mwc9725e - Posted - 10/24/2013:  10:40:47

I Love the sound and playability of fishing line strings, but -- they just don't want to stay in tune. I have therm on an old banjo, but the tuners are relatively new. These particular strings have been on the banjo for a couple of years, plenty of time to stretch. It may be the tuners, it seems to be just two of the strings that are chronically out of tune. How would I easily check to see if it's the strings or the tuners, and does anyone else have this problem with fishing line for strings?

cbcarlisle - Posted - 10/24/2013:  11:52:07

I suspect it's the same reason MacGyver didn't work for IBM. Making do with the resources at hand doesn't necessarily mean that's the best solution.

martinsindian - Posted - 10/24/2013:  12:37:27

Try a set of real polymer strings , Aquila / nylgut / ect ... you'll know in a couple of weeks if it's the strings or the tuners ...

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 10/24/2013:  13:28:42

I suspect that, like any other extruded monofiliment, fishing line is going to age, particularly when it is subjected to constant stretching forces. Nothing is really forever, and 2 years from fiddycent worth of weedwacker string strikes me as a real bargain. 

Although, Jacklyn's current set of Chris Sands nylon strings is probably 3 or 4 years old now, and tune up jes'fine, I can't say that is any indication of what others would experience. Jackie's a long scale banjo (27 inch) and I rarely play her these days, preferring my tenor scale Woodchuck Special.

If it is tying a bowline knot that keeps you from changing strings, you could take a tip from me. I make a square knot near the end of the string, then do a single hitch around the tailpiece post. This is sort of like a classical guitar tie-off, only instead of the string being held by friction, the knot serves to keep the slippery nylon single hitch from coming apart.

I've acquired a real No-Knot tailpiece (actual brass!) and plan to install it on Jackie when I next change strings. Right now she has an ugly modern No-Knot, which cannot be used as a No-Knot with nylon strings because the burrs in the slots will cut nylon strings like soft butter. I was going to put a Rickard tailpiece on it, but now I guess I'll use that on my Ramsey - if I didn't already put a Rickard on it. 

Woodchuck Special #1 was built with a Rickard TP in mind. Woodchuck special Number 2 will have a Whyte Laydie tonering so I might eventually put a Kershner on it. I plan to see how it works out without any down pressure first.

Edited by - oldwoodchuckb on 10/24/2013 13:30:02

C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 10/24/2013:  13:54:39

Someone told me that 2 x 20, 30, 40 and 50lb breaking strain were the correct sizes for banjo strings.

Is that right?

shannonhearne - Posted - 10/24/2013:  14:32:07

Ditto with Oldwoodchuckb (Tony).

If you like the sound and the feel of nylon monofilament strings you can't beat Chris Sands Nylon Strings.

You can get them on-line from Elderly.

I have also found them to be very durable, as opposed to Nylgut strings which I have found to be a pain in the a##.

-shannon

B0bIII - Posted - 10/24/2013:  14:38:55

I use trilene big game 30#, 40#, 60#, 100#, and either 30 or 40 for the fifth string. I think the diameter of the line is more important than the poundage. I tried to match it with a no wound aquila nylgut set I once saw. I would still rather have a wound 4th though.

Also fishing line is very slippery stuff. If the knots at the tailpiece are slipping it's easy to tell because the knot will pull out, but they will happily keep slipping on a tuning peg for a while. I tie it to the peg like you would for a nylon guitar string, but give it an extra loop or two around. That seems to work.

When mine goes out of tune it usually happens uniformly across the strings(humidity/temperature related).

TX2AK - Posted - 10/25/2013:  04:27:09

I bet it's either your knot or tuners. Mono should stretch out within a few days. Go to orvis.com "animated knots" and try the perfection loop for the end of the strings. It's a great knot for tying your own fly fishing leader or strings. Also, when you're ready for an upgrade, try florocarbon fishing line - it's more expensive, but higher tension, smaller diameter, and lasts longer. I use 12, 20, 30, 40, 12 lb P-Line, but doubt the brand makes a difference. Love it. Also try running the line through some sandpaper 100-300 grit once or twice to give it some bite. 

GSCarson - Posted - 10/25/2013:  06:48:04

I agree with TX2AK, florocarbon is the way to go when using fishing line.  I use salt***er leader material and much prefer it to regular nylon for tone, durability and stretch, etc.  Glenn C

mwc9725e - Posted - 10/25/2013:  06:54:44

quote:

---

Originally posted by TX2AK

 

I bet it's either your knot or tuners. Mono should stretch out within a few days. Go to orvis.com "animated knots" and try the perfection loop for the end of the strings. It's a great knot for tying your own fly fishing leader or strings. Also, when you're ready for an upgrade, try florocarbon fishing line - it's more expensive, but higher tension, smaller diameter, and lasts longer. I use 12, 20, 30, 40, 12 lb P-Line, but doubt the brand makes a difference. Love it. Also try running the line through some sandpaper 100-300 grit once or twice to give it some bite. 

 

---

Thanks for the suggestions. After reading your comments, and doing a little thinking, it finally occurred to me that something's strange, when only two of the strings seem to "stretch", and it's the same two strings over and over. I adjusted the tightness of the tuners for those two strings and the problem went away. Apparently, my common sense has taken a nose dive, or I might have figured this out much earlier. Well, my brain's 82 years old, so your help was apparently very necessary. Thanks again.

john bange - Posted - 10/25/2013:  07:40:23

It could be the knot, the tuner, or even the nut slot. My fishing line does not need anymore tuning than my nylon string guitar.
30,50,60, and 40# and a nylgut 4th from Aquilla on my Vega.

BobJJ - Posted - 10/26/2013:  17:07:05

I  use #30 #40 #60 #80 #30 fluorocarbon leader (Seaguar  and Hi Seas brands). My strings seem to stay in tune just fine.

I have used Nylgut strings.  They are nice strings, but I prefer fluorocarbon strings. 

Fluorocarbon strings sound brighter, stay in tune better and last much longer.

Bob

C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 10/26/2013:  17:39:58

Thank you Bob111 for your help and guidance. Sorry to be slow in answering but somehow I was not "subscribed" to this topic.

C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 10/26/2013:  17:43:20

Thanks TX2AK, GSCarson John Bange and Bobjj for all your helpful ideas and suggestions.

I'll do a bit of experimenting and see how it goes.

C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 10/26/2013:  17:45:43

BobJJ, I was at a garage sale yesterday and saw a jigsaw puzzle with your avatar pic as the subject.

Your pic always reminds me of two people I knew, except they seemed a little less joyful.