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Dowel - Posted - 11/18/2025: 02:56:08
I love this sound.
the strings look super thick (even the 5th)
do you think they are Minstrel strings
banjered - Posted - 11/18/2025: 06:10:45
All I can say is that it sounds a lot like my banjo which is a Stone banjo, no metal tone ring, just wood, with Aquila Minstrel strings lowered down from standard G tuning to the key of D ( dADF#A ) or E ( eBEG#B ). Those keys are a lot easier for me to sing in, going from the low, open 4th string to the fifth fret on the first string.. banjered
Bob Buckingham - Posted - 11/18/2025: 07:05:49
Since Sands Classic Hard strings are no longer available, Savarez hard guitar strings are my go to. I get them from Strings By Mail. You can make up a set for the banjo. I have not had good luck with Nylgut or Aquila Minstrel strings.
Culloden - Posted - 11/18/2025: 07:07:19
What kind of banjo is she playing?
Owen - Posted - 11/18/2025: 08:13:30
Tongue-in-cheek Dowel, you may love the sound, but the look on her face tells me that she finds it kinda painful. 
Edit: And to continue on a tangent, I never was much of a dancer, but wonky feet, ankles and knees have me just watching others nowadays. My observation, and, fwiw, one that's supported by my wife, is that about 75-80% of the dancers [country, old time?] look downright grouchy. What's with that?
Edited by - Owen on 11/18/2025 08:23:25
Mickhammer - Posted - 11/18/2025: 09:55:37
quote:
Originally posted by Owen
Tongue-in-cheek Dowel, you may love the sound, but the look on her face tells me that she finds it kinda painful.
That comes from a lifetime of hard livin'
(I believe she just turned 20 in this video. There's an excellent Tiny Home Desk set from her from way back in 2021. Some people just make it look easy, and she's one of them.)
banjered - Posted - 11/18/2025: 10:21:27
Saverz yellow card was often recommended back when. They seemed to last a long time, years even. The Nylguts are more variable/sensitive, maybe last a year before they wear and the intonation goes. Still, I like the sound and feel of those strings. They don't like retuning much so I stay in standard or model, that's it. banjered
pinenut - Posted - 11/18/2025: 10:57:45
quote:
Originally posted by Owen
Tongue-in-cheek Dowel, you may love the sound, but the look on her face tells me that she finds it kinda painful.
That's her 'constipation' face; all the good players do that when they play. 
Edited by - pinenut on 11/18/2025 10:58:35
luketeller - Posted - 01/01/2026: 14:12:10
As for tuning- I’m using: open A, with an inverted string line up, raised 5th string. I’m using relative tuning…everything down a 1/4
C#AEAB. 2nd string (A) is 215, 4th string (A) is 108….thats just me.
Joel Hooks - Posted - 01/01/2026: 18:50:50
quote:
Originally posted by Dowel
I love this sound.
the strings look super thick (even the 5th)
do you think they are Minstrel strings
"Minstrel strings?" Like the strings these two minstrels have on their Gibson banjos?
Jack Baker - Posted - 01/02/2026: 18:12:51
Actually pretty tasteless remarks about a young girl trying her best to play good banjo. I know it's meant as a joke but jokes like the ones made hurt really young folks like Nora. Not trying to sound like a savior but C'mon folks.... jack
Originally posted by pinenut
quote:
Originally posted by Owen
Tongue-in-cheek Dowel, you may love the sound, but the look on her face tells me that she finds it kinda painful.
That's her 'constipation' face; all the good players do that when they play.
R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 01/05/2026: 16:34:09
My guess based on the appearance and lowered tuning would be Nylgut Minstrels.
Always keep in mind that the overall sound is the product of multiple factors of which the strings are only one.
Edited by - R.D. Lunceford on 01/05/2026 16:36:07
SatCotM - Posted - 01/05/2026: 17:22:26
I would agree Nylgut "minstrel" set is most likely. This video, along with others of her playing in a low tuning, show relatively opaque strings. Nary a nylon shows as that translucent off-white - they're typically clear, sometimes black, sometimes other colors. But these look like Nylguts.
If you want to try the less finicky nylons, this tool [daddario.com/string-tension-pro] might be helpful for roughing out which gauges to try. They have a similar sound (at least to the ear of someone who usually plays steel). But the "minstrel" set from Aquila doesn't suffer so terribly from the string breakage issues thanks to being much thicker than their standard sets.
