I am new to the long neck. I'll play one for the very first time, tomorrow, when my Pisgah Whyte Laydie arrives.
Is there any advise to offer as to care of the long neck or tips on playing, preferred bridge height, etc?
12 Comments |
 | phdm says:
8/30/2015 8:16:21 PM
Welcome to the world of long necks. You should check out the recent post to this long neck group site, two below your post, and the comments to it, as several of us addressed the string question.
My experience after 40 years with a long neck is that you do need to use a heavier gauge string on a long neck to compensate for the added length this string has to vibrate. I believe a lighter gauge string may, at times, have a greater chance of buzzing.
If constructed properly, with a good neck truss rod, there should be no twisting or warping. I did hear that Deering has not produced a Good-Time long neck version because their Good Times don't have truss rods (to keep the Good Time model price low) and they were worried that a long neck without a truss rod might have neck warping problems. But I would bet this is irrelevant to your new banjo.
I was just in Asheville and had hoped to meet the owner of Pisgah Banjos and was thrilled to see that they offer a long neck version. (Unfortunately, the owner was off at a festival showing his banjos on the day I was in town.)
Playing styles and bridge height are mostly personal preference, though I am sure Pisgah set up your banjo perfectly, so I would not mess with bridge height right away. Get a bunch of playing down before you start thinking about bridge height.
Have a great time.
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 | rands says:
8/30/2015 9:22:24 PM
Thanks. I wasn't planning on messing with anything for a while but I would like to experiment some with different bridges and strings and heads down the road. I assume it is set up much better than I could do so all I have to do is check the tuning and frail in E...as soon as I learn how, that is.
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dlaughery1013 says:
8/31/2015 8:14:14 AM
I use light gauge strings on my long neck and been very happy with them. I did change the tailpiece from a no-knot to a Kershner type and was happy with that. Dave L.
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| rands says:
9/1/2015 6:57:43 PM
Please excuse my ignorance. What is the reason for changing tailpieces? Adjust-ability?
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| rands says:
9/1/2015 7:05:15 PM
I think I like it but the neck sure seems heavy compared to my goodtime. I expected the tone ring to provide some good counterbalance for the neck but notsomuch. I put a strap on it and that helped but it might take a little getting used to. Now I understand some of that eye-bolt talk goin' on. Maybe I need a separate stand, just to hold up the neck. What do you people do?
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| phdm says:
9/2/2015 10:58:17 PM
Yes – almost all other banjos are heavy compared to a Good Time. This is especially true with a tubaphone tone ringed long neck banjo. Before you go drilling holes in your neck to attach a strap, you might consider how you attach your strap. If the strap goes over the heel of the neck, and connects to the first or second bracket on the far side of the neck, the strap will give some support to holding the neck up when playing.
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dlaughery1013 says:
9/3/2015 5:58:11 AM
I did change the tailpiece because, for some reason. there was a six string one on the Silvertone when I got it, and that caused the strings not to be centered on the neck. Since I was replacing the tailpiece I put a Kershner style one on and it did give me the ability to adjust downward pressure on the bridge. By the way, I use a Sidewinder capo on the banjo with good results. Enjoy your banjo! Dave L.
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| phdm says:
9/3/2015 8:41:42 PM
Yes – almost all other banjos are heavy compared to a Good Time. This is especially true with a tubaphone tone ringed long neck banjo. Before you go drilling holes in your neck to attach a strap, you might consider how you attach your strap. If the strap goes over the heel of the neck, and connects to the first or second bracket on the far side of the neck, the strap will give some support to holding the neck up when playing.
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 | darwinyarwin says:
9/6/2015 8:30:02 PM
Rands, My experience is that most long neck players dislike heavy gauge strings, unless they find a musical reason to need them. (More bass, a louder treble, etc.) I've "waffled" between mediums and lights since 1962 on a variety of long neck banjos, without buzzing ever. Last few years, the choice has been lights, they just play easier for me.
As for warp or twist, it has never been an issue with the major LN manufacturers as far as I know. They build them to stand up to the forces that would do that.
As for straps, phdm has it correct. My secret is to have a strap with a shoulder pad that allows the strap to slide easily. You will quickly discover a "sweet spot" where that kind of strap naturally will balance the long neck and the pot. And yes, long necks are heavy.
Welcome to the group and to long neck playing! You'll love the instrument's enhanced versatility.
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| rands says:
9/6/2015 9:11:34 PM
Thanks. After some experimenting, I found the banjo not to be so neck-heavy after all. By using more hooks for the cradle and lengthening the strap, I could balance it better and reach the neck better, too.
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 | calypsojimmy says:
9/6/2015 10:11:42 PM
I'll throw my two cents in here on several of your Questions.
(1) re: heavier strings on a long neck: String gauges and materials will be totally up to you. As others have indicated, lighter strings might just be what sound and/or feel best. Or maybe not. Up to you. (2) re: warping, neck stability, etc: I have had two Pete Seeger Vega Longnecks and they have been unbelievably rock-solid over the years, both in terms of neck stability and accurate intonation all the way up that extra long neck. In general I don't hear longneck fans complaining about neck twisting. (3) Good banjos tend to weigh a LOT. Sounds like you are learning to deal with that. (4) Experimenting: Great idea: Head material, Head tension, bridge height/material, string gauge/material, what you might stuff into the back of the banjo.. all that stuff affects tone. Experimentation is ongoing. Other: One of the reasons i love Longnecks is using a capo: the banjo sounds different to me with the capo at each &every fret all the way up to the fifth string peg. Did you get a little 5-string capo-hook installed?
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| rands says:
9/7/2015 10:52:41 AM
No hooks
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