Strings on S.S. Stewart Thoroughbred banjo

[Richard Katz]

What are the best strings on a S.S. Stewart Thoroughbred banjo? Steel or nylgut?
I am leaning towards nygut. My 1888 Luscomb banjo has nylgut and I love the tone and ease of play. Any advice gladly welcomed. Thanks!

[Jody Stecher]

I have used nylgut strings since they first appeared on the market. I have used them on guitar, banjo, and oud. All in all I have probably used close to 100 nylgut strings. Not one has broken. They last for several years of hard playing. Sometimes the windings on the bass strings come unravelled after a good long while.

On the other hand Savarez KF Alliance are fantastic trebles strings ( I haven't tried any wound ones but Savarez is a good string company). I have mostly used them on oud and I have yet to find something better. These are a synthetic similar to PVF and as such much much narrower gauges need to be used then in nylon.  They are about double the price of rectified nylon and they last twice as long.  I think they'd be good banjo strings but you've got to get the gauge right. 

John Cohen said:

 Nylguts break easily, stretch for way too long, and sound dead to my ears.  For a closer approximation to gut, I would try Savarez KF Alliance strings.  These are a bit pricey, and for what it is worth I have switched back to LaBella strings on all of my banjos.

[Jody Stecher]

whoops, I meant *than*, not *then*

Jody Stecher said:

much narrower gauges need to be used then in nylon.  

[Jody Stecher]

What I prefer —for Stewart banjos — is rectified nylon. Aquila does not manufacture or sell rectified nylon strings. D'Addario "specialty singles"  are inexpensive and widely available.  The reason I prefer rectified nylon —in specific gauges — on Stewart banjos— is because I prefer how they respond and sound —on Stewart banjos. 

Richard Katz said:

Why do prefer D'Addario over Aquila?

[Jody Stecher]

I need to amend the statement below. I just now remembered that I did have one nylgut guitar string break. It broke right in the middle of the string after being on the guitar at low tension for 6 or 7 years.

Jody Stecher said:

 I have probably used close to 100 nylgut strings. Not one has broken. They last for several years of hard playing. Sometimes the windings on the bass strings come unravelled after a good long while.