mandohead - Posted - 02/08/2010:  18:54:39

I'm new to banjo and have a new wildwood minstrel.

I'm liking it but find I have to retune slightly after every song- 2 minutes

Is this normal.

Bigbike4 - Posted - 02/08/2010:  19:24:54

If the banjo is new, if the strings are new, if the tuners are the usual junk that comes from the factory, then yes retuning every couple of songs is normal. Strings need time to stretch-usually a day or so after restringing (and stretching them while you restring-tune up-stretch em-retune-stretch em-retune etc). The "G" string is usually the one that seems to go most frequently on most junky tuners from the factory. Easy fix, buy a set of Gotoh tuners and loose the problem forever. That is what I had to do with my MM. Replaced with decent tuners and now only have to tune up after taking the instrument down off the wall hanger. Then it is set for whatever tuning I am playing in.

Hope this helps

Seeders - Posted - 02/08/2010:  19:38:38

It could be new strings stretching, though after a day or two of playing and tuning they shouldn't stretch much, if at all. Also, I'd be surprised if Wildwood used junky tuners. They make quality banjos as far as I've seen. My thoughts are that it could be the tension screws on the tuners, not the tuners themselves. The screw that holds the tuner button on is also the tension of the tuner. If they don't hold very well and feel loose when you tune, tighten the screw a little bit. Be careful though as you don't want to over-tighten them. If you over-tighten them it can make them hard to turn and really too tight can crack the tuner button. Tighten the screw a quarter turn at a time, tune it up, play a little and see if it helps out.
If this doesn't help out it very well could be the tuners or maybe how hard your playing. If you think it might be the tuners and it is brand new, talk to who you bought it from or Wildwood and I'm sure they'd help you out.

Kitt - Posted - 02/08/2010:  19:42:23

I think the Wildwood Minstrel comes with Gotoh tuners. Even if not, I doubt that a quality instrument like the Wildwood Minstrel leaves the shop with second rate tuners.

Stretching the strings is probably what you need to do. I slide my hand up and down the length of each string while pulling up on the string to speed the stretching process. The 'every two minutes' seems a bit extreme though, so I don't know what to make of that. Another way to help the strings to seat is to get a string near tuned and then give it a few tight/loose tight/loose tight/loose with the tuner, and then set it back in tune. By 'tight/loose' I mean rapidly turn the tuner on each string back and forth a few times.

chip arnold - Posted - 02/08/2010:  19:43:47

Wildwoods have good quality everything .... including the tuners although I don't remember what brand they use. Slightly tighten the screws on the tuners like Seeders says.

mandohead - Posted - 02/08/2010:  19:54:15

Will do.

Cheers

jduke - Posted - 02/09/2010:  07:14:20

I agree with the others, there is nothing second rate about your banjo and it was likely well set-up before leaving the dealer. Check the tightness of the tuners. Even the best tuners loosen up and for that reason, you will likely want to include a small screw driver in your case.

Another thing to remember, however, is the head of a banjo is not solid and adjusting one string can often result in another going out of tune. Most of us when changing from one tuning to another will make a quick check of all strings even though we may have only changed one or two.

Jeff

steelhead - Posted - 02/09/2010:  07:53:07

I quickly check my tuning every few tunes unless I hear one that sounds radically out. I keep a tuner on the head at all times that picks up the vibration in the neck so that other instruments don't interfere. This is just what works for me.

rendesvous1840 - Posted - 02/09/2010:  08:11:35

Check the bridge position to be sure it hasn't moved. Make sure you aren't hitting the bridge and moving it yourself. If you have metal strings they don't have a lot of stretch problems. After a day in use they should be pretty stable. Nylon/Nylgut/gut strings will stretch for a few or even several days. On the other hand, old strings can be difficult to tune, and won't stay in tune well. If this is a new banjo, that shouldn't be a problem, unless you really play it a lot. Also, make sure the neck is secure to the pot. With a new banjo, this probably isn't a likely cause, either.
Paul

John Gribble - Posted - 02/10/2010:  00:53:15

My Wildwood, like most banjos, is also a bit temperamental in the tuning department. But it is a very nice banjo. You'll get really good at tuning.

OM45GE - Posted - 02/10/2010:  04:56:57

Is the room you play in a different temperature from where the banjo is stored? There are a lot of different materials in a banjo that contrat and expand at different rates. if your banjo is warming up or cooling down it will go out of tune.

I've also found that strings at both ends of their useful lives are hard to keep in tune. New strings stretch and bed in a bit and old strings just seem to fall out of tune more.

Bill - Posted - 02/10/2010:  06:19:24

Retune? What's this retune you speak of? In my case, it's usually reUNtune. ; )

Bill

RedZinger - Posted - 02/10/2010:  09:10:48

Hi,
I too have Wildwood Minstrel. It's got good tuners (gotoh I think). Banjo's are sensitive instruments that often need a tuning adjustment. The weather can make a difference. All that stuff about temp differences in your house and new and old strings is spot on too. I typically need a tuning adjustment every 20 mins. or so if I stay in the same tuning. If the weather is bad or changing, then keeping it in tune for one song can be hard.

Old joke:
Q: If you drop a banjo player and a guitarist off a building at the same time, who hits the ground first?
A: The Guitarist hits first, cuz the banjo player has to stop to retune on the way down.

My $.02
Best of luck to you.
Rob

John Gribble - Posted - 02/10/2010:  14:20:32

How do you keep a five string banjo in tune? Cut four of them off.

Penchaser - Posted - 02/10/2010:  18:58:06

Interesting. I have a Wildwood Troubador that seems to stay in tune for weeks at a time. I can tune it put it in the case for a week and pull it out and its still in tune. Go figure!

Now my Enoch Tradesman is another issue. Requires much more frequent tuning.