Stewart Orchestra

[Michael Neverisky]

Starting the new year off on a good foot.  A friend has loaned me her Stewart Orchestra.  A 12" rim, nicely carved heel and a scale of around 28".  With her permission, I have removed the steel strings and Kershner (neck is OK) and installed Nylgut and a no knot.   Photos below (I hope). 

Curious spacing between the 4th and 5th strings.  Incorrect bridge, or a design feature?

[thereallyniceman]

Nice looking banjo. Do you think that she will forget that she lent it to you if you can hold on to it long enough?  :-)

Marc, Trapdoor2, is an expert on S S Stewart banjos... perhaps he can answer your question about the strings, but it looks to me like the bridge needs to slide over towards the bass side a bit. The bridge grooves could be wrong too. I prefer a maple bridge without the ebony cap for nylon strings.

[Michael Neverisky]

Thanks for the input, Ian.  The current owner, of 40 years, would like
me to be the next shepherd of this fine banjo.  We are working out those
details... in the meantime I would like to see the banjo set up properly
for classic style.

The bridge grooves are a thought.   I replaced the 5/8" with the only 1/2"
bridge I had in the house - from another banjo.  Note that the first string
aligns in parallel with the edge of the fingerboard - can't say the same
about the fourth string as the board widens to the tuner at the 5th fret.
But, the fifth string is parallel.  A puzzle, unless I am missing something
obvious.

Would be great to find a suitable off-the-shelf bridge.  Recommendations
are welcomed.

[Trapdoor2]

Lovely!

I would say that you have a combination issue, the bridge appears to have a spacing problem and the 5th string pip appears to be situated very close to the edge of the fretboard. I would recommend you replace the bridge with one from Joel Hooks. Joel makes 'em to original Stewart specifications and they really make a difference.

Joel Hooks site 

Otherwise, I'd simply leave the banjo alone and start playing it. Sometimes I wish for more "room" on the 4th string...

[Michael Neverisky]

Marc - thanks for the suggestions.  Looks like Joel is a neighbor of mine here in New England, I'll drop him a note.

Regarding your advice to "start playing it"... done!  Working on tone production at the moment with some Grimshaw studies.  I need my fingernails for guitar playing, so I'm trying to find a compromise.  I caught your video with the CE banjo on the topic.

[Becky R. Schneider]

Hi, I'm a new member, and came across your question regarding your Stewart Orchestra 12"  Please feel free to ignore my remarks if you have resolved your spacing issues as I know this reaches you long after your original post.  Bridges are the cheapest and fastest means of changing or altering the tone of a banjo, and you will certainly benefit from exploring the advantages of trying out different bridges in your quest to resolving the spacing differences.  It couldn't hurt to investigate the  tailpiece orientation while you are at it, as at times the tailpiece may become skewed and result in a shift of the strings to one side or the other as they traverse down the length of the neck towards the nut.  The original tailpieces were rather delicate affairs and could often become clocked one way or the other.  They weren't really very rigid items.  Most likely a change in bridge will resolve your issue.  That is a very beautiful Stewart, and you
no doubt are playing it and enjoying it today.  Best to you, regards, Becky Schneider

[Michael Neverisky]

Hi Becky.

The previous owner had the banjo configured for clawhammer style with light gauge steel strings.  Simply installing Nylgut was not sufficient.  A new bridge, new tailpiece and a neck reset put everything back into proper alignment.