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Montanarick - Posted - 04/13/2013: 07:54:29
When I first started playing my Geo Dobson with nylon strings I felt there was no volume at all....so I started "over-playing" to try and achieve the volume I was used to with steel. Then I recorded my first video for the the Hangout and couldn't believe how the volume was actually projecting out from the banjo versus what I was hearing behind it. Now I play much "softer" and I think the results are better. Remember, I'm working off of about two weeks of fretless/nylon experience here....Regards, Rick
tunemakers - Posted - 04/13/2013: 12:15:48
Just strung up my Frankenstein fretless banjo for the first time with nylgut strings. It's got a skin head and it is much softer sounding than my Vega. What I lost in volume, I made up for in coolness. Who knew fretless banjo could be so much fun....I suspect is will be useless in a jam but it sure sounds good in my living room. It does hold up to my wife's guitar okay so maybe it won't be so bad in a small jam. Fretless is an amazing experience!
Joel Hooks - Posted - 04/13/2013: 14:41:50
Rick, I looked back at your discussion about restoring and checked out your banjo.
Looks like you are using the bridge style designed as a response to the effects of wire strings. Those modern capped bridges degrade nylon tone quite a bit.
The bridge supplied with your banjo would look like the attached wood cut...
Maple was the standard factory bridge of the era, but if you really want to shake the floorboards use soft pine or bass wood. Don't make it overly thick-- 1/8 to 3/16 at the feet, 1/16 at the top.
Your bridge is placed in the "dead spot" of your rim. Again, this is good for wire strings, but for nylon move it to about 1/3 from the tailpiece edge of the rim. This will also firm up the strings and make them sing.
Montanarick - Posted - 04/13/2013: 14:55:22
quote:Thanks Joel......I'm going to start working on a new bridge. Rick
Originally posted by Joel Hooks
Rick, I looked back at your discussion about restoring and checked out your banjo.
Looks like you are using the bridge style designed as a response to the effects of wire strings. Those modern capped bridges degrade nylon tone quite a bit.
The bridge supplied with your banjo would look like the attached wood cut...
Maple was the standard factory bridge of the era, but if you really want to shake the floorboards use soft pine or bass wood. Don't make it overly thick-- 1/8 to 3/16 at the feet, 1/16 at the top.
Your bridge is placed in the "dead spot" of your rim. Again, this is good for wire strings, but for nylon move it to about 1/3 from the tailpiece edge of the rim. This will also firm up the strings and make them sing.
Montanarick - Posted - 04/13/2013: 15:48:51
Joel....I made this bridge, styled after your picture. I made it out of an ACE paint stick because the wood is soft. I also have maple and birch that I can experiment with. The sound is louder and deeper.....big improvement....I cut my string slots a little deep but I'll fix that on the next one.....Thanks again for the advice.....Rick
Edited by - Montanarick on 04/13/2013 15:51:12
Joel Hooks - Posted - 04/13/2013: 17:18:55
Looks good!
banjered - Posted - 04/14/2013: 08:07:02
Thanks Montana Rick! I was wondering where to get the right wood to fashion a bridge. Maybe window shims might woork too. I was wondering how you got the taper from bass to top but you probably used a wood file before cutting several samples off of one schtick?
We'll see how it all goes - Banjered
Montanarick - Posted - 04/14/2013: 08:44:09
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:banjered....for this one I put a piece of self-adhesive sandpaper on my work table and held the bridge at an angle to get the taper. Rick
Originally posted by banjered
Thanks Montana Rick! I was wondering where to get the right wood to fashion a bridge. Maybe window shims might woork too. I was wondering how you got the taper from bass to top but you probably used a wood file before cutting several samples off of one schtick?
We'll see how it all goes - Banjered
Joel Hooks - Posted - 04/14/2013: 09:28:38
Yes sandpaper, except you can even just lay the paper on a flat surface. There is a whole lot of malarkey surrounding bridges with the banjo community.
The variety of bridge styles pre wire strings was endless. Most used only two supports or "feet." For inspiration I like to search google patents, but the old tried and true above style has always worked the best.
I started to offer Stewart style bridges for sale when the random emails started to roll in. "Hi, can you make the bridge __ weight?" "Hi are all your bridges the same weight, please provide a list of weights that you offer..." "Hi, do you use sinker wood?" "Hi, can you make my bridge exactly 17/32 to the bottom of the string notches?"
I decided that @ $15 each (or +/- $5 an hour after all was said and done, packed and shipped) it was not worth the trouble.
Rick, you can also find basswood in thin sheets at hobby shops like Michales or Hobby lobby. Basswood makes fantastic nylon string bridges.
boondocker53 - Posted - 04/14/2013: 11:51:50
When I converted my old Pirles 5 string aluminum pot 5 string to nylon, I had Bart Veerman make a custom "mystery wood" bridge for me. The neck on this banjo is narrower than most, so I needed a custom narrower string spacing, and Bart did a great job!
Philipm - Posted - 04/15/2013: 05:25:46
I really like the paint stick bridge! What's the best way to cut the string notches?
