Stelling Bellflower: what strings do you prefer? What is the right height of the bridge?

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For those who own or want to own the ultimate banjo. www.stellingbanjo.com

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From Hajd on 8/26/2015 3:14:13 PM

Hello,

I just bought a beautiful 1989 Stelling Bellflower banjo. I have two questions:

1) What are the strings that you prefer for universal setup of this banjo, please (what brand, material and gauges)? I love to play both hard-driven bluegrass and contemporary music where I search for softer and more complex colors of the tone.
I prefer D'Addario strings on the guitar and on the mandolin. Do you have any preferred sets for Bellflower from this company, please?

2) What is a well functioning height of the bridge for this banjo, please? The one that came with the instrument is a little lower then another bridges I owe (including one older Stelling bridge that is unfortunately sunken in the middle).

Many thanks in advance for your answers.

7 Comments
	Rainor says: 8/26/2015 3:22:57 PM I shipped my 1980 Bellflower to Geoff for some repairs and set up. He put a Stelling/Ludwig head on it, an 11/16 bridge, and a set of his Bill Emerson Medium Lite strings (10, 11,13,20,10). Perfect for me and I've since used the same setup (except for the head) on my Rich & Taylor mahogany and love it. YMMV Thx, Rainor
	pjfolino says: 8/26/2015 4:16:01 PM I use similar gauge - 10, 11, 13, 20, 9.5 in GHS. Ludwig head, original bridge which is a tad higher the 5/8ths.
	dbull says: 8/27/2015 4:28:21 AM 84 Sunflower, GHS PF160 Med, 11 13 16 26 10 and I like Dean Markley Med LT 10 13 15 24W 10, 11/16 Stelling Bridge, Ludwig Head with tension at 91 to 92 on Drum Dial.
	Geoff Stelling says: 8/27/2015 6:23:26 AM The standard set-up on all new Stellings is with Stelling Med. Heavy strings (10, 12, 15, 24, 10) and an 11/16" Stelling old wood bridge. See the set-up hints on our website.
	jimthesailor says: 8/29/2015 3:25:13 PM I recently switched to Stelling Medium Heavys after lights and I really like the heavier strings. Stronger louder crisp tones on my Crusader. Thanks Geoff.
	Ybanjo says: 9/12/2015 6:38:35 AM My Staghorn came new with the Stelling light strings. I was told that was standard. Geoff told me that the mediums are standard. I have no idea how the lights got on the banjo. He sent me a set of mediums and I think I like them a little better. They seem to "tame" down the third string a little better. I wonder how even heavier strings would sound?? Any experience with heavier strings on a Stelling??
	tonwil says: 10/14/2015 6:01:19 AM I played mediums for years, but I've found that lights on a stelling still have plenty of volume and they have a good crispness that just don't seem to be there with the heavies. And you can manipulate them a little better, bend easier, feel better under your fingers. You have to be a little more precise with your setup, but that's just my two cents.. Stellings sound good no matter what string gauge you use.
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