BanjoKatz - Posted - 01/12/2016:  21:02:51

I would appreciate some nylon string suggestions for a 1900 S.S.Stewart Thoroughbred banjo. Manufacturer, gauges for each string, etc. Thanks in advance!

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 01/12/2016:  22:08:12

Nylgut classicals or my favorite; Chris Sands Mediums or Heavies depending on your preference as regards string tension.

Leslie R - Posted - 01/13/2016:  04:27:27

What type of bridge works best for Nylon or NylGut strings ?

trapdoor2 - Posted - 01/13/2016:  08:40:48

For a first set of low tension strings (if you're used to steels) I usually recommend a set of Chris Sands 'heavy' strings.

Go with the lightest bridge you can find. With nylon/nylgut/gut strings, there is no need for an ebony cap on the bridge...and even softer woods do quite well; Pine, Basswood, etc. My favorite is the Cole type sold by Elderly (called "Morris" but patented by Cole way back when). elderly.com/catalogsearch/resu...is+bridge Your Stewart was designed for a 1/2" bridge...but if you're a clawhammer player you might prefer 5/8" to get some action height where you're striking the strings.

Lew H - Posted - 01/13/2016:  10:11:37

I was thinking of asking a similar question about nylon strings for an old zither banjo with the tunneled 5th string that I've had for a while.  I'll keep it tuned in the areas of open G, classic C, and double C.  Any suggestions?

trapdoor2 - Posted - 01/13/2016:  12:21:53

Zither Banjos are a little different. If you want it to sound like it was designed to sound, you use a mixed set of strings: 1st, 2nd and 5th are steels (usually "light" gauge). 3rd string is nylon and 4th is wound over silk (or nylon).

Otherwise, I use a standard set of Nylgut 'classic' strings on my ZB. It simply sounds like a typical nylon-strung banjo.

Bridges for ZB's tend to be even shorter than 'normal' 1/2" is a tall bridge on a ZB. Mine has its original bridge...and it is only 10mm (3/8") tall.

DoubleG - Posted - 01/13/2016:  13:10:43

Chris Sands 'heavy' strings are on all my non-metal string banjos. They sound great, with plenty of volume.

Edited by - DoubleG on 01/13/2016 13:11:14

RV6 - Posted - 01/14/2016:  06:02:17

I have Aquila Super Nylguts (ivory color, unwound 4th string) on my Reiter Buckbee and Chris Sands mediums on a Reiter A Flat and a Sagmoen.  The Aquila's are a bit louder on the Buckbee than the Sands on the A Flat.  (The A Flat is one fret shorter than the Buckbee but otherwise, the same.  Both have Ren. heads.)  Tension is higher with the Aquila's.  The Sands sound a bit more mellow to me.  The 4th unwound Aquila is .039" diameter which took me some getting used to.  I like the looks of the all ivory Supers on an ebony fretboard.

The Aquila's are pretty stretchy and it takes awhile for them to settle in.  The Aquila "Supers"  have been "bullet proof" compared to the Aquila Reds which I gave up on due to string breakage.  The Sands are way less stretchy and are easier to play. The Sands work better when changing tunings at a jam as they settle down pretty quickly.  The Supers are a bit more fussy.

For the other poster, I make my own bridges which I enjoy doing.  I have a collection of maple and walnut bridges of different weights and heights.  My favorite is a maple with purple heart top with a raised 5th string that I have on my A Flat.  Non topped bridges are easy to make.  I use acetylene torch tip cleaners (around $5.00) for bridge/nut files. 

Lew H - Posted - 01/14/2016:  09:21:14

Thanks, Marc.  I might give that setup a try.

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 01/14/2016:  12:23:53

I had nothing but breakage problems with Nylgut strings so I bought a set of Chris Sands Classic Banjo - Mediums for Jackie-O - my only banjo normally strung with nylon. When we first got to NC I put together an extra-light set of steel strings as I was working in a music store with loose loop end strings. They worked jes'fine too, but steel strings sort of need a straighter neck to work well. I also added a heavy tailpiece to transmit more vibrations to the head.

Later I went back to nylons - using Classical Guitar strings that I had by the fistful - broken sets, mostly. These ran thin around 8-10 years ago and I tried my first set of Chris Sands. Jackie is on her second set now. I think they have been on for at least 4 years and it is beginning to sound like I should change them. Problem is the knots. My hands have gotten a lot stiffer in that ten years, and the knots (especially on the 3rd strings) can be hard to tie. I use the much simpler Square (Reef) knot anyhow. I see no need for those complex knots - for an arthritic, getting the knots small enough in the thicker strings is reason alone for skipping them - the Square Knot does the job jes'fine.

Speaking of thicker strings - Chris Sands strings are made from a harder nylon - I am able to change nylon and steel back and forth on Jackie-O, who was built with triangular nut slots. I did widen a couple bridge slots for the nylon.

I'm thinking now of putting Sands Nylon strings on my Ramsey Special. I very rarely play it now that I have my Woodchuck Specials, and I think having nylon strings would give me more reason to use it. I hate that a perfectly good, in fact, an excellent banjo, is going to waste.

Cottonmouth - Posted - 01/15/2016:  08:53:05

oldwoodchuckb, What is the scale on your "Jackie-O? I have a 5-string banjo with a 22-7/8" scale and want to purchase the correct Chris Sands set.

rudy - Posted - 01/15/2016:  18:18:01

Having also had bad experiences with Aquila'a original red series I can say that the newer formulation is a whole other animal.  Fisrt, the strings are a deep red, almost brown in color.  They don't stretch nearly as much, are much more stable, and way less likely to break.

For $7 it's worth a try.  I love them now.

rubicon - Posted - 01/15/2016:  18:29:44

Where do you get the new reds you are referring to Randy ?

rudy - Posted - 01/16/2016:  04:46:26

quote:

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Originally posted by rubicon



Where do you get the new reds you are referring to Randy ?

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You could message Bob Smakula, a few months back he told me he was waiting on his next shipment from Aquila and didn't have the "new formulation" yet.

I was ready to do a string up so I ordered the reds from Elderly and they were the new formulation.  It's really obvious these strings are not the original reds.  I believe the new reds for banjo are the same material Mimmo had success with for Ukulele use.  I've had a set on for a couple of months and like them a lot.  They stretched in much quicker and I've had no breakage, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  I re-tune them fairly often to alternate tunings for clawhammer use and they have had no problems.