Clockwork John - Posted - 03/25/2014:  22:42:36

As some of you know, I built/assembled a banjo from parts recently. A Conqueror neck from a bottlecap. A second hand rim of unknown make. A Helix tone ring. And some of you may remember I was having some trouble getting the banjo sounding good. It was too loud and too punchy for my taste and my playing style. I finally solved that issue. Nylon strings, a home made two foot black walnut bridge, a no knot tailpiece, and a vintage hide head off of a Kay tenor I had sitting around are the perfect combo for this banjo. It's loud- louder than I wanted, but it sounds great. Beefy, growly lows. Crisp, clean highs. Balanced tone and volume across the neck and up and down the fretboard. Enough, but not too much sustain for my playing style. Long story short, I love this banjo.

So here's the problem... not two hours after getting this banjo dialed in, a string broke. I have a set of steel strings I can put on it, but it sounds so dang good with the nylon... am I gonna be disappointed with the sound if I throw the steels on there while I look for the second set of nylon strings I have misplaced somewhere around the house, and/or order, then wait for, another set?

Right now, I don't just want to play banjo... I want to play THIS banjo. I have a cheap Gretsch I can play, but it doesn't sound or feel as good...

What would you guys do in this situation? Steel strings and take my chances on the sound, or wait for another set of nylons and get the sound I've come to love?

bornold - Posted - 03/26/2014:  05:36:23

Why would you waist a almost complete set of nylons? I'd just wait.

Mike Moss - Posted - 03/26/2014:  05:42:29

Where did the string break? You might need to widen the slots at the nut, which can squeeze and ultimately break nylon strings if they're too narrow.

R Buck - Posted - 03/26/2014:  06:03:23

I use Sands Classic Hards on a couple of banjos.  Make sure there are no burrs at contact places.  One of the loudest banjos I ever heard had nylon stirng on it.  The fellow playing it played for Morris dancers in a group from England.

LWC - Posted - 03/26/2014:  06:14:17

If you used one of the cheap no knot tail Pieces it's very common for them to have rough spots that cut strings.

Clockwork John - Posted - 03/26/2014:  06:30:46

The string broke between the tailpiece and the bridge. Apparently the Waverly tailpiece I had on before the no knot put enough of a kink in the 3rd string that it created a weak spot.

I did use a cheap no knot, but I filed down any burrs and sharp edges it had before it went anywhere near my banjo.

BlowingRockNC - Posted - 03/26/2014:  06:55:28

I would stick with what you like the most. I had a nylon break about a week after I put an entire new set on. It took a while for the strings to settle down. Anyway, I put a new one on to replace the broken one, and the strings have lasted about 6 months now. Even if the replacement or a different one breaks for you, I would search out where it broke and solve the problem if it is coming from a part of your banjo. If it just broke in the middle somewhere, then you're just having bad luck or tuning too tightly. This is a problem for which there is a solution that will allow you to stick with nylon if that's your choice. Good luck.

banjo bill-e - Posted - 03/26/2014:  07:36:13

Strings are fairly cheap so that in itself is no big deal, but it's usually more than just changing strings. You will probably need to change some of your setup to optimize either nylon or steel and that takes a bit more time and trouble. Your call.

And order extra strings while you're at it! 

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 03/26/2014:  08:43:18

Just Strings has individual nylon strings. Replace the one that broke from your other set then put the new string with an individual string of the right type.

You don't mention the brand but either Just Strings or Elderly Instruments should have the exact same strings - if you are in the US.

You can also find Augustine Guitar Strings at just about every music store in the country. I used Blue Card and Black Card Augustines for decades, then after one disastrous set of Nylguts settled on Chris Sands Classic Banjo Strings. Instead of getting thicker the higher tension strings are made from harder nylon. They are thin enough to tie easily and literally last for years!

Clockwork John - Posted - 03/26/2014:  22:12:48

Well, you guys convinced me. I love this banjo strung with nylon, so I'm going to keep nylon on it. When I get paid on Monday, I'll order a couple sets of strings. And this time I'll toss them in one of my banjo cases so I can find them when I need them. In the meantime, I'll see if I can find the set that I have around here somewhere.

I'm gonna miss playing that banjo while I'm waiting for new strings, but at least I have another one to play... even if it doesn't sound as good or feel as good in my hands.

Clockwork John - Posted - 03/27/2014:  16:11:24

Spent the early afternoon searching my house for those strings, and I found them. Along with a set of mandolin strings and several songbooks I had misplaced and forgotten I had. All in all, a productive afternoon.

I'll be ordering two more sets of strings on payday so I don't find myself in this situation again. Might try the Sands Classic Hards since I've heard so many good things about them, as opposed to the La Bella No.17s I've been using.

TucClaw - Posted - 03/27/2014:  17:08:30

I had problems with the no-knot tailpiece too.  Then I tried a wooden tailpiece made by Joel Hooks.  It worked out pretty well.  I still prefer steel strings but for nylon it seems like wood is more forgiving.