tunemakers - Posted - 07/06/2012:  10:09:50

Actually a question about the fourth string in a nylagut set. The ones I have been ordering come with a metal wound fourth string which due to the light weight materials it's made from, tends to break after a very short period of time.

What do I need to order if I want a set of nylagut strings that has a nylon fourth string instead of a metal wound one. I would by it as a single string if I had any clue as to the gage and or material to ask for. Or the name of the set that contains the fat nylon fourth string.

I've been dealing with "just strings" on the internet and they had no answer although I believe they would have the product if I knew what to ask for.

    I've been ordering wound classical guitar fourth guitar string singles and it works but they don't last a whole lot longer with the sever tuning I do. Anyone have thoughts on a solution?

Frosty Morn - Posted - 07/06/2012:  10:18:25

You can buy a set with the "correct" fourth string from John Bernunzio right here: bernunzio.com/product/aquila-a...ng-banjo/

No financial interest, just a happy customer.

trapdoor2 - Posted - 07/06/2012:  10:44:06

As I recall, the solid bass string in the Nylgut set is a 1.0 (I think they're gauged in millimeters). Mimmo sent me a 1.06 and a 1.0, the 1.06 was too fat but the 1.0 worked quite well. However, I didn't like the feel of the fat string so I went back to the std. wound ones.

Bernunzio's sells singles of the wound 4th. I tend to wear them out at twice the rate of the set, so I occasionally buy a 10-pack of singles. This last set seems to have worn out quite rapidly though. I put them on in late April. I usually get 6mo out of a set.

Mike Moss - Posted - 07/06/2012:  10:45:32

Just about any nylon filament wound 0.28 or 0.30 string will do.

TX2AK - Posted - 07/07/2012:  09:44:42

Yep, 40-60lb standard fishing line. Probably 60 if you're buying it. But if you have 40 or 50, it will work.

raybob - Posted - 07/07/2012:  10:11:23

You could try a bronze or phosphor bronze string of a similar gauge. I've done this and even tied the string on the tailpiece when it didn't have a loop end (guitar string). Works good and lasts a long time. I've worn out the windings on the Nylgut Classic 4th strings long before the rest of the set is ready to be replaced.  A nylon replacement would work well too

hoverflytheo - Posted - 07/07/2012:  10:22:24

I would use a classical guitar string. Probably light tension if you're tuning up to standard, because the banjo is a few inches longer than the classical guitar.

The nylgut fourth string is OK, but it doesn't have that crunch that a wound string has. I like nylon strings to sound bright on the top and crunchy on the bottom, like steel, but if I wanted "plunk" I might like the more consistent feel of the nylgut 4th.

You could try the set from Bernuzio, since if you don't like the nylgut 4th, you've still got the other 4 strings from the set as spares.

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 07/07/2012:  15:58:57

have you tried Chris Sands Classical Banjo Strings? I use the Heavies for a banjo I keep tuned 3 frets low (eBEG#B) but I used the Mediums when I tuned it to concert pitch. I find them much better than Nylgut in sound and lasting quality. After about a year the wound string has usually lost its growl and I change the whole set. I'm not really sure I couldn't just change the 4th string a couple times though.

wheredidmattgo - Posted - 07/07/2012:  21:30:16

One of my aquila nylgut banjo strings is replaced with a nylon guitar string right now, seems to work fine for me.

bublnsqueak - Posted - 07/07/2012:  23:13:48

My fourth on the nylgut banjo is actually a metal fourth I had lying around.

I think it adds a little sustain in the lower notes - I seem to have settled into it.

Paul

john bange - Posted - 07/08/2012:  06:56:45

Bernunzio lists an Aquilla set with all nylon strings. 

JimHand - Posted - 07/08/2012:  10:01:31

I am using the all nylon set on my Gold Tone WL-250. Tuned to double C I have a small bit of a buzz that me nor my set up guy can not find the reason for, BUT......other than that, I love them.

tunemakers - Posted - 07/08/2012:  16:53:54

Thanks folks, I'm way ahead of where I was before I asked the question. But the answers did raise some new questions that I have never thought about.
The only other kind of nylon or plasticee type of strings I ever tried other than the Aquila Nylagut brand was a set of La Bella nylon strings. The La Bella's were of a material that I would have likened to "fishing monofiliment" and I found that to be totally unacceptable in terms of both tone and play-ability for my banjo and playing style (such as it is).
I've never used actual gut strings but I think that the material the Aquila strings are made from might be closer to gut than fishing line. At any rate the difference to me is huge, so my question is this: The Chris Sand strings, are they more like fishing line or the material Aquila uses?
I've been using classic guitar fourth strings and they are okay but I need to know, if possible, the gauge that Aquila uses in it's Classical banjo sets. This is still the mystery for me.....

raybob - Posted - 07/08/2012:  17:29:14

In Elderly's ad for them they say the 4th is "roughly" between 0.245-0.250 inches

elderly.com/accessories/items/ANGB.htm

Bernunzio's says the 4th in the all Nylgut Classical set is 0.39 inches

bernunzio.com/product/aquila-a...ng-banjo/

Chris Sands gauges from Elderly;

bernunzio.com/product/aquila-a...ng-banjo/

I've been playing Chris Sands mediums since I changed my Reiter A scale over to nylons. Personally I like them better than Nylguts. But someday I'm going to switch again to a string with more tension, like one of the Savarez strings. I like a little harder feel to the string. To my fingers the Sands have a harder feel than the Nylguts, so I'm going to keep them on for awhile. I should joint the 'polymer string' group to learn more.

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 07/08/2012:  23:54:25

The Sands strings are straight nylon just like classical guitar strings. Nylgut is a similar polymer.

Mike Moss - Posted - 07/09/2012:  02:26:30

quote:

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Originally posted by oldwoodchuckb

The Sands strings are straight nylon just like classical guitar strings. Nylgut is a similar polymer.

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They're ground nylon, which allows you to grip them with bare fingertips unlike clear classical guitar strings which are slippery and require nails. I find that the ground nylon adds a lot of volume and tone vs. clear nylons.

Hunter Robertson - Posted - 07/09/2012:  03:31:59

quote:

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Originally posted by Mike Moss

quote:

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Originally posted by oldwoodchuckb

The Sands strings are straight nylon just like classical guitar strings. Nylgut is a similar polymer.

---

 

They're ground nylon, which allows you to grip them with bare fingertips unlike clear classical guitar strings which are slippery and require nails. I find that the ground nylon adds a lot of volume and tone vs. clear nylons.

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I sand my Nylgut/nylon strings with 600 or 1000 grit sandpaper (along the length) to give them more purchase.

Hunter

john bange - Posted - 07/09/2012:  08:01:01

I have had good luck with durability with the single Labella 4th wound string from the #17 set.  These can be ordered from Bernunzio.  It seems just as heavy as the Aquilla while the LaBella nylons are too floppy for me