RV6 - Posted - 10/18/2013:  07:18:57

I converted my Reiter Buckbee to nylon strings using a no knot tailpiece.  With steel strings on the banjo, there was enough pressure on the bridge to get some head deflection so a dime or quarter (can't remember which right now) would fit under a 10" straight edge.  With the Aquila reds or Sands medium nylons I tried, no coin will fit under the straight edge and the "J" hook nuts are finger tight.  I thought the nuts were loose enough, they might vibrate completely loose.  In all my searching of BHO, I didn't come across this phenomena.

I thought that some pressure on the bridge would be desirable for energy transfer to the head so I installed a homemade wood tailpiece and a quarter will fit under the straight edge.  To me, the banjo sounds  better with the wood tailpiece.

I really like the Chris Sands nylons and have them on all three of my banjos, now.

Comments?

Bob

dculgan - Posted - 10/18/2013:  11:52:22

I had the same issues with low pressure from nylon strings, a know-knot tailpiece, and a tension hoop that sat up a little high. I switched to a Kershner but your tailpiece accomplished the same thing. I don't like a set-up with too little pressure on the bridge and I would think your banjo would sound better set up the way you have it now.

dfwest - Posted - 10/18/2013:  16:00:42

Interesting solution. I also prefer Sands strings over the other nylons strings I've tried. I have a set on my Tu-Ba-Phone/Wyatt Fawley conversion and I might put them on some of my other banjos. I use a Kershner TP, but I'm sure yours works great, too. I also made a bridge from one of those paint stirring sticks they give away at Ace Hardware - it's super light and really seems to transfer the vibrations to the head. I'm really happy with this combination.

Dave

retread - Posted - 10/19/2013:  03:53:38

There are bigger and better pics of the walnut tailpiece Bob made on his page. Very nice, I think I'm going to try one myself!

trapdoor2 - Posted - 10/19/2013:  07:52:41

I like that tailpiece, Bob. Nice work!

I'm one of those that prefer minimal pressure on my bridge (and a very lightweight bridge for nylon/nylgut/gut). No-Knot or free-hanging wooden tailpieces do it for me. Heck, I've lost all the adjuster screws out of my BG style tailpieces...I leave 'em backed off and eventually they drop out. I guess a little Loctite could have saved 'em.

I played Sands strings for quite a few years. Then I tried gut and wasn't all that happy with the short life-span...but preferred the sound. Nylgut captured the sound, they're just a smidge softer than the Sands strings under my fingers but I got used to that quickly. The RED set of Nylguts seems harder under the fingers yet still capture that gut sound I like. I had to ditch the RED 4th string though, too rubbery for me. I replaced it with a "Weaver 4th" from Clifford Essex Music and I think it makes a perfect Classic fingerstyle set.

I have one banjo set up for nylon clawhammer and I like the Sands heavies best on it.

Clifford Essex Music sells a really nice set of guts now. They're pricey @ over $27 per set (plus shipping from the UK) but they're the best I've found for Classic fingerstyle...and so far, they've been on one banjo for over a year (not my #1 player though).