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Leslie R - Posted - 05/04/2020: 10:22:43
I will be receiving an E. Hammig banjo next week.
Are Fluorocarbon strings okay to use for this banjo ?
EulalieBlue - Posted - 05/04/2020: 11:03:43
While I am certain there are purists who will decry the very idea, fluorocarbon strings have their advantages. I don't particularly like the way they feel, but they sound good and last a good long while. An important piece of information: The material has a greater density than regular nylon strings (and greater density than Nylgut), so you will need to use smaller diameter strings to get the correct tension. It is very easy to over-string your instrument and warp a narrow unreinforced neck.
RA
csacwp - Posted - 05/04/2020: 11:56:53
You have to be careful about what gauges you use as they have a very high tension compared to gut or regular nylon.
Joel Hooks - Posted - 05/04/2020: 13:05:35
The few times I have played banjos with them I would bet that the tension can exceed light steel wire.
davidppp - Posted - 05/04/2020: 14:56:15
Roughly, as best I recall, the densities of nylon : fluorocarbon : steel go like 1 : 2 : 8 . For a given pitch and scale length, you need a particular value for T / {[diameter-squared] x density)}, where T is the tension. Note: 1) to make comparisons, you only need ratios; 2) I didn't make this stuff up -- D'Addario uses it for the tension charts and tools on their Web site; and 3) no, it's not exact.
MacCruiskeen - Posted - 05/05/2020: 07:43:38
This is a chart from Pyramid showing the tension equivalencies of nylon, carbon, and steel strings. The short answer is use about 20% smaller guage PVF carbon string than the equivalent nylon, and you should be fine. Stringsbymail.com sells them in singles as lute strings. I use them on my old Stewart and they're fine. Use a normal wound 4th.
