pstanley - Posted - 11/24/2016:  11:48:23

I have only been playing clawhammer for about 4 months and recently put Aquila Super Nylgut light strings on my 1887 Buckbee. I love the sound, especially when I drop thumb notes. They sound nice and plucky. The question I have is, does it take a while for the strings to stretch out and hold a tune? I have to keep tuning a lot more than when I had metal strings on the banjo. 

rudy - Posted - 11/24/2016:  13:07:44

Hi Paul,

They do take a few weeks to settle in completely.  The disadvantage any clawhammer player has with synthetic strings is they take a bit of re-tuning when we go between tunings.  If you're only playing in 1 tuning it's not a problem, but if you're using an affay of tunings it can have a higher aggravation factor.  Some folks that are using Synthetic strings for live performance such as playing for contra dances choose to pack a couple of banjos for that reason.

ClayTech - Posted - 11/24/2016:  13:10:47

When I put new Nylguts on I'll play them for a while, constantly tuning them up, then tune them up at least a whole step higher than normal before putting it away for the night. A couple of nights like that and they're good to go.

Bill H - Posted - 11/24/2016:  18:07:41

It helps to give them a good stretch when installing them. Just place your fingers under the string before tuning to pitch and give it a good long pull. Really cuts the break-in time down to a day or so.

rudy - Posted - 11/24/2016:  19:20:06

quote:

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Originally posted by Bill H

It helps to give them a good stretch when installing them. Just place your fingers under the string before tuning to pitch and give it a good long pull. Really cuts the break-in time down to a day or so.

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Mimmo Perfillo, owner of Aquila has anice Youtube video demonstrating stretching in the red series strings. He stretches the string slightly at several points along the string path so it stretches out uniformly along its length.  You do run the risk of stretching the string non-uniformly dependant upon how it's done, resulting in poor intonation along the string length.

pstanley - Posted - 11/25/2016:  14:28:36

Thanks for all the good advice. I thought maybe I had screwed up some how. It has been getting a lot better the more I play it. I like the sound and probably will keep the nylon strings on this banjo. I want to take Patrick Heavner's workshop at John C Campbell Folk school on building a banjo then I'll have two banjos.  I'll keep that one with metal strings if I take the class. 

rudy - Posted - 11/25/2016:  14:35:14

quote:

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Originally posted by pstanley

Thanks for all the good advice. I thought maybe I had screwed up some how. It has been getting a lot better the more I play it. I like the sound and probably will keep the nylon strings on this banjo. I want to take Patrick Heavner's workshop at John C Campbell Folk school on building a banjo then I'll have two banjos.  I'll keep that one with metal strings if I take the class. 

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I've heard nothing but good things about Patrick, that's an excellent plan.

Considering where you live you might contact Bill Rickard to see if he's still doing kit banjos.  Ironically, Bill makes the well-spoken-of "Maple Ridge" open back!

rickardbanjos.com/product/mapl...hardware/

pstanley - Posted - 11/25/2016:  22:07:21

Rudy, Thanks for the link. I was just out in the Toronto area last month. I went to a great music store there called the 12th fret.

RV6 - Posted - 11/26/2016:  09:34:56

When I install Super Nylguts, I tie the strings to the tailpiece, thread a string through the tuner holes (which are aligned parallel to the neck) and clamp a forceps to the end of the string.  I then pull the strings (1,2,3 and 5) as tight "as feels right" (or as tight a I dare).   Strings one and five are pretty stretchy, the second, less so. I then wrap the string 180 degrees and go under the taunt string at the neck, keeping tension with the forceps and then pull the string vertical and rotate the tuners to lock the string in place.  The fourth string doesn't need this treatment as it doesn't have much stretch. 

The last set of Super's I installed, I put on around 10:00 a.m. and had then up to open G after supper.   I then brought them up to tension when needed over the next couple of days.  After that, they held tension well.

ClayTech - Posted - 11/26/2016:  13:37:35

I am never gentle with my Nylguts. I tune them right up to where I want them right away. I've done this with many sets on three different banjos and never had them snap. I'm a firm believer that they break due to a problem with the banjo like a sharp edge on the tailpiece or getting stuck in the nut, not because of a problem with the strings.