Anyone know a source for BIG polymer strings?

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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 paverity on 1/1/2015 1:33:27 AM

I play less banjo than I used to; more Scottish (lots of that in Edinburgh...) & some klezmer & Greek. I have (among others) 3 fretless banjos with Nylgut on one of them - a nice sound...

I have been playing quite a lot of bass recently (despite getting older and living in a top flat - portability problems...), & now have an NS Omnibass with 5 strings tuned in fifths (low CGDAE high). So what has that got to do with polymer strings? Well, I also have an "Ashbory" minibass (see Wiki article... ) with 18" string length, & silicon rubber strings; or their much tougher Aquila equivalent - but these strings are for the standard EADG bass tuning. As my main bass is in fifths, and an 18" string length would be easy, I would like to tune the Ashbory in fifths , either CGDA (very low) or more probably GDAE 2 octaves below mandolin & fiddle.

My problem is finding strings - this tuning goes way above the Aquila Thundergut range by a major 6th. Anyone know of sources for ultra heavy (by banjo standards) polymer strings.

Pav Verity,

Edinburgh, Scotland

8 Comments
	john bange says: 1/1/2015 6:38:09 AM Robinsons Harp Shop...lots of weights
	paverity says: 1/1/2015 7:21:31 AM Thanks John Bange As it is a couple of thousand miles to Vermont I would probably not use the shop you recommend; but I do have contact with harp players & makers here in Scotland. I had not put 1 & 1 together to make 2 - so I will try them to see what they have. I rasther suspect that I need something bigger than normal hapr diameters, however... Pav
	BoJack says: 1/1/2015 7:38:25 PM I use fishing line for banjo strings...I once needed a HEAVYWEIGHT string and I used weed whacker line
	paverity says: 7/16/2015 2:54:15 PM Hello BoJack Thanks for that suggestion! I eventually got some 1.65mm "weedwhacker" (we call them "strimmers" in Scotland - much less descriptive) line, & it works quite well. I have also got some 1.25mmm to try next.
	paverity says: 8/2/2015 9:05:58 AM A different question... On the CD with wife Abigail, Bela Fleck plays a fretless baritione banjo (I think...). Anyone know string lengths, gauges, & tuning?
	Bufo Bill says: 8/4/2015 2:48:01 PM I think it's a Goldtone instrument, you could look at the maker's website. I understand that it is was a prototype that was used, but there may be some info on the site.
	paverity says: 8/4/2015 3:23:40 PM thanks Bill - found it! I have a 14" drum, halved, and I reckon I could fit a fretless neck on that & have a "fretless minstrel" baritone banjo.... I just need to finish the other dozen or so instrument projects & repairs first... :-)
	Bufo Bill says: 8/5/2015 2:31:02 PM When that sucker is done could you show us some pics . . . for study purposes only of course! ;)
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