Mad Jack Gallows - Posted - 06/10/2014:  21:57:31

I have my non bottlecap aluminum reso banjo that I use for busking. It has a lot of volume, even after letting up the tension on the TP and loosening the head a bit, and has been sounding even better since I've switched to heavier strings with a bronze wound 4th. I'm content with it for busking and such, but its not nearly as rewarding to play sitting at home, and I'm not about to take the reso of and stuff it every other day then put the brackets and reso BACK on to go busk... I've heard a couple aluminum rims and even a couple bottlecap banjos with nylons or nylguts lately, and man do they sound nice. Much less sustain without killing certain tone like stuffing under the head or using a heavy bridge seems to

I'm building a fretless which I plan on fitting with nylon strings. Its not finished, and I initially bought a set of Labella nylons for it. A few weeks later I ordered a head and hooks from Elderly for my build and bought a set of Sands heavys, as Ive heard great things about them recently, and less than good things about the Labellas....

I was wanting some opinions or advice on stringing my aluminum banjo with a set of synthetic strings. Which ones I should use first of all. I'd like to use the Sands on my new build once its done, but also think they'd be better on my aluminum banjo than the Labellas. Anyone have good experience with Labellas? I've heard they're more noodly and lower tension, and I'm concerned they won't provide the volume I need for busking, which is my main concern about stringing it with nylon to begin with....

Will nylon strings give me less volume on this banjo? Anyone think one brand would be better than the other as far as giving me that better tone with less sustain that Im after while still preserving the volume I need to busk, Labellas vs Sands heavys? I have a couple of wooden tailpieces I made so no worries about sharp edges cutting the strings... Will a fishermans knot be acceptable for attaching nylons or is there a certain way I should tie them?

Bufo Bill - Posted - 06/11/2014:  13:45:45

Hi Dallas, my money is on Sands if you don't like low tension (noodley) strings, even the mediums are better than most. I recommend a light bridge, I never use one over 1 gram weight, and in my experience this has much better impact on tone and volume than number of feet on the bridge or wood type, capped/uncapped etc.
All the best from Bill. :D

Brooklynbanjoboy - Posted - 06/11/2014:  14:00:43

 La Bellas dont work for me.

i agree: Chris Sand strings have a lot if throw weight.  Take a while to stretch but they are worth it.

nylaguts are good too.  i have not tried the new RED strings  

Mad Jack Gallows - Posted - 06/11/2014:  16:26:26

yeah my biggest concern was loss of volume, but while researching older threads on the topic of synthetic strings on aluminum pot banjers, I got to find a couple of videos and mp3s of folks with nylguts or nylons on their bottlecaps and such, and the tone was so much more what I'd prefer over my current tone, which really isn't bad, just so LOUD to play it here at home, that I figure its worth sacrificing the volume I need to have better tone. I'm sure with a light two footed bridge i'll still have enough volume for busking, I hope.

Even though I'm pretty content with my banjo, there are a few modifications I'd like to do on it. One would be brass hardware, which I'll probably refinish my bracket lugs with a nice brass colored metal finish I came across, scooping the fingerboard in an S shaped scoop, getting rid of the dang guitar tuners (even though theyre pretty good ones), and reshaping the peghead to a more traditional shape and plugging the giant block inlays with some pieces of rosewood fingerboard I have from an old busted 6 string. Looks like I'm playin a banjo pot with a Les Paul neck. And of course nice looking wooden tailpiece with the new nylon strings.. I got the time, and none of it would cost any money. Lots of folks would probly find it not worth it, but it being my only banjo, at least til my fretless is finished, its worth it to me cuz Ill probably end up liking it a lot better if I'm happier with the looks of it. A real upgrade is probably a ways away, and there ain't anything I love more than tinkering on banjos. Probly start tonight then with the Sands strings and tailpiece and lighter uncapped bridge

Edited by - Mad Jack Gallows on 06/11/2014 16:28:18

ClayTech - Posted - 06/12/2014:  06:57:35

Nylguts made my bottle cap sound a million times better. Much of the ringiness went away, and there was much better note separation and clarity. Definitely switch!

Mad Jack Gallows - Posted - 06/12/2014:  08:14:56

thanks Clay, much apreciated. Did you notice a significant change in volume at all when you switched? I'm on my way home right now and can't wait to change over. the recordings I heard yesterday sounded wonderful, Think I might even go back to the house I just moved out of last week and grab the bottlecap pot I left there.It always sounded so much worse than my shoe bracket alum rim, that I gave up on it and just kept it around for spare parts or to pass onto someone who needed a banjo. Think I make make it a point to go back and get it this week.

ClayTech - Posted - 06/12/2014:  12:03:17

It was quieter, but the clarity of the notes made it easier to hear what was being played. Stuffing a wood quilting hoop in side the rim will greatly reduce the ringing, too.