revellfa - Posted - 07/29/2019:  16:37:16

Anybody tried heavy gauge strings tuned down to a “D” on a Dobson, particularly their Pisgah Dobson?

rgoad - Posted - 07/29/2019:  16:54:58

What about really heavy synthetic fishing line?  

banjered - Posted - 07/29/2019:  17:55:02

Aquila Minstrel Nylguts? banjered

revellfa - Posted - 07/29/2019:  19:56:00

No, I’m talking about Steel.

banjo bill-e - Posted - 07/29/2019:  20:16:03

I don't think that you will get there with steel. F is doable for me but E is very floppy. You need a long scale neck to make D
work. The brand and tone ring won't matter. I play tuned down to D with Nylgut Minstrel. There is a set of wound steel strings for the Gold Tone Missing Link that tunes to D. Search for some audios and see if that is what you are after.

jan dupree - Posted - 07/30/2019:  08:58:02

Get some Julia Belle strings from Deering. They should be fine.

Edited by - jan dupree on 07/30/2019 09:00:40

Leslie R - Posted - 07/30/2019:  09:26:49

It can be done with banjo or even loop end guitar strings.
You can use something like 10, 13, 17, 24, 10. That's assuming D, A, F#, D, and F# or A on the 5th string.
I have done it with a 12 inch Hickler banjo that has a Dobson tonering.
It works out great.

Leslie R - Posted - 07/30/2019:  14:53:45

If you are wanting same interval's as with G tuning you can try something like 13, 17, 24W, 36W, and 13. That would be A, F#, D, A, D.

I've tried this, with the 12 inch rim banjo I mentioned. Result was dissappointing.

revellfa - Posted - 07/31/2019:  10:59:36

quote:

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Originally posted by Leslie R

If you are wanting same interval's as with G tuning you can try something like 13, 17, 24W, 36W, and 13. That would be A, F#, D, A, D.



I've tried this, with the 12 inch rim banjo I mentioned. Result was dissappointing.

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I'd be looking for something that "plays" like G tuning, just tuned down to D so that I don't have to capo at the 7th fret.

Ken LeVan - Posted - 07/31/2019:  12:13:54

I think that was the reason Pete Seeger developed the longneck, but even one of those only goes down to E, and that's with a 32" scale.

Leslie R - Posted - 07/31/2019:  12:26:44

I did not know that, but it makes sense.
For me, using the 12 inch rim, going down to open F was about as low as I could go and still have a decent tone. I think that banjo has a 24 inch scale.
Below F, the tone became muddy.
D tuning, like you are wanting, is getting down pretty low.

Ken LeVan - Posted - 07/31/2019:  13:20:55

You could always play in D by capoing a regular banjo at the second fret and using C positions or double C tuning.

banjopickingman - Posted - 07/31/2019:  22:01:05

Ome sells a set of heavy gauge strings that might get you close.

banjo bill-e - Posted - 08/01/2019:  09:43:52

I tried the Ome heavies, did not like anything about them, tone was less pleasing than lights tuned down, and I had two strings break in the first week tuned to low tension. Had no desire to replace them.