I used to play D'Addario light gauge which are .009, .011, .013, .020, and .009, or something very close. I decided to step up one gauge and see what would happen. I started with individual strings and made up my own sets. .010, .012, .014, 022, and .010. That is the set of gauges I prefer now. They really sound out better on some of my banjos, on some, it doesn't seem to make as much difference. Anyway, the strings are a little stiffer and I have a more solid set to pick on.
I liked the gauge and decided to stick with it, then I found out that GHS makes sets in the same gauge, so I don't have to buy individual strings anymore. GHS PF 150 loop end and PF130 ball end.

Start out the way I did. Go to  music store that sells single strings and make up a set or two. Try them and see if you like them better. You may get lucky like I did and find ready-made sets in those gauges, or you may have to continue to make your own sets. You won't know until you try.

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Originally posted by jdeluke137

For those of you with many years of string changes, can you feel the difference? Can you hear the difference? Or am I just overthinking this, as I’m prone to do.

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You'll definitely feel a difference, in the amount of effort and the response of the string to the amount of effort.  There will be a difference in tone, at least a slight difference, which may or may not suit your preference on a particular banjo. 
 

As for me, I use the same gauge strings on all my banjos because I want the feel to be the same. 
 

Experiment a bit -- you'll enjoy the learning!  

“can you feel the difference? Can you hear the difference?”

Yes & yes. The tricky part is doing a comparison. For one thing, unless you have two banjos, you cannot get a fast comparison. You pick the new set & it just feels “not the same.” Stick with them for a month or so, until the novelty wears off. Then go back to your old gauge & see if they are as wonderful as you remember.
You’re right, strings are cheap. My routine is to put on a new set every 90 days. Fresh strings always feel & sound better. And it’s a reasonable amount of time to get a reasonable assessment.
Finally, you will overthink it until you’re exhausted. Then the proper evaluation can begin!??

FWIW- I started will Deering Light gauge strings on my Sierra. Tried the Jens Kruger set & did not like them. Too heavy, too hard to fret. After a year of practice, I tried them again. Now they are my prefered gauge. It took a while to build up my fingering technique to appreciate the nuances.

I feel the difference especially on the first string, the others less so. Going from 0.09 to .10 is significantly different (it's less bothersome on the 5th string) - I find the lighter strings too floppy on the banjo.

This page might help you.

ddbluegrass.de/index.php?seite...-am-banjo

I am barely a beginner banjo player. On Mandolin and Guitar .001 inch makes a big difference. I use Roger Siminoff's Straight Up Strings lately. I have looked at his research into the difference that .0005 inch makes makes regarding achieving balanced tension. I am not a good enough player or listener to detect the difference .0005 inch makes. I did get very positive feedback after recent string changes to Straight Up's on both Banjo and Mandolin.

Thank you all for the replies! I have more than one banjo and they are setup similarly. I’ll try some different strings sets while I keep one as a control. That way I’ll be able to over analyze everything! 

I translated the German article into English and it was interesting reading.  And I decided to try a set of Roger Smirnoff's medium strings, which are slightly different in gauge to what I'm currently playing.

The whole process will be an entirely new retirement activity!

I am amazed how tone changes with the way I pick. Just a small adjustment in the curl of my fingers or an increase in the "strike" can affect the tone significantly. Once I got to some strings that feel good, I switched to worrying more about my right hand and less about gauges and string age.

I wish I could change my right hand just by spending a few bucks. Ha!

Yes. One can (I do) feel and hear a difference between different string thicknesses, including sets of the same material from the same manufacturer.

But I don't think I can feel and hear a difference at every minute level of change. And don't think you will.

Specifically, your first alternative set changes only the third string, from 12.5 to 13. Now, you might notice the third string becoming a bit more stable. But with four other strings remaining the same I doubt your experience wil change. Maybe you'll notice something in the 10 11 13 21 10 (Deering lights) compared to what you currently use.

I think you'd really feel a difference with Mark's preferred GHS PF150 -- 10 12 14 22 10 -- that bumps up all three internal strings. I bought a few sets of these around 15 years ago when I mis-remembered what GHS strings I had brief;y used before settling on Martin/Vega for a long time. I found them too stiff.

For several years now, I've been using GHS PF190 Americana cryonenic lights: 10 11 13 20w 10.   I bought them for the 10 11 13, not the cryogenic treatment, but I do think that makes a difference. They sound and feel better new and seem to last a bit longer.

I'd probably like a set like the Deering lights, but I don't like the price.

My favorites are 11, 12, 13, 22w, 11 Sonny Osborne or Jens Kruger model strings.
The only difference is the 4th string is bronze wound on the Sonny Osborne set and nickle wound on the Jens Kruger set.

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Originally posted by Old Hickory

Yes. One can (I do) feel and hear a difference between different string thicknesses, including sets of the same material from the same manufacturer.

But I don't think I can feel and hear a difference at every minute level of change. And don't think you will.

