J-Walk - Posted - 04/01/2013:  16:47:57

Any string recommendations for a low-tuned banjo?  I'm not interested in gut strings, and I'd like to try something other than Nylgut Minstrels.

I'd prefer to go 5 half-steps lower than normal, on a banjo that has a 25.5" scale length. I'd settle for 3 half-steps lower, though.

How low can Chris Sands heavy gauge strings be tuned before they get too floppy?  

Has anyone experimented with custom sets made by buying individual strings?

John Gribble - Posted - 04/01/2013:  17:05:44

Try the Nylgut set John Bowlin uses on his banjos. You can get them directly from him. They are exactly what you want (five frets low, 25" scale).

J-Walk - Posted - 04/01/2013:  17:16:25

Ha! Earlier today I sent an email to John Bowlin asking if his custom set is still available. Haven't heard back from him, so this post was just a backup, seeking alternatives.

These strings are for my J. Mogi 13" fretted. I bought it second hand, and it was strung with Nylguts. They sounded great until the 4th string broke (that's never happened before!). So now I'm wondering about alternatives.

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 04/01/2013:  18:49:00

I use Chris Sands Classic Banjo Heavies on a 27 inch scale banjo and tune 3 frets low (E = G) but I'm pretty sure they could go lower. Since I spend most of my time on steel strings I like a bit of bite to the nylons

John Gribble - Posted - 04/01/2013:  19:53:53

John doesn't always reply to emails quickly, but I'm sure he'll be in touch.

I don't know what he is using now, but when he made made my banjo (2008), he used Augustine Red guitar A strings for the 4th. All the others were Nylgut. I still have the original set on mine, 4th string included. 

MrManners - Posted - 04/01/2013:  20:10:21

you are going down to a d on the third up to an fsharp second then an a on one ,that is real close to the 4th up to second in g tuning,i would try out a 28 or 30 on the fourth and move the fourth to third,third to second etc. you may find you want to lighten the guages up from that ,been low tuning for years ,finally built a long scale neck ,it helps i think

J-Walk - Posted - 04/01/2013:  20:59:07

John Bowlin replied, and I'm going to try a set of his custom Nylguts. They sound great on my 1865, and I suspect they'll sound great on my J. Mogi.

See: banjohangout.org/group/bowlin1...blog/2372

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 04/01/2013:  23:23:30

I seem to remember that you were part of the Bowlin club!

Dan Gellert - Posted - 04/03/2013:  11:18:40

Back when the only non-metal banjo strings you could get were those incredibly light LaBellas, I used regular classical guitar strings on my short-scaled Dobson (1st through 4th and another 1st) tuned down to "Briggs pitch" (5 frets below standard), and they worked pretty well.