Nylon strings for tenor banjo?

[John Cohen]

Well, what can I say... I've been bitten by the tenor bug and am now playing tenor banjo in addition to classic style. I'm curious about trying nylon strings on my tenor just out of curiosity... either La Bella 17s, Sands, or Savarez alliance. Since this webpage is home to so many nylon string players, I thought I may as well ask here... what gauges would I need for a higher tension feel on a cgda tuned tenor with a 23" scale?

[Jody Stecher]

I have used various gauges of plain steel wire for the two trebles and various wound gauges packaged as classic guitar for the C and G courses. It depends on the banjo and its setup and on the core and winding of the string. I think Savarez "anciens" series sounds very good for the wound courses.  I don't know if  plain nylon will be effective for the treble courses. Maybe so. Maybe not.

My best guess would be (in inches) between .027 and .032 for the C, and between .018 and .023 for the G course. it all depends on the composition of the string.  If you wanted a wound string for the D that might be hard to find. 

[John Cohen]

I'd want an unwound string for the D and A.

[Jody Stecher]

Since the plain steel wire gauges for d and a in CGDA tenor tuning are within the same range as the second and third (b and g) strings of a five string or plectrum banjo set I'd advise that you try any nylon string you've used for a b string on a five string banjo as your tenor A and any nylon string you've used as a third string G for your D course on the tenor banjo. I'd go on the heavy side first given how short the vibrating length of the tenor string will be.

[Jody Stecher]

To be clear, I meant "within the same range of *diameter*, not of pitch.

Jody Stecher said:

Since the plain steel wire gauges for d and a in CGDA tenor tuning are within the same range as the second and third (b and g) strings of a five string or plectrum banjo set I'd advise that you try any nylon string you've used for a b string on a five string banjo as your tenor A and any nylon string you've used as a third string G for your D course on the tenor banjo. I'd go on the heavy side first given how short the vibrating length of the tenor string will be.