raymondjparker - Posted - 09/03/2023:  10:12:34

I am "converting" a 11 ' pot (older) Washburn resonator banjo to clawhammer style. Not sure Ill be successful to achive the "tone" I want but its an experiment!

I've installed a John Balch natural hide banjo head-- and so intend to try out Nylgut stings with the objective of achieving a deeper, traditional tone vs "wire/metal" strings. However I was told to avoid the (metal) "railroad spikes" 5th string capo -- this will evenyually degrade/weaken/cut into the 5th string. My questions are:
1. Will the spikes damage the nylgut? Is this the actual experience?
2. What may be a viable, well- working alternative to "spikes " ? (Spikes are so convenient! )
3. Are there non- metal spikes? !
(I play maye 30 -45 minutes a day.Not always uing 5th string capo. Depends on tune, of course. )
Thanks for your advice.
Ray P

dbrooks - Posted - 09/03/2023:  10:44:45

I have metal spikes on two Bay State banjos with Classic Nylgut strings with no problems ever. The rare string break I have had fails elsewhere. 

David

raybob - Posted - 09/03/2023:  11:21:29

I use a pen-top capo on an old Lyon and Healy I have strung with nylons. It didn't have spike/s in it before so I thought I'd try something without drilling the fingerboard. (though I have installed spikes in the past and I like using them on steel strings).

Culloden - Posted - 09/03/2023:  11:36:29

Small brass finishing nails don't have the edges that RR spikes do. They need to be set closer to the edge of the fingerboard, so the string is pulled to the outside to hook it. I have seen them used before with nylon strings so they might work for you.

A Drum On A Stick - Posted - 09/03/2023:  12:41:05

No issues with nylgut and spikes here. I've even got nylguts on a goodtime with a spike instead of a pip and haven't had any breaks at that location.

Brett - Posted - 09/03/2023:  16:40:30

No issues with synthetic strings with railroad spikes here.

mikehalloran - Posted - 09/03/2023:  18:25:40

As long as there are no burrs or sharp edges anywhere, yiu should be ok. When NylGut is scratched, it tears, similar to scratching glass to cut it. This does not apply to nylon, a more robust string material.

John Yerxa - Posted - 09/04/2023:  03:02:10

FWIW, I regularly tune my nylgut 5th (and the whole banjo) up to A, never had a problem. This is on a shortish 25.5 scale instrument.