banjohood - Posted - 04/21/2026:  10:12:24

I have a Gold Tone banjo made from parts, a thinner shoe bracket rim with a rolled brass tone ring, and OB-150 resonator, and a Bela Fleck Missing Link ML-1 neck. I tune it to low D, a fourth below standard G tuning. I'm going for a John Hartford sound, but a little deeper. I'm using string guages .030w, .024w, .016, .014. It has a bridge around 2.4 grams.

Right now with a Renaissance Head, it has a good sound but is a bit "splashy" in the overtones and picks up string noise like crazy. Not enough note fundamental. Sustain is maybe a little too much and it can also be a little weak up the neck. I wonder about:
* Changing the head to Deering "skin tone" or black suede
* Heavier bridge?
* Ideal tension (after experimenting, I made it kinda tight)

Let me know your thoughts, thanks!

pinenut - Posted - 04/21/2026:  10:29:12

quote:

---

Originally posted by banjohood

I have a Gold Tone banjo made from parts, a thinner shoe bracket rim with a rolled brass tone ring, and OB-150 resonator, and a Bela Fleck Missing Link ML-1 neck. I tune it to low D, a fourth below standard G tuning. I'm going for a John Hartford sound, but a little deeper. I'm using string guages .030w, .024w, .016, .014. It has a bridge around 2.4 grams. 014, 016, 024w, 030, 014 are on the heavy side and will be less responsive to input effort.  Lighter strings may be a solution because they don't have to be struck as hard to engage the full potential volume of the lower notes... 

The John Hartford strings are listed as 012, 014, 020w, 024w, 012.

Right now with a Renaissance Head, it has a good sound but is a bit "splashy" in the overtones and picks up string noise like crazy.  What tailpiece?

Not enough note fundamental. Sustain is maybe a little too much and it can also be a little weak up the neck. I wonder about:

* Changing the head to Deering "skin tone" or black suede  12" Remo MC Black Suede is spec on the GT ML-1 banjo and it will tone it down.  

* Heavier bridge?  I would get the rest of the parts and setup selected and settled first.  Bridges are more subtle.

* Ideal tension (after experimenting, I made it kinda tight)  89 - 92,  start low and run it up until it peaks.



Let me know your thoughts, thanks!

---

Edited by - pinenut on 04/21/2026 10:36:47

pinenut - Posted - 04/21/2026:  11:12:59

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:  012, 014, 020w, 024w, 012  (or Hartford)

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

Hunter Robertson:  9, 12, 16w, 20w, 9 (Clifford Essex Light)

Edited by - pinenut on 04/21/2026 11:24:21

banjohood - Posted - 04/21/2026:  11:59:12

pinenut -- I tried lower gauge strings but they didn't have the same projection and note fundamental, they didn't "sing" for lack of a better word. I believe the Hartford and Julia Belle were designed for E tuning, and I am tuning a full step below that on all strings, and sometimes drop the 4th even lower down to G.

The tailpiece is the Gold Tone Terminator: goldtonemusicgroup.com/goldton...rts/b1116
I use that one because it allows me to use guitar strings, which have more options for coatings that cut down on string noise (Elixir nanoweb).

Bawheid - Posted - 04/21/2026:  12:47:49

I like Fiberskyn but cranked tighter than you think.

pinenut - Posted - 04/21/2026:  12:51:19

quote:

---

Originally posted by banjohood

pinenut -- I tried lower gauge strings but they didn't have the same projection and note fundamental, they didn't "sing" for lack of a better word. I believe the Hartford and Julia Belle were designed for E tuning, and I am tuning a full step below that on all strings, and sometimes drop the 4th even lower down to G.  I get it, the 'right' strings and setup; "sing" is the correct term.  (2-1/2 steps down seems to be the stability limit on the Julia/Hartford strings).  The strings you're using are singing, trust your choice and hunt down other issues.



The tailpiece is the Gold Tone Terminator: goldtonemusicgroup.com/goldton...rts/b1116

I use that one because it allows me to use guitar strings, which have more options for coatings that cut down on string noise (Elixir nanoweb).  The Terminator is well made and does a good job shortening/changing the after-bridge string length to something that is usually less sympathetic.  I'd try leather/felt/paper/tape/wood attenuating materials to hunt down the hotspot(s) and then work on, or call it, a permanent solution. 

Right now with a Renaissance Head, it has a good sound but is a bit "splashy" in the overtones and picks up string noise like crazy.  Frosted (.009") or suede (.010") are less splashy than a Renaissance (.008") head without the powerful muting of a fiberskin (.014").  Try both; thicker heads and coatings attenuate the top end first and change the tone/behavior of the instrument.

---

Good setup should be common knowledge; keep posting your results.

Edited by - pinenut on 04/21/2026 13:06:11

pinenut - Posted - 04/21/2026:  13:18:04

Originally posted by banjohood

It took me a while to dial in, but I've played hundreds of shows with a Tonedexter 1. I've performed with rock bands, bluegrass, folk ensembles, orchestra pits. I use it with a Schatten piezo pickup. It's the best solution I've found as it is feedback resistant, sounds natural enough, simple to use, and not confusing to sound board operators. I actually had a mic-pickup blender that I stopped using in favor of the Tonedexter.  One caveat: it is difficult to get a good wavemap for banjo. Took me a few hours of experimentation with microphones, placement, and playing style to get a couple wavemaps that sounded natural enough yet had a "direct" sound without too many overtones.

note:  Fiberskin (.014") heads appear to be good performers when used for recording or with amplification and processing.  I don't care for them in-person, but they often sound very good in recordings. 

Edited by - pinenut on 04/21/2026 13:22:33