pastorharry - Posted - 02/02/2018:  15:11:56

Iv'e seen where some people have trouble re-stringing their banjos because allowing slack to wind their strings also allows for the loop end to pop out of the tailpiece, thus having to start all over again. I've even seen a new product advertised here to hold strings in place at the tailpiece while stringing her up. The product is a good idea, but here's what I started doing years ago. 1. Attach the loop end to the tailpiece and stretch taunt up the fretboard. 2. Take your capo and capo the string tight a few frets down from the peg,(say 3nd fret for peghead, 8th fret for 5th string). This will hold the string tight and keep it from slipping out of the tailpiece as you give it your desired slack, thread the tuner and wind tight enough to then remove the capo and tune to pitch. Easy peasy. Aloha, PH

TR Dockery - Posted - 02/02/2018:  15:14:12

Great idea, Harry!

Happy trails,
Randy in Germantown, TN

Mooooo - Posted - 02/02/2018:  15:35:42

I wish you told us this years ago. So simple and really smart.

andrewsan - Posted - 02/02/2018:  15:42:07

Wonderful; this is a first-class banjo "hack!" Thank you, Harry.

chuckv97 - Posted - 02/02/2018:  15:42:17

NOW you tell me...... ! (actually I use a little spring clamp to hold the loop end at the tailpiece, esp. on my ODE which is brutal ).  But I like your idea better,,thnx.

Edited by - chuckv97 on 02/02/2018 15:42:41

scotinch - Posted - 02/02/2018:  15:54:05

Great idea. Thanks for passing this on.

RevSpyder - Posted - 02/02/2018:  16:21:45

A divine idea, Pastor Harry! Love it, thanks. This has been driving me nuts forever.

Texaspaul - Posted - 02/02/2018:  16:51:07

The same technique works for loop end mandolin strings.
I have to put a bend in the wraps at the loop on one tailpieces. The tend to pop off even using a capo.

thisoldman - Posted - 02/02/2018:  17:38:38

Good tip. I have a Leo has a tailpiece that is a PITA to change strings. Like Paul I finally figured out, after some frustrating trial and error, to put a bend at the loop end. I also learned, from a John Boulding video on changing heads, to use a piece of painters tape on the tailpiece over the strings to keep the strings in place, if needed.

Edited by - thisoldman on 02/02/2018 17:39:37

RV6 - Posted - 02/02/2018:  18:07:07

So, using duct tape instead of a capo to hold tension on the strings was a mistake?

pastorharry - Posted - 02/02/2018:  18:38:18

quote:

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Originally posted by RV6

So, using duct tape instead of a capo to hold tension on the strings was a mistake?

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No more than superglue or drywall screws...

banjered - Posted - 02/03/2018:  03:55:44

Been doing that for years too. If you don't use a capo you start missing that third arm/hand while stringing up. I figured it out on my own through necessity and I and others have posted this idea on BHO from time to time. I am surprised that it is still a new idea to many which goes to show that it is useful to post it every so often - six months, a year? A permanent how-to? OK, you did good Pastor so I officially volunteer you every six months until we get a permanent restringing post - smiles! banjered

pickn5 - Posted - 02/03/2018:  05:36:15

Great tip, thanks for sharing. Keep picking.

Fathand - Posted - 02/03/2018:  12:43:22

Interesting I came up with the same technique on my own the other day and was going to post it but you beat me to it. I actually put all 5 strings on the tailpiece and held them down with a Kayser capo about the 4th fret, Then put the strings through the posts and used a string winder on the guitar style tuners on a Goodtime I was setting up. Only took about 5 minutes to install all the strings.

banjered - Posted - 02/04/2018:  17:43:56

As George Bush used to say, "Motherhood is the invention of all necessity." banjered

banjered - Posted - 02/08/2018:  16:35:14

Another cheap trick by a cheapskate (that be me!) - If you want to change heads on a banjo strung with Nylgut and yet keep all the strings, slip a rubber band under the strings near the tailpiece and X (cross) the rubber band across the top of the tailpice and hook the ends to posts one and five, loosen the strings, disconnect the tailpiece, fold and capo the strings out of the way toward the nut-end of the neck. There are usually enough wrap arounds on the tuning posts with the Nylgut strings you can usually save most or all of the strings. It's against cheapscateology to change a string before it breaks. banjered

banjo bill-e - Posted - 02/08/2018:  17:09:03

Does the capo method leave enough slack for a good wind around the post? I do pretty much the same thing, without a capo, by threading the string through the post, pulling the string tight with one hand, then pull up from the fretboard maybe an inch or so of string---which gives a good wrap--- while pressing a finger to the fretboard (which takes the place of the capo) and tuning with the free hand. This works with the banjo on a table and me standing beside the table. I saw a youtube with some Brit stringing a guitar like that and wondered why I had never thought of it before, as it is very easy to get it right the first time.