Good banjo choices for nylon

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Polymer Strings

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Advice and links for using Nylgut and other plastic/ polymer strings of all brands, including fishing line.

108 Members, Created 12/11/2011 -

Administrators: Bufo Bill (owner)

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From Shook Barley on 1/30/2012 7:05:13 PM

I posted this question on the 'building, setup and repair' section. Jbalch was kind enough to direct me here....

I'm on the verge of purchasing another banjo. I'd like to get one that is set up with nylon strings or one on which I can put nylons. Are there certain characteristics, such as pot size, scale, materials, presence or absence of tone ring etc. that adapt themselves better to a nylon string set-up?

Feel free to direct me to any previous discussion on this topic.

7 Comments
	C Nyal de Kaye says: 1/30/2012 7:32:50 PM I am not an expert in these matters SB but you could put nylon strings on any banjo as far as I know. I imagine you are looking for an old timey sound and, to my ear anyway, the ones that sound best do not have a tone ring. These things are very subjective, I think. My favourite is a gourd banjo with nylgut strings. The pot (that is the gourd) is 12" across (I just measured it) and 5" deep. It gives a good deep sound on nylgut but a bit less so on nylon. I have another gourd banjo with a shorter scale, the pots about 10" diameter, and it has nylon strings but will soon have nylgut. It is not as deep sounding as the other one but I doubt that that has anything to do with its scale. You should see my comments as amateurish and hopefully some of the heavies, who really do know, will comment.
	Bufo Bill says: 1/31/2012 4:43:17 AM I too like the sound of Nylon strings on a banjo with no tone ring, but equally I am no expert on the matter. Have a listen to some of the sound files in the links pages to the right of the page, people who post are very good about describing their banjo set up in the text, this may give you a couple of pointers as to what you would like. All the best from Bill. :D
	Shook Barley says: 2/1/2012 9:08:21 AM Thanks for the feedback! Guess I'll keep listening and go to my local music shop to try some out.
	ELWOOD says: 2/10/2012 6:07:47 AM Hello, Shook. I thought a 12 inch with poly strings was the right stuff, but it turns out that my 10 5/8 buckbee with a calf skin head is it. These oldies(Buckbee) are often in the Classifieds here at low prices. this does not mean that is the only combo that works it just worked for me. Ill add a sound clip.
	ELWOOD says: 2/10/2012 6:12:04 AM OOOOPs see Apple Jack s back at the link, Shook Barley
	Shook Barley says: 2/10/2012 10:45:55 AM Very well played Elwood! Thanks for the post.That is definitely the sound I'm looking for. What is the scale length of your Buckbee? What tuning did you use on Apple Jack's Back?
	DEmery says: 2/22/2012 4:50:58 AM I have tinkered with nylgut on a variety of banjos. Most are wood tone ring rims. Several keep them and I go back to steel on others. If you like the sound of nylgut find a second banjo "you like first" and use nylon. I wouldn't think nylon pairs up with traditional tone ring banjos like tubaphone or Whyte Laydie designed for brightness; and agree wood tone ring or at most a brass ring rim is going to be the likely prospect for your second banjo. David E.
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