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davidschultz - Posted - 01/02/2025: 17:22:26
I was hoping to raise the action on my longneck banjo. Any ideas. Could it be as simple as changing the bridge? If so, any suggestions for a decent bridge?
Edwards - Posted - 01/02/2025: 17:56:25
Hey Dave, the easiest way to set your action higher is to have a taller bridge,, as to the type of bridge. It really depends on the type of sound you want. If you’re looking for a bridge like Pete Seger, there are folks at 3-D print them. There’s also some people that make them out of wood. I have a walnut persimmon bridge for my long neck. It does the job. If you want custom height, you’re gonna have to order the tallest you can find in sand down. Just remember the sanding at an angle. There’s a few videos online on how to do it. Hope this helps. Good luck with your bridge project. I mean, raising the action on your long neck. Happy New Year’s.
tonygo - Posted - 01/03/2025: 06:08:55
quote:
Originally posted by davidschultz
I was hoping to raise the action on my longneck banjo. Any ideas. Could it be as simple as changing the bridge? If so, any suggestions for a decent bridge?
You could try putting shims under the bridge, cereal box cardboard or any non corrugated material will work. The sound will of course be terrible but you can find what height works for you. I had good luck with a Popsicle stick once.
Owen - Posted - 01/03/2025: 06:15:14
Only once Tony?!?!? That's hardly even tryin'. 
Coffee stir sticks are pretty much the right width, right out of the cup. Formica (?) works if a more dense medium is acceptable.
Dean T - Posted - 01/03/2025: 10:47:55
I’ve done the pop sickle stick too! I tried the whole stick first, and liked the action, so I glued the bridge to the pop sickle stick, then carefully hobby sawed around the bridge feet, sanded the edges clean, and played with that bridge for a few years, and even sold the banjo with it still on.
Adam Sea - Posted - 01/03/2025: 11:24:41
I've been wondering the same thing as I have a banjo with the strings way too low for me.
Does anyone know if getting a new nut installed, with higher slots, also help to raise the action?
FL Time - Posted - 01/03/2025: 11:57:41
Sheets or strips of veneer also work. Veneer is thin so just use it in layers until you have the desired height. You can find it in rolls in several widths and in several types of wood in most hardware stores.
Joe
Owen - Posted - 01/03/2025: 12:31:05
Dean: ".... sawed around the bridge feet... ."
I've done ^^, but also just trimmed around the perimeter [i.e. one "foot" as it were, running the length of the bridge]. I figure that might help counter the non-existent sag problem, and I've not noticed any negative effects on the sound. I expect others would hear mucho bad (?) stuff going on, but IF there is/are, they're 'w-a-y down on my things-to-work-on list ...... .
Dean T - Posted - 01/03/2025: 13:21:32
quote:
Originally posted by ottawa_adam
I've been wondering the same thing as I have a banjo with the strings way too low for me.
Does anyone know if getting a new nut installed, with higher slots, also help to raise the action?
You would risk the fretted notes going sharp, especially the first 3-4 frets. I've always wondered why zero frets aren't more popular, for this very reason.
euler357 - Posted - 01/03/2025: 13:42:27
You can figure out what height you need by shimming with popsicle sticks or calculating how much higher you want it. You can then order a specific height from several sources such as me (cockrumstudios.com/store), Dotson, Hooper, Snuffy Smith, etc. A quality bridge will sound MUCH better than using a mass produced $5 Asian made bridge from Amazon.
davidschultz - Posted - 01/03/2025: 13:56:55
Very excited to try out these ideas! Thank you all!!! I’ll try the shimmies first… but definitely interested in finding another bridge
Old Hickory - Posted - 01/03/2025: 14:22:58
Small differences in bridge height can make big differences. If your current bridge is a standard 5/8-inch, you might get good results with a .656 (21/32-inch). Probably no higher than 11/16.
Have to admit I don't know if players like the same bridge height and action on long necks as on conventional scale banjos.
Zachary Hoyt - Posted - 01/04/2025: 05:35:23
quote:
Originally posted by ottawa_adam
I've been wondering the same thing as I have a banjo with the strings way too low for me.
Does anyone know if getting a new nut installed, with higher slots, also help to raise the action?
Nut slots that are higher will raise the action, but not in a good way. The only time you need a taller nut is if the action is good at the 12th fret but the slots are so low that the strings buzz against the first fret when played open. Any other time raising the nut will just make the banjo less comfortable to play without providing any benefits. As soon as you fret a string the nut and everything between it and your finger is suddenly irrelevant.
