mommythrice - Posted - 02/08/2012:  13:45:29

I finally bought myself an open back banjo!  I'm loving it except for the really obnoxious ringing of the 5th string.  It sounds like it is ringing down near the tailpiece, so I've stuffed cotton in every possible place the string could be vibrating against metal.  Then, on a whim, I took the 5th string out of it's nut and just ran it along beside the nut on the fret... ringing stopped.  I have no idea why it seemed to be coming from the tailpiece, but I think I've identified the culprit.  I have heard that if the slot in the nut is too deep or cracked it can do this.  So, my question:  is there a way to repair the nut or do I need to replace it?  Is that something I can do myself?

eMike - Posted - 02/08/2012:  13:55:16

It sounds like maybe the slot in the pip is not quite deep enough and it might be vibrating on the fret nearest the pip.

mommythrice - Posted - 02/08/2012:  14:17:16

What's a pip?  The 5th string isn't even close to any frets.  I'm trying to attach a photo - don't know why its so little.

eMike - Posted - 02/08/2012:  15:02:44

The pip is that little 5th string "nut" that the string passes through.  Yep, you're right, it isn't near the fret so that's not the problem.

Richard Dress - Posted - 02/08/2012:  15:16:38

quote:

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Originally posted by mommythrice

I finally bought myself an open back banjo!  I'm loving it except for the really obnoxious ringing of the 5th string.  It sounds like it is ringing down near the tailpiece, so I've stuffed cotton in every possible place the string could be vibrating against metal.  Then, on a whim, I took the 5th string out of it's nut and just ran it along beside the nut on the fret... ringing stopped.  I have no idea why it seemed to be coming from the tailpiece, but I think I've identified the culprit.  I have heard that if the slot in the nut is too deep or cracked it can do this.  So, my question:  is there a way to repair the nut or do I need to replace it?  Is that something I can do myself?

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Leave it where it is now and forget about it.  I had that problem and my banjo guru popped the 5th string off the nut and let it ride on the fret just like you did.  Everything is fine now.  I don't know why they have a slotted nut for the 5th string.  All it does it raise the string up so it can go sharp when you capo.

gary schattl - Posted - 02/08/2012:  20:00:24

try a piece of dental floss under the string and see if it goes away.

MOUNTAIN GOAT - Posted - 02/08/2012:  21:07:45

I just filed mine down until the string was on the fret and no buzz. It took about 10 minutes

RG - Posted - 02/08/2012:  21:34:21

If you're playing CH, nice to have the string even with the others rather than resting the fret as most BG'ers prefer...replacing a 5th string pip is about the easiest repair on a banjo, pull or drill it out, replace and cut another slot for the string...

firstqualitymusic.com/p_166/Nu...eter.aspx

SReynolds - Posted - 02/09/2012:  04:46:25

quote:

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Originally posted by MOUNTAIN GOAT

I just filed mine down until the string was on the fret and no buzz. It took about 10 minutes

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 I don't believe I have seen a 5th string quite that high, but don't go 'round looking at them. My banjos have a much, much lower 5th string, though I cannot verify if they both touch the 5th fret. They are very close to it if not resting on top the fret.

mommythrice - Posted - 02/09/2012:  05:23:18

A little piece of paper in their did the trick.  I really want it high for claw hammer.

banjered - Posted - 02/09/2012:  07:59:39

The barrel where you put the string through is kind of hiding behind the tuner knob but it looks closer to pointing straight upward (perpendicular to the fret board) rather than more tilted downward and toward 10:30/11 o:clock thereby reducing the angle from the pip to the barrel which reduces pressure of the string upon the pip as it passes through the pip allowing/causing the string to vibrate/slide around in the pip slot (which also may be too wide) causing the weird noise. Compare your banjo to other banjos in this regard to see if it is different.  You could replace the fifth string but make sure you have enough string left such that the final wrap is further away from the fifth string pip causing more downward pressure at the pip and maybe eliminating the noise. Banjered