String et al suggestions

[Classic Banjo]

Hello again

I have just acquired a Goldtone MM150 open back banjo which has a white lady tone ring. It's currently set up with steel strings but I'm taking it to Andy Banjo to check it over, fit nylon strings & my Joel Hooks tailpiece.

Does anyone have any thoughts on strings? What about the head, currently Fybreskin no. 3?

Your thoughts would be welcome.

Thanks

Eric

[John Cohen]

For an Electric tone ring, I would install a medium-thin calfskin or a Renaissance head.  The Fyberskin is an abomination and will kill the tone and volume.  For strings I recommend Labella 17's, although it really comes down to personal taste.  The "old-timers" used incredibly light strings.  Make sure the action is high enough- 5mm measured from the top of the 12th fret should be enough.  

[Steve Harrison]

Hi Eric, When I first acquired my Windsor popular No.1, I had to experiment with quite a few different strings before I found what suited it. I eventually chose Nylgut medium with a Clifford Essex heavy 4th. They gave the banjo a crisp, snappy sound with plenty of volume. I recently changed the head to a Renaissance and that also made a big improvement to the overall sound. It may be a case of a bit of experimentation. I have significant hearing loss and use two hearing aids and I've now taken to playing my Windsor in preference to my Weaver because of the extra volume and more strident sound that it produces. Your own individual perception of sound my be the deciding factor. What sounds good to you may be different to how it sounds to someone else.....Steve. 

[Trapdoor2]

Yup, everyone likes something different. Experiment!

I consider the Renaissance head a poor choice and the Fiberskyn to be just fine. My #1 preference will always be a good Calfskin (not too thin). I also don't like very thin strings. The Nylgut standard 'classic' set with the CE wound 4th is excellent. I do not like the Nylguts with the solid 4th.

CE Gut strings have been uniformly excellent...last a long time for me.

[thereallyniceman]

Ouch Marc... Renaissance poor? I have fitted the Remo Renaissance heads to almost all my banjos and they give a bright, responsive treble and full, mellow, bass sound for me, when using CE Medium strings and a maple (Morley style) two footed bridge.

I have to agree with John that the Fibreskyn is diabolical on a Classic Banjo. It makes it hard to play and is unresponsive and dull. I have only tried one and it went in the bin after installing it on two different banjos and both felt awful to play.

Calf skin vellums are good if a bit thinner, but awkward to fit and sound like a dog in damp weather (and we get plenty here in the UK). I bet that if plastic heads were available in the 1890s Ossman/Van Eps et al. would be using them and the calfskins would be confined to history.

Being a bit of a Philistine I don't rate gut things either... why try to re-invent the wheel when nylon strings are readily available, cheap, consistently even, made in different weights and not affected by the weather?

... Oh, and sound good too?

[Jody Stecher]

I have gotten the best, most responsive, loudest, sweetest, most musical response from a Fiberskyn head (using gut or nylon or nylgut strings) on a Clifford Essex Regal, a Bacon Professional and a Bart Reiter Grand Concert banjo. I have used them with great success on other banjos with steel strings.

The proof of the sound can be heard on videos I have posted to this site playing  classic banjo music on the Regal and the Bacon.

I also use Ren heads and animal skins on other banjos in preference to the Fiberskyn. 

I-T   A-L-L  D-E-P-E-N-D-S.

The best classic banjo sounds I have gotten have come from gut strings. That does not mean that gut strings will always produce the best sound on every banjo with every set up.

The best classic banjo sounds I have gotten have come from natural vellum heads. That does not mean that all vellums will sound good on all banjos. 

thereallyniceman said:

Ouch Marc... Renaissance poor? I have fitted the Remo Renaissance heads to almost all my banjos and they give a bright, responsive treble and full, mellow, bass sound for me, when using CE Medium strings and a maple (Morley style) two footed bridge.

I have to agree with John that the Fibreskyn is diabolical on a Classic Banjo. It makes it hard to play and is unresponsive and dull. I have only tried one and it went in the bin after installing it on two different banjos and both felt awful to play.

Calf skin vellums are good if a bit thinner, but awkward to fit and sound like a dog in damp weather (and we get plenty here in the UK). I bet that if plastic heads were available in the 1890s Ossman/Van Eps et al. would be using them and the calfskins would be confined to history.

Being a bit of a Philistine I don't rate gut things either... why try to re-invent the wheel when nylon strings are readily available, cheap, consistently even, made in different weights and not affected by the weather?

... Oh, and sound good too?

[thereallyniceman]

You are correct Jody and Marc, they is no substitute for experimentation to see and hear what "YOU" like. 

It is all very odd that the Fibreskyn on Jody's Regal sounded good, but a standard frosted Remo (completely different characteristics) sounds superb on my Regal!

Also, even with everything set up exactly how someone else has their banjo set up does not mean it will sound the same. There is one big variable.. how you play the darned thing.

[Trapdoor2]

I really don't like Ren heads on anything...god knows, I've tried 'em. As the resident banjo mechanic, I have removed lots of Rens and installed 'other' stuff. The trend here is to ditch the treble and find your 'inner tubby'. I've been on that wagon for a long time. ;-) Sure, that's for OT Clawhammer...but my taste runs tubby in Classical as well. You won't find me playing anywhere near the bridge either. ;-)

My Flesher has had a Fiberskyn on it for about 10 yrs or more. It came with a Ren and I found it to be way too bright for me. The rest of my classic banjos have calfskin...they're vintage banjos and should be wearing vintage clothes if possible.

I like to have gut on when I do performance (rare...but it happens), esp. if I'm doing my "History Of The Banjo" shtick. Adds a bit of 'authenticity'. Otherwise, give me some Sands' Heavies...and I'll be happy.

[John Cohen]

Back in the early '50s the American Banjo Fraternity recommended .017, .019, .022, ..024w, .017.

[marc dalmasso]

Fyberskin is just perfect for Wall hanging banjos ...............

[Joel Hooks]

I'm a little different. For a bridge I cut a heavy plastic domino in half lengthwise. For strings I use fishing line --- .025 for all strings except the fourth, kite string makes the best fourth you can get. I make my own heads from store brand soda bottles that I shrink tight with a heat gun. If the bottle is a little small I just add packing tape. For true classic banjo tone I play with thimbles. That is sewing thimbles on all my fingers, right and left hands.

... Not really. I just wanted to be different too.

[Joel Hooks]

You should read my article in the issue before last of the 5- Stringer about bridges.

[Jody Stecher]

Believe it or not, (but it's true), not once, but twice I have had banjos that came into my possession strung with strings of all the same gauge!

Joel Hooks said:

I'm a little different. For a bridge I cut a heavy plastic domino in half lengthwise. For strings I use fishing line --- .025 for all strings except the fourth, kite string makes the best fourth you can get. I make my own heads from store brand soda bottles that I shrink tight with a heat gun. If the bottle is a little small I just add packing tape. For true classic banjo tone I play with thimbles. That is sewing thimbles on all my fingers, right and left hands.

... Not really. I just wanted to be different too.