BrendanD - Posted - 01/08/2026: 19:24:59
Well, I just saw Nora (waiting for her and Stephanie Coleman’s show to start in San Francisco) and I asked her about her strings in that video. She said she thinks they were just a “standard” set of Nylguts, but she wasn’t sure of the gauges.
Noah Cline - Posted - 01/08/2026: 20:33:46
quote:
Originally posted by Culloden
What kind of banjo is she playing?
I believe it's a Luscomb. They generally had a solid thin metal rim with a wooden "tone ring" inserted into a recess in the top edge under the head.
As for the strings, given the appearance and relative pitch/tuning (c#AEAB as Luke mentioned, and agree), I'd say Aquila Minstrels.
Mickhammer - Posted - 01/09/2026: 00:54:01
quote:
Originally posted by BrendanD
Well, I just saw Nora (waiting for her and Stephanie Coleman’s show to start in San Francisco) and I asked her about her strings in that video. She said she thinks they were just a “standard” set of Nylguts, but she wasn’t sure of the gauges.
I'm curious as to how you approached her with this question: "A bunch of us crusty ol' fellers over at Banjo Hangout were a-wondrin'..."
BrendanD - Posted - 01/09/2026: 03:41:43
quote:
Originally posted by Mickhammer
quote:
Originally posted by BrendanD
Well, I just saw Nora (waiting for her and Stephanie Coleman’s show to start in San Francisco) and I asked her about her strings in that video. She said she thinks they were just a “standard” set of Nylguts, but she wasn’t sure of the gauges.
I'm curious as to how you approached her with this question: "A bunch of us crusty ol' fellers over at Banjo Hangout were a-wondrin'..."
Well, I know Nora a little bit and have played a bit of music with her, and my wife Maxine Gerber and I (both banjo players) have known and played music with Stephanie for many years, since she was a teenager, mostly at Clifftop. Also, we all have many common friends around the country. Anyway, I mentioned this video to Nora and passed on the question about her strings. She also played and sang this somg at the show, using the same banjo and strings, I believe. She told me that that banjo belonged to her great-great-grandfather, and I believe it was built in the 1880s (or possibly the 1890s), though she didn't name the maker. She also played another old Gibson banjo from maybe the 1910s, before the era of the "trap door" Gibsons. I didn't get a close look at it, but it seemed like it maybe had a "pie-plate" resonator of some sort
Nora is also a terrific guitar player, and played some mandocello (or a cittern?) as well, but whatever instrument she's playing, she draws rich, gorgeous tone from! As does Stephanie from her fiddle; she's one of my favorite fiddlers, and a joy to play with! It was a terrific concert, with a packed house!
Edited by - BrendanD on 01/09/2026 03:58:23
Dowel - Posted - 02/10/2026: 07:47:19
wow...thanks, I forgot about this post.
Dowel - Posted - 02/10/2026: 08:02:29
I got the tab for Nora's Chilly Winds from the Two-finger banjo interview.
it is c#AEAB tuning
I played it on my Nelson with medium Aquila Nylgut TBH, it sounds really close to her recording.
my banjo only has a Renaissance (not what looks like a thick calf skin)
I might try some Minstrel strings.
maybe I'll ask her in May in Manchester England :-)
Edited by - Dowel on 02/10/2026 08:03:03
Dowel - Posted - 02/10/2026: 08:04:31
quote:
Originally posted by Noah Cline
quote:
Originally posted by Culloden
What kind of banjo is she playing?
I believe it's a Luscomb. They generally had a solid thin metal rim with a wooden "tone ring" inserted into a recess in the top edge under the head.
As for the strings, given the appearance and relative pitch/tuning (c#AEAB as Luke mentioned, and agree), I'd say Aquila Minstrels.
yes, I believe its the same as Clifton Hicks often plays (I think his is 12")...rare as hens teeth here in the UK
swampyankee11 - Posted - 02/22/2026: 13:34:54
An interesting topic. I also love that deep, plunky tone Nora gets on her great, great Grandpa's banjo (I'm sure he's smiling somewhere!). I'd like to try a set of nylguts or aquilas on my banjo as well. Does switching from light gauge steel strings to nylguts require any filing or enlarging of the notches on the bridge?? (I have a 1/2 Moon bridge)
Thanks for any suggestions!
