FrictionTuner - Posted - 04/09/2013:  12:59:16

Hello,

I am going to be building a fretless mountain banjo, hicks style from foxfire 3. I noticed many recommend Aquila Classic Banjo Strings or Aquila Minstrel Banjo Strings.

I noticed Aquila has 2 classic options...1b medium tension and 2b light tension. What is recommended for this style banjo and thoughts on minstrel strings?

Thank You

trapdoor2 - Posted - 04/09/2013:  13:43:23

It would depend on the scale length and the tuning. I use the Minstrel set on my Ashborn, which has a 28" scale and is normally tuned dGDF#A, but sometimes up a whole tone to eAEG#B. They work fine and I like 'em. I usually use the "medium" classic sets on everything else...I just don't like "lights" to begin with (being a ham-handed player).

FrictionTuner - Posted - 04/09/2013:  20:08:58

Thank You Trapdoor2.

It is going to be a 26" scale so I will go with the set for Ham Hands. : )

Rowland - Posted - 04/10/2013:  18:45:25

I just finished a mountain banjo. I used La Bella Nylon strings. $5.95 from Janet Davis. They sound great. I put some construction pics on my home page.

I built mine using some donated scrap African Mahogany. I used some scrap Red oak for the fret board and center strip in neck. Made the pegs out of Maple.

Used a road kill cat for the head. (learned how to skin it from some school girls on you-tube) Finished it with teak oil ( my biggest expense) still under $20.00 !

Muddy Roads - Posted - 04/10/2013:  21:10:05

I've made several of these and have used both Nylon and Nylgut.  Nylguts will give you a fuller sound.

I have mainly used "Standard tension" on my tackhead banjos. I'll never use "light" again. The banjo lost volume and

I feel like they just didn't have a nice full sound as it does with "Standard tension".

hope this helps.

cbcarlisle - Posted - 04/10/2013:  22:18:35

In general, the strings range from [light] La Bella to Nylgut (Classical, Minstrel) to Chris Sands [heavy]. But that doesn't answer the question of which will sound better on Your instrument. I have a score of mountain banjers and most sound best with Nylgut (either Cl. or Min.) but some didn't sing until I used Chris Sands and at least one sounds great with what would otherwise be (floppy) La Bellas. Since, in my 50 year experience, strings on these banjers don't need to be changed, expense shouldn't keep you from trying each one until you find the ones that release its sound. Twenty bucks to find your instrument's soul mate? A bargain at twice the price. (Remember these are not really ensemble instruments so you can tune them to the pitch they respond to best. I doubt if any two of mine are in unison. Who cares what the jam is tuned to? Get a jam banjo for that.)