The several spare strings in the case were metal, and the one at the link is strung with metal. I have it strung with metal now, but I obviously want to do right by it. His patent for this design was dated 1926, so it could go either way.

[skip sail]

When i was an experimental teenager,i once listened to Snake baked a hoecake over and over for about 6 hours until the experiment wore off.

[Jody Stecher]

and the grooves wore out.

[Neil Angus Goodwin]

Hi, I have an early 20's copy of "The Banjo and How to Play it, by Emile Grimshaw" (editor of BMG) published by Clifford Essex, here is what he says regarding strings in general and also specifically for the Zither Banjo.

lesson 43. Strings should be of the proper gauge. If too thick the tone will be dull and heavy, if too thin the tone will be weak. it is best therefore to buy strings from a firm that specializes on the banjo, and knows exactly what players require.

44. The fourth string of the banjo should always be silk wound with fine wire. Compound fourth strings containing a steel centre must be avoided, because they not only produce the wrong kind of tone , but they are seldom true when stopped at the higher frets.

45. The first, second, third and fifth strings may all be of gut, or they may be all silk (Tropical),

this is just a matter of individual taste. The great majority of players, prefer, however, to use a thin steel first string because it is always true, gives a clear tone and seldom breaks.

46. An ideal method of stringing the banjo is the following:- First string of thin wire, second silk (Tropical), third gut, fourth silk wound with copper - polished fine wire, fifth silk (Tropical);

47. The Zither - Banjo requires three steel strings, viz. the first, second and fifth, and it is important that they should be of the proper gauge. the third and fourth strings are the same as on the banjo.

He also says

53. The strings of the banjo require to be vibrated with more force than do those of the zither - banjo, the latter instrument must be played with the greatest delicacy of touch.

The punctuation is as in the book