farmer bob - Posted - 11/19/2009:  08:29:03

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I always played with steel strings never nylon. I would like to build a nylon strung banjo. On the road if I broke a steel string I could change it and be back in action in 5 minutes. I can see a slight problem waiting days for a replaced nylon or nylgut to stretch out. My question is this... Can I ..PRE-STRETCH. a nylon or nylgut set of strings on a longer scale or long neck banjo, get them totally stable then cut them off and repackage them for use on a standard scale banjo. After replacing them on the instrument later will they automatically re tune and hold in tune instantly as before...Thank you ... Bob.

trapdoor2 - Posted - 11/19/2009:  08:49:37

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Gee, Bob, I dunno. I have had one set of Nylguts that I removed from a banjo (to work on it) and put them back on later. One or two of the strings broke at the tailpiece but the rest worked fine...problem is, I can't recall if they required stretching in again.

My guess is that you can do it...but they probably won't "hold in tune instantly", probably just require less stretching-in than before.

Can't hurt to try it out. Ought to be pretty simple to create a stretching jig to test your theory.

scooter46 - Posted - 11/19/2009:  10:09:47

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Bob I was talking to a luthier yesterday about nylgut strings, he said take the ends and pull then put the string on and pull it tight to the peg and put enough tension to hold it then go to around the 22nd fret pull the string up and hold for about 15 seconds pull it tight to the peg again and tune, do each string. He says he doesn't have much trouble after that. Larry

farmer bob - Posted - 11/20/2009:  06:46:06

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I like the idea of a stretching jig, Zither pins on a 2x4 should work. But Ill try Larrys mount and pull method first... Thanks again... FB.

trapdoor2 - Posted - 11/20/2009:  08:54:08

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quote:

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Originally posted by farmer bob

I like the idea of a stretching jig, Zither pins on a 2x4 should work. But Ill try Larrys mount and pull method first... Thanks again... FB.

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Be careful when you pull the string thru the tuner hole, if it gets a nick or shaves of some material, it will break when you give it a pull.

My basic procedure is to first turn the tuner so that the hole lines up with the string. I tie the nylgut to the tailpiece and then thread the string thru the tuner hole. I wrap the excess around a pencil (or dowel) and pull to stretch (being careful not to nick it) and then start winding the tuner with the string being stretched. Sometimes this requires a third hand!

Once the string is up to pitch, lay the banjo in your lap, grab the string with both hands and push/pull to stretch the string (not too much or you'll break it, esp. the 1st/5th string). Retune and repeat the stretch. Repeat until it will hold tune (may take several iterations).

For a 'stretching jig': I think you can get the absolute tension figures from Aquila's website (example: Banjo 2nd string when tuned to a "B" has 7.5kg tension, etc.). Once you know the tension at pitch for each string, you could tie one end to a peg-board and hang weights from the other end. Pretty simple!

===Marc