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New set-up for my Cole's Eclipse

I had retired my Cole's Eclipse many years ago because of my concern with using steel strings on an instrument made in 1895 which was ment for gut strings. Recently I got it out, dusted it off and ordered a set on Nylgut strings, the Classical G Tunning set. Putting them on was not much different than steel strings, except I had to tie my own end loops. Tuning them was another story. It took a few day for them to settle in and stop streaching out of tune, but once they did, they hold the tuning just as well as steel strings. I thought the sound was a bit dull and plunky. After thinking about it for a while I realized I was using a modern 3 legged ebony top bridge. that was not the norm way back when so I found some close grained rock maple and made a solid maple two legged bridge with a slightly raised 5th string area patterned after bridges of the period. This made all te difference in the world. I was originaly concerned that the Nlygut strings would make the sound much more mello and guitar like, but with the new bridge it's nice and bright and plucky. It's a great banjo to play and sounds terrrific now.  The next step is to replace the No-Knot tail piece with something a bit more period for the 1890's.  The tuners are old vintage metal friction with pearloid buttons, a bit late for this instrument but they look and work good so I don't think I'll change them to the old violyn style friction pegs. The tuners are modified to hold better than as they were original made. In another blog post I'll outline how to improve these old metal friction tuners so they hold a lot better.

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