I was gifted a 6 string vangoa banjo a while ago I would like to re string it. What gauge strings would sound best please ?
Currently they are 2.4mm, 2.2mm, 2mm, 1.8mm, 1.6mm and 1.5mm
Thanks
GHS makes great banjo strings but I don’t know if they are readily available in the UK. These GHS strings are standard loop end if that is what you use. If your banjo has ball end strings then use regular acoustic guitar strings as the gauges are similar.
Edited by - Pick-A-Lick on 12/08/2024 07:53:39
The measurements you give make no sense to me...
If that's the full-size Vangoa 6-stringer, I'd say an extra-light acoustic guitar set, or an electric set of similar or slightly lighter gauge (.009-.010"/.23-.25mm on the high e).
If it's the mini sized one, it's anybody's guess. All depends on how you want to tune it.
Hi
Thanks for your reply it is 17inch from bidge to nut 20 frets. Tuned as a guitar
The measurements are diameters from my vernier gauge.
Thanks
Len
quote:
Originally posted by properjobI was gifted a 6 string vangoa banjo a while ago I would like to re string it. What gauge strings would sound best please ?
Currently they are 2.4mm, 2.2mm, 2mm, 1.8mm, 1.6mm and 1.5mm
Thanks
In Imperial, those strings would be 0.095", 0.087", 0.079", 0.071", 0.063", 0.059". Those gauges are in the range of bass guitar strings.
Might they be nylon strings? Trying to make sense of the gauges you listed.
At 17" scale, a standard set of electric guitar strings, tuned to guitar standard tuning, would be really floppy. You may want to tune up to 5 frets high.
quote:
Originally posted by properjobHi
Thanks for your reply it is 17inch from bidge to nut 20 frets. Tuned as a guitar
That's the little one. There's no set of strings that will sound good on it at standard guitar pitch. I'd try a standard "9" electric set, tuned a 4th or 5th higher than standard. Like a regular guitar capo'd at the 5th or 7th fret, ADGCEA or BEADF#B.
If you want to get non-transposing chord positions, you could try to tune a full octave above standard guitar pitch, though you'll have a hard time finding a string that will tune to that high E on a 17" scale without breaking. What could work is "Nashville" tuning, with the high E and B at standard pitch, and the low 4 strings an octave high. (very) Rough gauges (inches) maybe .032w-.024w.-.016-.011-.018-.015 ... You could use a .009 on the B and tune it to the upper octave, but that would leave just the high E tuned low...
