TrevorB - Posted - 02/11/2016:  09:40:25

I recently bought a Goodtime Parlour banjo and I am very pleased with it.  I wanted something light that I can also use for traveling.  Its scale length is approx 23", which I believe is the same as an "A" short scale.  So I have been wondering about the difference between the two.  The Goodtime is tuned to G, whereas an "A" is normally tuned to .... A.  How does that work? Is it to do with string gauge, neck tension and/or something else?  Just curious really.

Edited by - TrevorB on 02/11/2016 09:56:42

Zachary Hoyt - Posted - 02/11/2016:  09:54:51

String gauge is the main factor of which I am aware.  Gold Tone makes a C scale banjo and they also offer extra heavy strings to tune the same banjo to G.  It is the same idea as the really thick bass strings in a spinet piano, there is not enough length to use a normal string so to get down to a lower pitch and not have the string be floppy they have to make the string thicker.

Zach

trapdoor2 - Posted - 02/11/2016:  09:59:48

Deering sells strings for the "Parlor Banjo" which are exactly the same as for their regular banjos. Same/same.

So, you should be able to easily tune it up to A...the strings will be a little stiffer (more tension) but otherwise, shouldn't be a problem.

BrentSims - Posted - 02/11/2016:  11:50:52

I have a Deering Parlor banjo. I can't compare it to a "A" scale banjo as the Parlor banjo is the only short scale banjo I've owned. I have, however, tuned it up to "A" on more than one occassion, without any problems at all, using the strings that came with it, red nylguts, and the Martin lights I now have on it. I'm not all that fond of the way "A" sounds (personal thing) so I tend to keep it tuned to open "G" however my take is that the banjo would happily stay in "A" tuning until whenever if you are so inclined..

Edited by - BrentSims on 02/11/2016 11:55:45

banjobrewer - Posted - 02/11/2016:  14:04:09

I have a couple of 23" scale banjos. It seems about as short as you want to go and still have a and g play well. G becomes very slack shorter than that. Although you can tune to a with ease up to 26+.

TrevorB - Posted - 02/11/2016:  16:17:11

 Thanks, everyone, for your helpful comments.  Brent Sims, your review and postings about the  Goodtime Parlour helped me to decide to buy it, and I have not been disappointed.Thank you.

Trevor

Edited by - TrevorB on 02/11/2016 16:20:13

HicksvilleBanjo - Posted - 02/11/2016:  16:26:26

The Goodtime parlor is an A Scale banjo.  I have one and play it in A and D all the time, sounds great. I use light gage strings and G is no problem either.