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Strings for a 29 1/2'' scale banjo

Will any production nylon strings work for this scale length? I had no problems with the Labella classic set on my Van Eps (28 1/2'' scale), and if I recall correctly they would be just long enough. Whether they would break is another story. Perhaps nylon fishing line would be the way to go? The banjo is a professional size Fairbanks Electric with a 12'' rim.

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Permalink Reply by Trapdoor2 on February 10, 2015 at 2:14

Eli Kaufman recommended a set of Savarez guitar strings for my Stewart Cello-Banjo (29" scale). It was the only set that had a long enough 2nd and 3rd. I cannot remember which Savarez set it was though.

I had Nylguts on my Knowles' Minstrel (guitar set again) @ 29" also.

I played a 31" Stitcher (I don't know who made it) at Antietam some years ago. I don't know what strings it had on it...probably custom gut.

Fishing line would probably be best. Some of the fluorocarbon fishing line is excellent. Somebody gave me a set of strings they had made up using that stuff and they were quite nice.

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Permalink Reply by John Cohen on February 10, 2015 at 2:18

Greg Adams recommended a set of Savarez KF's that might work- .0169 (1st & 5th), .0197 (2nd), .0252 (3rd), and a wire-wound silk string .026 (4th). In terms of the length I think you can order KF's with extra length. The LaBella 17s are long enough and might be able to withstand the tension as well.

I wouldn't know where to begin with fishing line, but I think that's where I would end up. How would you go about picking gauges?

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Permalink Reply by Trapdoor2 on February 10, 2015 at 15:37

I would go out on The Banjo Hangout and use their search engine. There are quite a few fishing-line aficionados there and there has been a good bit of (searchable) discussion over the years.

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Permalink Reply by Jody Stecher on February 10, 2015 at 23:07

I would use the same strings you'd use on a 27 inch scale banjo, just not super heavy Industrial Strength gauge.

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Permalink Reply by John Cohen on February 10, 2015 at 23:29

As long as they won't break. I ordered a set of the Savarez strings I mentioned above and a second set that is a little thinner.

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Permalink Reply by Texican65 on February 11, 2015 at 1:00

Cool...sounds neat! I have an old LP called "That Old Gut Feeling", by Bertram Levy. He's got an old 1890s Washburn banjo that he used Salvarez and LaBella Flamenco strings on. Not sure exactly which Salvarez flamencos, but I'm pretty positive the Labellas he used were the 820 red treble nylons, same as I use on my Baldwin 801 CP guitar. Those LaBellas are very light and thin, they're all I use on guitar anymore. And You probably cant go wrong with those Salvarez strings!