zither banjo strings

[morten lind]

Hi there 

Does anyone know what gauges of strings i should use for my zither banjo ?

Best regards 

Moren

[Jody Stecher]

It depends on the scale (length of the vibrating string from nut to bridge). For long scale like on a Cammeyer zb the gauges on inches are as follows:  1st and 5th string are .008" steel, the 2nd (b) string is .010, the third (g) string is gut or nylon of about .034 and the 4th string is wound, like a classical guitar string, gauge about .026 or ... and this is what I use and prefer: Aquila type D #108 which is copper wound over nylgut filaments which are wound over a thin metal core. This string has a strong fundamental and not many easily discernible overtones. For zither-banjos with shorter scales the gauge of the metal strings can be slightly heavier.  1st and 5th are .09, 2nd is .011, and the third and 4th are the same as for the longer scale zither-banjos.  

[morten lind]

Okay thanks i am not sure if it is a long scale, but i have been told that it is a windsor popular model.

how do i determine if its a long or short scale?

Best regards

morten

Jody Stecher said:

It depends on the scale (length of the vibrating string from nut to bridge). For long scale like on a Cammeyer zb the gauges on inches are as follows:  1st and 5th string are .008" steel, the 2nd (b) string is .010, the third (g) string is gut or nylon of about .034 and the 4th string is wound, like a classical guitar string, gauge about .026 or ... and this is what I use and prefer: Aquila type D #108 which is copper wound over nylgut filaments which are wound over a thin metal core. This string has a strong fundamental and not many easily discernible overtones. For zither-banjos with shorter scales the gauge of the metal strings can be slightly heavier.  1st and 5th are .09, 2nd is .011, and the third and 4th are the same as for the longer scale zither-banjos.  

[Jody Stecher]

 27 inches or more is long. 26 or less is short. In between, you decide.  I think you'll be fine with the 9 and 11 steel wire.


morten lind said:

Okay thanks i am not sure if it is a long scale, but i have been told that it is a windsor popular model.

how do i determine if its a long or short scale?

Best regards

morten

Jody Stecher said:

It depends on the scale (length of the vibrating string from nut to bridge). For long scale like on a Cammeyer zb the gauges on inches are as follows:  1st and 5th string are .008" steel, the 2nd (b) string is .010, the third (g) string is gut or nylon of about .034 and the 4th string is wound, like a classical guitar string, gauge about .026 or ... and this is what I use and prefer: Aquila type D #108 which is copper wound over nylgut filaments which are wound over a thin metal core. This string has a strong fundamental and not many easily discernible overtones. For zither-banjos with shorter scales the gauge of the metal strings can be slightly heavier.  1st and 5th are .09, 2nd is .011, and the third and 4th are the same as for the longer scale zither-banjos.  

[morten lind]

Thanks Jody

its a short one i have. 

I have a question more, hope you dont mind.

What brigde to use for zither banjos? 

best regards 

Jody Stecher said:

Under 27 inches or more is long. 26 or less is short. In between, you decide.  I think you'll be fine with the 9 and 11 steel wire.

morten lind said:

Okay thanks i am not sure if it is a long scale, but i have been told that it is a windsor popular model.

how do i determine if its a long or short scale?

Best regards

morten

Jody Stecher said:

It depends on the scale (length of the vibrating string from nut to bridge). For long scale like on a Cammeyer zb the gauges on inches are as follows:  1st and 5th string are .008" steel, the 2nd (b) string is .010, the third (g) string is gut or nylon of about .034 and the 4th string is wound, like a classical guitar string, gauge about .026 or ... and this is what I use and prefer: Aquila type D #108 which is copper wound over nylgut filaments which are wound over a thin metal core. This string has a strong fundamental and not many easily discernible overtones. For zither-banjos with shorter scales the gauge of the metal strings can be slightly heavier.  1st and 5th are .09, 2nd is .011, and the third and 4th are the same as for the longer scale zither-banjos.  

[Jody Stecher]

It depends on the actual banjo. I have used both 2 footed and 3 footed bridges on zither-banjos and I use what sounds best to me. Most zither-banjos need a very low bridge.  The revived.Clifford Essex company (which is now semi-suspended) has been selling a copy of the Cammeyer zither-banjo bridge. It has 2 cylindrical feet. I have tried that and an original Cammeyer bridge as well and I have never found one that sounds good to me. All of them have been unstable and come crashing down with a loud explosive sound that sounds like a pistol shot.