raketenmann - Posted - 02/04/2019:  09:09:12

Hey folks

Just wondering what strings people out there play on their 5 string bluegrass banjos. In my store where I always order my guitar stuff they have D'addario, GHS, Pyramid, Deering, Dean Markley and even Ibanez Strings. What are your favourites? Right now I use the D'addarios.

thank you!

RioStat - Posted - 02/04/2019:  09:29:42

I like D'Addario EJ69 Lights, phosphor bronze on my archtops  and D'Addario EJ60 Lights, nickel plated steels on my flatheads.

The Old Timer - Posted - 02/04/2019:  09:33:13

GHS Crowes and Osbornes (depending on which banjo) and AMB cryos.

Clive Halls - Posted - 02/04/2019:  10:07:01

I use D’Addario EJ60+ on one banjo which doesn’t have a truss rod and EJ61 on my other which does have a truss rod.
I have used Elixir but on a banjo I don’t think there is enough difference in sound quality or longevity to justify their high price.

Moose_Roberts - Posted - 02/04/2019:  10:12:06

I'll second the AMB strings, and if you want you can get a custom set in the sizes you want.

NativeWolf - Posted - 02/04/2019:  13:53:54

I have Dunlop, but I also like D'addario.

vincefewo - Posted - 02/04/2019:  17:19:08

Hello racketenmann,
Of course you have to figure out what strings help get the sound you want on your banjo with your setup.
On my deering sierra maple I use mapes nickel steel in 11, 12, 16, 23, 11. Clear as glass and powerful when needed.
mapesstrings.com
On my Stelling Staghorn which I’ve only had for 1 year, the best so far are Deering’s tenbrooks strings but I have others to try.
Elixir polywebs are nice too, medium. Used to use those on my Sierra but too vanilla for my taste.

Good luck

Vince

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 02/04/2019:  18:11:43

I've never felt/heard much difference from one brand to the other. Right now I'm using D'Addario J60+ because 1) I like the gauges and 2) I have an endorsement deal with them. But I'd be OK with any set that had similar gauges, like the GHS J.D. Crowe set.

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 02/04/2019:  20:14:15

Another vote here for D’Addario.  

steve davis - Posted - 02/04/2019:  20:31:10

GHS PF200 Cryos.

mike gregory - Posted - 02/05/2019:  07:35:40

About 40 years ago, Banjo Newsletter asked a similar question.

I mailed in my reply, which they included in their follow up article:



"Long, skinny ones, with a loop on one end. And, nylon fishline, like Bascom Lamont Lunsford is pictured with, in the Seeger book".



But, these days, I mostly, I use Vega light gauge.

OldPappy - Posted - 02/05/2019:  08:21:35

At the local music store they sell string sets "buy one, get one free", and ends up being around $3 a set.

I buy a dozen sets at a time. Usually buy whichever brand they have the most of in medium sets, which is usually Dunlop brand.

The only ones I avoid are the "Martin" or "Vega" labeled sets as I have had a lot of breakage with those.

I think there are probably only a couple of manufactures for the wire that is packaged under the various brand names, and what I have found is as long as I get the string gauge I want, there is very little, if any difference by brand.

targhee_music_camp - Posted - 02/05/2019:  08:22:56

I too agree with D'addario.

Mooooo - Posted - 02/05/2019:  11:16:21

I get the cheapest ones I can find. I don't think there's too much difference between string brands. Find the gauges you like by experimenting with different ones. I use Medium or Heavy Gauge strings...I don't care about the coatings or the pretty packaging. A perfect set is $3.00. They sound just as good as the $15.00 ones and last just as long. Right now I am sitting on an unopened pack of Martin & Co. Medium .010, .012, .016, .023 and .010. They sound great and are a bit bendy, but they stay in tune and are not wimpy.

arnie fleischer - Posted - 02/05/2019:  12:04:20

D'Addario EJ60+ (.095-.011-.013-.020-.095) and EJS60 (.010-.011-.012-.020-.010) depending on the banjo. Also, on my 1928 TB-4 archtop, Curt Mangan #90733 (.010-.011-.013-.020-.010).

budbennett - Posted - 02/05/2019:  12:45:29

American Made Banjo Co.  Cryogenic ones. They last forever.

Edited by - budbennett on 02/05/2019 12:45:57

raketenmann - Posted - 02/06/2019:  05:54:51

Hey - thank you all for your thoughts.
I see, there are a lot of budget-players around here! :-) just kidding - well, for me playing the guitar, the choice of strings is crucial. I'm very picky about strings. In my opinion there are a lot of sound differences in strings. It looks like it doesnn't matter too much on the banjo.
Well, AMB ist probably very difficult to get here in Europe (Switzerland), so I will stay with the D'Addarios so far. The advance of them is, that the packaging is good, so the strings are still fresh after some month of storage!

Richard Hauser - Posted - 02/06/2019:  06:13:54

I tried various types but settled on GHS strings. They have been problem free and sound fine. Compared to guitar, mandolin, and fiddle, banjo strings are very inexpensive so I don't worry about price.

SaxManiac - Posted - 02/06/2019:  11:14:02

Dunlop or D'addario mediums or GHS Crowe 9.5s where I don't use mediums.