I'm looking for suggestions for nylon strings in medium gauge.  Andy Banjo has run out of stock (and closing down at end of month).  I bought some CE strings but they seem squeakier than usual.  Do you guys use guitar strings and if, so, which ones?  (p.s am not a fan of nylguts).  

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CE gut strings can be squeaky.  Are you finding their nylon to be squeaky?  If so, that might abate after a while.  I can suggest some nylon gauges and brands but the sellers are all in the USA . I'm thinking shipping and customs duty and VAT is going to make the price awfully high. If you know anyone flying to UK from USA who could put the strings in their luggage that might help reduce the price. Strings By Mail is a very good source.  They sell single strings by dozens of makers so you can create your own sets. I have used various types of  nylon from Savarez, D'Addario, and La Bella and had good results. What is best depends on the banjo and its setup and player.

Yes Jody - its the nylon strings (gauge 24, 28w, 32, 28, 24) - maybe I need to give it a few weeks.  We have a string store that sells classical guitar strings but I don't know what would be suitable: https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/strings-c1/string-sets-c865/classic...

The gauges you mentioned would work. I'd call the 1st and 5th heavy. 22 is more like medium in my opinion. But those are not to be found in a guitar *set* but I see that the website at your link sells individual strings. Here:

https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/strings-c1/single-strings-c810/clas...

choose a brand (D'Addario) for instance and pick your gauges, being sure to note what is wound and what is plain.

For the most part strings are strings. The same wire or the same nylon gets labeled "guitar'" or "banjo" or "caca-phone" or whatever according to length and need and gauge.  So yeah, a string whose package says "guitar" is fine for banjo if the gauge is right and the length is sufficient.

good luck!

carrie horgan said:

Yes Jody - its the nylon strings (gauge 24, 28w, 32, 28, 24) - maybe I need to give it a few weeks.  We have a string store that sells classical guitar strings but I don't know what would be suitable: https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/strings-c1/string-sets-c865/classic...

Thanks Jody - I can buy individual D'addario classical rectified nylon strings.  I will give .22 a go for 1st and 5th.  

I'm re-thinking the. 22 idea. What is the scale of the banjo you'll be using? If it's not particularly long then 24 or 23 might be ok after all to get the same medium gauge feel as the other stings. Are you happy with the CE gauges? Do the first and fifth string feel noticeably tighter than the other strings? If so, go with 22. If not, maybe 24 is ok. It's just heavier than anything I've ever used (except on one big old banjo which I tune very low).

carrie horgan said:

Thanks Jody - I can buy individual D'addario classical rectified nylon strings.  I will give .22 a go for 1st and 5th.  

Hi Jody - it's a 26 1/4 inch scale.  Yes, maybe a little tight.  I swapped them over to .22 as had a spare CE light set and they do feel better.  

OK, average scale. You can go either way then. If it was 27 inches or more I would not go heavier than 22 .  If the 22s don't feel floppy compared to the other strings, you'll be fine with them.

carrie horgan said:

Hi Jody - it's a 26 1/4 inch scale.  Yes, maybe a little tight.  I swapped them over to .22 as had a spare CE light set and they do feel better.  

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