strumn1 - Posted - 02/25/2012:  12:19:46

Is it advisable to run a nylgut string under a railroad spike?  I know they are susceptible to sharp edges, and wondered if the spike was asking for trouble.

Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 02/25/2012:  12:23:14

I wouldn't do it, myself, for exactly the reason you suggest.

But since I've never tried it, I speak with no authority on the matter.

Anyone out there who's tried this? Does it work?

Jason Wilkerson - Posted - 02/25/2012:  12:28:52

no.  Won't fit under the spike (at least not mine)

f#dead - Posted - 02/25/2012:  12:40:18

I've been spiking mine at the 7th for about the last year.  No problems so far.  

ZEPP - Posted - 02/25/2012:  12:55:44

quote:

---

Originally posted by f#dead

I've been spiking mine at the 7th for about the last year.  No problems so far.  

---

Good to know, I've been afraid to try.  I've been using an Earl's Suspender Capo on my Nylgut-strung banjos.

Cheers,

ZEPP

hoverflytheo - Posted - 02/25/2012:  12:56:09

They might well be fine. I've recently built a fretless banjo strung with Nylgut Minstrel strings. I was too eager get the banjo playing to spend time making a 5th string pip, so I just used a railroad spike which I had lying around for the nut.

It seems fine so far, though perhaps it would be a different story with Nylgut Classical tuned up to G (I'm down at dGDF#A.) Mind you, surely anyone using nylgut on an unmodified Deering Goodtime must be alright with the spike...

Edited by - hoverflytheo on 02/25/2012 12:56:41

dbrooks - Posted - 02/25/2012:  13:54:01

I have spikes on two old Bay State banjos with Nylgut strings.  One of the spikes is a special titanium spike that was offered here on the Hangout 5-6 years ago.  I used emery cloth to smooth the spike and have had no problems over the past 8-9 years.  In fact, I smoothed the 5th string nut (a screw on one of the banjos) and the tailpiece.  I prefer the spike to tuning the 5th string up and down since I have had problems breaking strings as a result of frequent retuning.  

David

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 02/25/2012:  14:22:13

I kept breaking my fifth string while tuning it up to A on my 25.5" scale banjo.
No choice but to install aspike at the 7th fret....no problems. Of course the spike
was installed with the Nylguts in mind. Can't say about a spike initially installed for
thinner steel strings.

vandergus - Posted - 02/25/2012:  17:30:06

I have some spikes on my nylgut banjo. One thing I discovered when installing the spikes is that you can't put one on every fret like you might do with steel strings. You have to leave more room under the spike for the thicker nylgut string, which makes it every so slightly higher than the neighboring frets. I was able to spike the 7th and 10th frets but couldn't put one on the 8th without muting the string. Could vary a little depending on your banjo but that was my experience.

strumn1 - Posted - 02/25/2012:  20:17:33

Thanks for the responses.  I have an extra set of classicals I was thinking of putting on my Ramsey which already has spikes.  I pulled the 5th string out of the package to see if it would fit under the spike.  Way too tight.  I would have to pull up the spike some in order for it to fit....then lower it again if I ever went back to steel strings.  So I guess I will have to get one of those 5th string capos if I want to try these.  Shoot...I have trouble trying to keep track of one capo.  

Bufo Bill - Posted - 02/25/2012:  21:03:43

I'm linking this to the Polymer Strings group page, which has more info on Nylgut strings.

BruceB - Posted - 02/25/2012:  23:02:26

I used to do it, after smoothing the spike with a strip of 400 wet or dry sandpaper. Now I just leave that banjo tuned to G, so it's not an issue.

Frailinaway - Posted - 02/26/2012:  08:58:05

As with most other nylgut/metal contact situations, all sharp metal edges on the spikes must be sanded, filed, etc. smooth.  I can't remember what gauge "gapper" I used to set the spikes for the larger strings but I've had no problems.