BobJJ - Posted - 01/07/2013:  11:57:08

This is a great forum.  I have spent hours digging into it.

I am a beginner on banjo and play 3 finger guitar, ukuleles and penny whistle.  I have built 2 guitars and a few ukes.

I have a no-name (probably Harmony) banjo that I bought for $40.  It came with a severely warped neck, a broken and badly repaired head stock. The pot is laminated.  Aluminum tone ring.  Thick head with a thick layer of white paint on the inside.

I straightened out the neck, replaced a few frets and dressed the frets. Took apart glue joints on the ears of the head and re-glued, planed and glued on a headplate. Then I cut the head to a figure 8 shape. I removed the ugly black paint and sunburst finish and used a light stain and shellac finish.  Two of the tuners were junk, so I installed Peghed tuners.  I have a new head on the way.

I strung it with fluorocarbon 30-40-60-80-30.   It plays nice up and down the neck and is loud enough so that I don't get drowned out when I play with my son, who has a resonator banjo with steel strings.

The bridge height is about 3/4"  The neck angle is good.  

My question is:  If I lower the neck and bridge, how will it affect the sound?

Fathand - Posted - 01/07/2013:  12:12:32

It will not affect the sound much if at all. A lower bridge mostly affects playability on a budget banjo.  If the string action is low enough now, leave it.

Bufo Bill - Posted - 01/07/2013:  13:15:52

I agree with the above. I have linked this thread to the Polymer Strings Group page, because I can't ever remember this topic coming up before. You would be welcome to share your opinions and recordings (if you like) or any questions you may have, and that goes for all other readers too.

All the best from Bill. :D

john bange - Posted - 01/07/2013:  14:02:01

my one question is, how many frets has the Harmony banjo got...22, 25?.  If 25, a 3/4 bridge might be about as low as you can go without buzzing.  Buzzing on the frets will be the only thing to stop you from using a lower bridge. john