I am new to the group having recently acquired a 1964 PS-5 banjo. Really enjoying the low E tuning and getting use to the long reach.
17 Comments |
 | wbheilmann says:
7/23/2014 3:57:16 PM
Just beware that some 5-string sets are not long enough for a longneck banjo. I play clawhammer-style and usually get D'Addario or Pearse medium-gauge strings. If you use finger picks, though, you might prefer something else.
Great banjo, by the way...you lucky rascal!
WB
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 | flailing says:
7/23/2014 4:02:49 PM
Thanks for the tips on strings WB. It is a very nice banjo and I know I am lucky to have found it.
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 | vega long neck says:
7/23/2014 4:16:11 PM
I use Please, D'Addiction, or Feeding on my '64 Vega Seeger model. Mediums are a good start but I am partial to a .1602415C or heavier on the 4th and a .011 on the first.
Open E and open A standard C configuration (G- CGAD) @THE 3rd fret (normal scale length) matches my voice very well so I try to play there when singing.
Enjoy!
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 | PickinFool says:
7/23/2014 5:56:47 PM
I use the GHS, medium gauge on my Deering Pete Seeger longneck. D'addario are good too. Can I interest you in a few sets of Martin "Vega Banjo Strings" that are too short for a longneck?? Rats! And congratulations on your Vega PS acquisition.
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| flailing says:
7/23/2014 6:06:23 PM
Thanks for the string info Vega Long Neck. I am finding that the E tuning seems to work well with my voice.
PickingFool - I would buy those strings but I already have a few sets that do not fit. I have used GHS strings on my other shorter scale banjos and liked them.
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 | R.D. Eno says:
7/23/2014 7:51:45 PM
Pearse makes a John Hartford 1950 D tuning set ("heavy" guage -- .12, .14., .20 wound, .24 wound, .12) that fits long necks (I've used them). If you put these on a long neck and tune to D instead of E, you not only get a lovely deep growl but you can play D tunes in open G position and G tunes in C or double C position. This not only adds a rich new color to string band ensembles but mitigates the disdain of some old-time enthusiasts for a second banjo in the mix.
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 | calypsojimmy says:
7/23/2014 7:59:28 PM
These days, the only brands that seem to sell string sets that do not discriminate between longneck and regular-neck, i.e. provide sufficient string length for longneck.... are GHS and John Pearse. It is stunning to me that the Martin Company banjo string sets aren't long enough to cover longneck requirements. Martin's a great company, but why quibble about an inch or two of extra wire .... especially when they owned the Vega line for some time, and made some $$$ selling PS longnecks. Anyway, once you focus upon GHS & Pearse as you longneck string providers, then it's up to you re: what is your favorite set/gauges/etc. To be honest, for me: I have my own preferences, but any suitably-long string set has usually sounded great on my longneck banjos.
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| calypsojimmy says:
7/23/2014 8:02:27 PM
These days, the only brands that seem to sell string sets that do not discriminate between longneck and regular-neck, i.e. provide sufficient string length for longneck.... are GHS and John Pearse. It is stunning to me that the Martin Company banjo string sets aren't long enough to cover longneck requirements. Martin's a great company, but why quibble about an inch or two of extra wire .... especially when they owned the Vega line for some time, and made some $$$ selling PS longnecks. Anyway, once you focus upon GHS & Pearse as you longneck string providers, then it's up to you re: what is your favorite set/gauges/etc. To be honest, for me: I have my own preferences, but any suitably-long string set has usually sounded great on my longneck banjos.
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 | olelise says:
7/24/2014 1:39:46 AM
I use Pearse or Stelling strings. Works really well both of them.
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| flailing says:
7/24/2014 5:45:35 AM
Thanks all for the strings suggestions.
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| vega long neck says:
7/24/2014 6:05:11 AM
Sorry. I used my phone (smart?) to send an answer and it auto corrected Deering to Feeling, Pearse to Please and most of the string gauges to gibberish. So much for my mastery of technology.
I prefer .024 on the 4th and at least a .011 for the 1st strings. I find that a lighter gauge gets a buzz or is to flexible on the 1st string for pulling-off without a thump. Deering & D'Addario medium strings work OK but I usually buy about 5 or 6 sets of Pearse strings from their tent/booth at what ever festival I find them; they'll make up the sets with any gauge you want.
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| flailing says:
7/24/2014 6:11:28 AM
That's funny - I was wondering about the Please strings but figured you meant Pearse. I do have a buzz on the 4th at the moment that I am trying to figure out. Only when hitting it open - no buzz when fretted. I will try the heavier Pearse.
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 | Helix says:
7/24/2014 2:38:56 PM
it's not the string, take a look at some set up sequence. If it buzzes while open, it's hitting somewhere, play each note on that string walk it up the neck. jI'm not familiar if whether the PS5 had rods or a dowelstick, either way you should be able to adjust the buzz away without the heavier string which should make it worse.
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| flailing says:
7/24/2014 3:05:19 PM
I will check that out Helix. My PS-5 has the dual coordinator rods.
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 | finnslr says:
7/24/2014 5:25:52 PM
I use AMB Srings. You can customize any options, they are plenty long and they last!
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| flailing says:
7/24/2014 7:49:22 PM
I have ordered custom string sets from AMB before and wondered if they could provide the longer strings. Thanks.
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| R.D. Eno says:
7/24/2014 9:25:29 PM
That buzz could come from several sources, not only a string hitting a fret because the fret's too high or the string too loose or the neck's at the wrong angle, but also too wide a notch in the bridge or a bit of loose hardware -- tailpiece, bracket or even the bolts that tighten the tuners against the peghead.
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