Montanarick - Posted - 04/15/2013: 07:15:34
quote:Philipm.....That's my biggest problem right now....I'm using a little hobby saw but it cuts the notches all the same. I need to find saws or files that match the string diameter for each string....Rick
Originally posted by Philipm
I really like the paint stick bridge! What's the best way to cut the string notches?
Bart McNeil - Posted - 04/16/2013: 06:49:21
Another option, which you may not wish to take, is to use a plastic head instead of skin. On my plectum I use a plastic (Mylar) head with nylgut strings and it offers me greater volume than on my tenor banjo with skin head and nylgut strings.
I use nylgut because I like the tone and enjoy the quieter aspect of it as opposed to steel strings. Since I do the great majority of my playing at home I find nylgut with either Mylar or skin head quite suitable.
Montanarick - Posted - 04/16/2013: 07:54:39
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quote
:Thanks Bart.....I have some nylguts on order and I love experimenting with different heads. I'm also anxious to try one of Jbalch's heads on my Vega Little Wonder. Rick
Originally posted by Bart McNeil
Another option, which you may not wish to take, is to use a plastic head instead of skin. On my plectum I use a plastic (Mylar) head with nylgut strings and it offers me greater volume than on my tenor banjo with skin head and nylgut strings.
I use nylgut because I like the tone and enjoy the quieter aspect of it as opposed to steel strings. Since I do the great majority of my playing at home I find nylgut with either Mylar or skin head quite suitable.
boondocker53 - Posted - 04/16/2013: 09:08:08
Rick,
I use a little tapered needle file that I got at Sears in a set. Harbor Freight also has sets of small files.
Another reason I let BanjoBart make the bridge for my nylon string banjo is that he customizes the string slots for each gauge string.
Still, I'd like to experiment with a lower height bridge, so I'll have to try the paint stick.
Duane
quote
:
Originally posted by Montanarick
quote:Philipm.....That's my biggest problem right now....I'm using a little hobby saw but it cuts the notches all the same. I need to find saws or files that match the string diameter for each string....Rick
Originally posted by Philipm
I really like the paint stick bridge! What's the best way to cut the string notches?
Edited by - boondocker53 on 04/16/2013 09:14:53
boondocker53 - Posted - 04/16/2013: 09:18:15
<sigh> "5 string aluminum pot 5 string"... I've got to proof read my posts more closely..
quote:
Originally posted by boondocker53
When I converted my old Pirles 5 string aluminum pot 5 string to nylon, I had Bart Veerman make a custom "mystery wood" bridge for me. The neck on this banjo is narrower than most, so I needed a custom narrower string spacing, and Bart did a great job!
Montanarick - Posted - 04/16/2013: 09:50:16
quote:Thanks Duane....I'll check Harbor Freight.....I've done business with Bart....he is great to deal with and his bridges are top quality.....Rick
Originally posted by boondocker53
Rick,
I use a little tapered needle file that I got at Sears in a set. Harbor Freight also has sets of small files.
Another reason I let BanjoBart make the bridge for my nylon string banjo is that he customizes the string slots for each gauge string.
Still, I'd like to experiment with a lower height bridge, so I'll have to try the paint stick.
Duane
quote
:
Originally posted by Montanarick
quote:Philipm.....That's my biggest problem right now....I'm using a little hobby saw but it cuts the notches all the same. I need to find saws or files that match the string diameter for each string....Rick
Originally posted by Philipm
I really like the paint stick bridge! What's the best way to cut the string notches?
DEmery - Posted - 04/16/2013: 13:40:38
Montanarick that bridge you built looks alot like the bridge on my SSS Thoroughbred. I have had other bridges on it but this one seems to perform better than anything to date. That along with a Stern head from John Balch and the nylgut strings really pop. David E.
Montanarick - Posted - 04/16/2013: 13:47:36
quote:DEmery....I really like your tailpiece.....my banjo was missing it's original when I got it.....I'm going to try a no-knot and I'm looking forward to trying the nylguts. I used a screw for my fifth string pip and I need to file it down or try to install a bone pip because the fifth string is breaking in that area. Rick
Originally posted by DEmery
Montanarick that bridge you built looks alot like the bridge on my SSS Thoroughbred. I have had other bridges on it but this one seems to perform better than anything to date. That along with a Stern head from John Balch and the nylgut strings really pop. David E.
DEmery - Posted - 04/16/2013: 18:09:24
Montanarick thanks. I got this banjo some years ago while living in New York from Bernunzio. It is really a clean example of a Thoroughbred and it had a no knot at the time. I traded it to John Balch and in a few years he traded it back on a deal. While John owned the banjo; he purchased an old Stewart simply to get the tail piece and flipped that banjo after placing the rosette tail piece on this Thoroughbred. It is really a great find and the rosette is perfect. David E.
Philipm - Posted - 04/19/2013: 12:42:31
Just installed my 1/8" Super Duper Hobby Lobby Basswood Bridge Prototype (Mk. 1). Wow! What a big difference! I always learn such great stuff on this site. Thanks everybody.
