webzurfer - Posted - 12/13/2010:  15:07:10

Hello. I am new to this forum and new to the banjo. I recently bought a SAGA Pony (Short Neck) 5 string "travel" banjo. I learned much from this site prior to purchase so thank you to anybody that has made earlier comments. I also did a fair amount of other web-surf. Many people comment to changing to NylGut strings. My main stringed instrument currently is Ukulele, so I like the idea of staying with nylon strings. So the question, which set of Nylgut? I would like to tune to a G or an A tuning, preferably an A. I bought the instrument used and it is strung with Tenor banjo strings (other than the 5th string of course) and can be tuned to that range nicely... My interest is in old time, clawhammer, and volume is not important. I will not be blasting over the top of a bluegrass band. The old plunky sound would be a bonus. If you have read this far and can make comment, thank you so much!

Dan Gellert - Posted - 12/13/2010:  16:35:11

The "minstrel" or heavy gauge ought to tune in G or A OK. The lighter set would be too loose tuned that low on that short scale.

The slots in the bridge and nut will probably have to be widened to accommodate the thicker strings-- if they're too tight they'll tear those nylguts up in no time!

Sultans of Claw - Posted - 12/13/2010:  17:16:04

I have the minstrel set on mine, tuned up to open C. Dan's right about eliminating all potential chafe points. The bowline knot works really well with the NoKnot tailpiece, and Don New makes a Spillway Dam bridge that works really well with that little banjo and Minstrel strings, IMHO.

Sometime after the first of the year though I'm hoping to experiment with a Renaissance head and switching over to some silk-core classical strings and trying it for octave mandolin tuning, aGDAE.

Enjoy!

Edited by - Sultans of Claw on 12/13/2010 17:17:03

gottasmilealot - Posted - 12/13/2010:  18:26:36

I use 10-11-12-20-10 steel strings tuned down from the factory open C tuning to A tuning. It works well for playing old time music in the keys of A and D without retuning and having reasonable volume.

The strings will be too floppy and you'll lose tone trying to get down to open G tuning. You'd be better changing the way you play or using an alternate tuning for the key of G which might be very confusing for you if you're just starting out.

I don't use nylgut or nylon strings on it.

tomberghan - Posted - 12/14/2010:  03:44:46

I am a big fan of Aquila strings (Nylgut). Mimmo Peruffo, the founder is an old friend of mine . . . see this link for pictures from a recent visit of mine to the Aquila String factory in Italy:
banjohangout.org/myhangout/pho...umid=4436

You will have the best results if you dial-in the specific gauges you need for the specific tuning and scale length of your banjo.

Aquila USA can sell you singles so you can make up a custom set. But, Aquila strings are a bit expensive being of a very high quality and special proprietary nylon formula. So, I suggest you try using D'Addario singles first and finding the guages you prefer. And then order some Aquila singles. The tension of the Aquila will be slightly less than the D'Addario, but you can get very close.

Buy D'Addario singles here: (two links, one for plain nylon, one for wound strings)
1) store.daddario.com/category/15...n_Singles
2) store.daddario.com/category/15...d_Singles

Buy Aquila Nylgut here:
aquilausa.com/

or, buy direct from the factory here:
aquilacorde.com/index.php

Best Wishes,
Tom

webzurfer - Posted - 01/07/2011:  13:19:28

OK, thank you to everybody that chimed in. I now have the strings in hand (I went with the Minstrel weight, as advised.)

NOW, what about the 5th string? When using Nylon or NyGut, does one keep with a steel 5th string?