pinenut - Posted - 04/16/2026:  10:15:45

My typical string sets are:  10-12-14-22w-10 (PH150) and 10-12-16-23w-10 (V730).  These have worked well for me and most banjos...  (claw/2F/3F)

I recently installed a 17w for the 3rd string with a used medium set on a modern "Dobson", poof, it woke-up and found it's voice.  

What are your experiences with a wound 3rd and common scordatura:  G, C, CC, sawmill, etc. etc.?

What banjo types does the wound 3rd compliment?  What set sizes have worked?

Edited by - pinenut on 04/23/2026 11:30:15

deestexas - Posted - 04/16/2026:  11:08:05

I recall that Gibson's five string sets had either a plain or a wound 3rd back in the mid-60's.   In Pete Seeger's instruction book, he recommended the plain 3rd but did not explain why.

Edited by - deestexas on 04/16/2026 11:08:29

Rusty - Posted - 04/16/2026:  11:30:27

I’ve never seen a wound 3rd string, and I’ve been playing since 1979

Nic Pennsylvania - Posted - 04/16/2026:  11:31:31

Years ago, I learned about Dock Boggs using heavier strings which included a wound third. Being enamoured with Boggs, I gave it a go. I only went back to more standard packs due to teaching.

I liked the heavier gauges because they felt better under finger. They also enabled lower tunings.

Emiel - Posted - 04/16/2026:  12:07:51

quote:

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Originally posted by Rusty

I’ve never seen a wound 3rd string, and I’ve been playing since 1979

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Mastertone Banjo - Posted - 04/16/2026:  17:28:39

I use Julia Belle strings on a Banjo tuned down to D/E and it has a wound 3rd. Only minor issue for me is using my nickel-silver index pick on the
wound string sometimes causes a strange scraping sensation in my finger. Not sure it is audible and I just live with it because I love that low tone.

Hunter Robertson - Posted - 04/17/2026:  05:24:46

I've been using a set from Clifford Essex with a 16 wound string on the third for 15 years our so: cliffordessex.com/product/5-st...d-and-4th
That's the lightest wound string I've found. I'm usually tuned low and retune a lot. Eventually the winding will wear through, but once a year maybe? Long past when I should have changed the strings anyway.

pinenut - Posted - 04/17/2026:  11:20:46

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hunter Robertson

I've been using a set from Clifford Essex with a 16 wound string on the third for 15 years our so: cliffordessex.com/product/5-st...d-and-4th

That's the lightest wound string I've found. I'm usually tuned low and retune a lot. Eventually the winding will wear through, but once a year maybe? Long past when I should have changed the strings anyway.

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Thanks Hunter,

I was unaware of the Clifford Essex sets.  I'm in-range for 'typical'.  

Clifford Essex string sets for Banjo (22 Frets) 5 Strings.  Tuned gCGBD or gDGBD.  Plain steel with a wound 3rd and 4th

Light

9, 12, 16w, 20w, 9

Medium

10, 13, 18w, 24w, 10

Heavy

11, 14, 20w, 26w, 11

Clawhammer

10, 13, 16w, 24w, 11

Edited by - pinenut on 04/17/2026 11:21:32

RG - Posted - 04/17/2026:  11:35:42

Have used wound 3rd's for almost 30 years, .018 stainless, maker is immaterial but usually GHS, suits my style of play, all of my sound files are played on banjos with wound 3rd's. I like heavy gauge strings in general.

Edited by - RG on 04/17/2026 11:36:12

pinenut - Posted - 04/17/2026:  11:46:53

quote:

---

Originally posted by RG

Have used wound 3rd's for almost 30 years, .018 stainless, maker is immaterial but usually GHS, suits my style of play, all of my sound files are played on banjos with wound 3rd's. I like heavy gauge strings in general.

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Hi RG, 

What size strings do you typically choose in a set?

TimFoster - Posted - 04/17/2026:  13:21:05

Good thread — I think I’m going to try a Clifford Essex medium or heavy set on my newly acquired fretless Dobson.

The unwound strings suffer slightly lower volume, getting lost and muted under my finger pad (and I’m not comfortable fretting with my nails)… whereas the wound 4th sounds great. I suspect a wound third would definitely help add some volume and sustain to slides!

And nothing for nothing pinenut , but so far you’re batting 1000 on tone tips as tightening up the head to 91-ish on the drum dial didn’t steal away any plunky-ness — but improved clarity and tone per that other thread…

RG - Posted - 04/18/2026:  17:11:38

quote:

---

Originally posted by pinenut

quote:

---

Originally posted by RG

Have used wound 3rd's for almost 30 years, .018 stainless, maker is immaterial but usually GHS, suits my style of play, all of my sound files are played on banjos with wound 3rd's. I like heavy gauge strings in general.

---

Hi RG, 

What size strings do you typically choose in a set?

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Hey Kam,

For the first a .0125, second .013, third nickel wound .018, 4th phosphor bronze wound .026 and I use an old 1st string for the fifth, I just swap out the old 1st for the fifth when I change strings, which I don't do very often. Been that way for a while for me. Hope that helps.

pinenut - Posted - 04/23/2026:  11:12:34

So many developed string sets to choose from and all are distinct:

Gold Tone  GT ML-1:  018w, 022w, 030w, .040w, 018w strings.    

Ben Proctor:   014, 016, 024w, 030w, 014    

R. G. Hocutt:  .0125, 013, 018wn, .026wb, 0125   

Deering Julia Belle / John Hartford:  012, 014, 020w, 024w, 012   

Clifford Essex Heavy:  011, 014, 020w, 026w, 011   

Kam Robertson Dobson, 11", 25.5":  011, 013, 017w, 024w, 011   ~same as CE-clawhammer.  the 1st string eleven matches the wound third instead of clashing like a ten does (I think it may be a misprint on the CE set; the ten works fine in the 5th position)   

Clifford Essex Clawhammer:  010, 013, 016w, 024w, 011   

Clifford Essex Medium:  010, 013, 018w, 024w, 010   

Hunter Robertson:  009, 012, 016w, 020w, 009  (Clifford Essex Light)