TX2AK - Posted - 05/17/2012:  00:46:42

I have searched and found similar threads, but not exactly what I'm wondering.  I know that some folks use nylon/mono fishing line (instead of buying nylgut) for strings, and know some harp makers use florocarbon.  I'm wondering if anyone out there has tried florocarbon for banjo strings.  I know RD Lunceford posted in one of those threads that it seemed like folks ought to just buy nylguts if that's what they want - a point well taken, but I don't have a shop that sells them, so would have order; and I am almost as avid a fisherman as banjo hack, so I have loads of fishing line around.

I've got a variety of mono and florocarbon fishing line in lb test from 5-60.  Nylguts are made of nylon (obviously), which mono is.  It strikes me that floro might be a better option:  it's way higher tension and lower stretch, more abrasion resistent, and seems louder - while still sounding a lot mellower than steel.  The only experiment I've tried so far is to put mono on strings 1-4 and floro on the 5th.  The result was a lot more volume and pop on the fifth, which is not typical of my playing with steel strings, unless I'm doing it on purpose.  I ran all of the strings through some 150 grit sandpaper, which I think was a good deal - better grab and feel (a tip I got on one of those archived threads).

Wondering what other folks experience has been. 

GSCarson - Posted - 05/17/2012:  06:13:33

Yes, I've found fluorocarbon to make a better string for the reasons you mention, it does make a difference and I know a few others have experienced that as well.  I've used it for years as fly fishing tippet, and it sure improved things there too...

I received a gift certificate to Bass Pro a few years ago as a Christmas gift and ended up buying a whole bunch of salt water fluorocarbon leader material, can't remember the exact weights but I went as high as I could.  It is expensive, and it'll take a while to make it pay off based on my experience unless you share the cost with others.  I have one low tuned banjo with a mix of nylgut minstrel strings shifted over from their intended location and fluorocarbon and I've beat the tar out of that thing for almost five years and only changed two strings.  I haven't had much time to experiment for a while but I have a box full of spools and intend to spend a day sorting it out on two banjos I want to try it on. 

Glenn C.

R Buck - Posted - 05/17/2012:  06:23:32

I have not used fishing line but the Sands Classic string I have on a couple of banjos never seem to wear out.  Caveat I don't play them all that much either but I can not play them and they still sound good as opposed to steel strings which degrade more rapidly when ignored.

Will1717 - Posted - 05/17/2012:  06:24:22

Glen:

If you use fluorocarbon fishing line for banjo strings do you go by the pounds test, or mic the strings to select which strings to use? I have spools of fishing line sitting in a drawer that I used when I tied my own tippets. Any recommendations as to what works per string? We recently built a couple of banjos using Nylguts and got hooked on the sound. Possibly I can start using up all the tippet material that I've collected from my fly fishing days.

Bill Rickard 

TX2AK - Posted - 05/17/2012:  08:35:08

I am an obsessive fly fisherman too, which is why have a bunch of this stuff. One of the archived threads I saw recommended for mono: 20 (1&5), 30, 40, 50 lb or to use a classical guitar wound string for the fourth. You think the same set up for floro?

csbdr - Posted - 05/17/2012:  10:01:28

I've used it with good results on an old Supertone with a skin head and it sounds awesome! I do use a would 4th.