Specifically, your first alternative set changes only the third string, from 12.5 to 13. Now, you might notice the third string becoming a bit more stable. But with four other strings remaining the same I doubt your experience wil change. Maybe you'll notice something in the 10 11 13 21 10 (Deering lights) compared to what you currently use.

I think you'd really feel a difference with Mark's preferred GHS PF150 -- 10 12 14 22 10 -- that bumps up all three internal strings. I bought a few sets of these around 15 years ago when I mis-remembered what GHS strings I had brief;y used before settling on Martin/Vega for a long time. I found them too stiff.

For several years now, I've been using GHS PF190 Americana cryonenic lights: 10 11 13 20w 10.   I bought them for the 10 11 13, not the cryogenic treatment, but I do think that makes a difference. They sound and feel better new and seem to last a bit longer.

I'd probably like a set like the Deering lights, but I don't like the price.

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I've got a set of the PF190s on the way. I ordered over a week ago but Musicians Friend had some kind of weather delay.  I'll probably give then a try first.

Thanks again for all the input everyone!

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Originally posted by jdeluke137

I've got a set of the PF190s on the way. I ordered over a week ago but Musicians Friend had some kind of weather delay.  I'll probably give then a try first.

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Enjoy!

Mike Munford also uses them. Learned that last year when I brought one of my banjos to him for fret work.

I used mostly Martin/Vega in the 90s and early 2000s [ 9 10 13 20 9 ] because they reminded me of Bell Brand from the 70s that went out of production in the 80s. Except the 4th string didn't come apart. I used to mail order them from First Quality/Sullivan because they were cheap.

I most recently bought 4 sets of these from Strings & Beyond with a discount on Black Friday. With shipping, buying four brought down the cost per set. After 50+ years, it's time I get used to what strings cost.

my right hand likes big strings but lately I realized --I mash smaller ones down better on difficult holds

I always use D'Addario EJ61 strings and like them a lot, but sometimes someone prefers another set of strings and will send them to me to use on their banjo. I don't like the feel or the sound of the "light" sets as much, with the .009" strings, but that's just me.

I’ve always used 10 11 13 20 10 but recently I switched to 9.5 11 12 20 9.5 and I was amazed at the difference such a small change can make. My banjo sounded crisper and I was happy with the change. But when I found myself at a jam and had to bear down a bit to be heard with other instruments, the lighter gauge just seemed to quit on me. The strings felt mushy and the banjo lacked volume. When I got home I changed back to 10 11 13 20 10 and that’s what I’ll stay with. It’s amazing what a difference there is between 9.5 and 10.

Here’s a follow up question for anyone still reading. With the slight differences we’re talking about am I likely to get any buzzing or other setup issues by going up 0.5 on a string diameter?

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Originally posted by jdeluke137

Here’s a follow up question for anyone still reading. With the slight differences we’re talking about am I likely to get any buzzing or other setup issues by going up 0.5 on a string diameter?

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Pretty unlikely, I think, unless your existing strings don't fit properly either.

Buzzing (against the frets) almost definitely not, as a thicker string would sit higher in the nut/bridge, and the increased tension should slightly increase relief, while also swinigng less when played due to higher tension.

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Originally posted by Old Hickory

quote:

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Originally posted by jdeluke137

I've got a set of the PF190s on the way. I ordered over a week ago but Musicians Friend had some kind of weather delay.  I'll probably give then a try first.

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Enjoy!

Mike Munford also uses them. Learned that last year when I brought one of my banjos to him for fret work.

I used mostly Martin/Vega in the 90s and early 2000s [ 9 10 13 20 9 ] because they reminded me of Bell Brand from the 70s that went out of production in the 80s. Except the 4th string didn't come apart. I used to mail order them from First Quality/Sullivan because they were cheap.

I most recently bought 4 sets of these from Strings & Beyond with a discount on Black Friday. With shipping, buying four brought down the cost per set. After 50+ years, it's time I get used to what strings cost.

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Ken, what Ian says above makes sense.  But since you've been changing strings a LONG time  ......do you think I'll run into any setup issues with the slight changes I'm proposing?

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Originally posted by jdeluke137

Ken, what Ian says above makes sense.  But since you've been changing strings a LONG time  ......do you think I'll run into any setup issues with the slight changes I'm proposing?

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I've also had a long time to forget!

Since the only change from your current set to the new one is .005 in the third string, I would expect no setup change to accommodate that. Even if your action is already good, you may notice the third string is more clear with less occasional rattle (if you ever had that).

And I could be hallucinating.

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Originally posted by Old Hickory

 

And I could be hallucinating.

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At our age that's always a possibility! 

quote:

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Originally posted by jdeluke137

Here’s a follow up question for anyone still reading. With the slight differences we’re talking about am I likely to get any buzzing or other setup issues by going up 0.5 on a string diameter?

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I think I see a typo. I am not being picky, I just want to understand. 0.5 is a gigantic change.  

I wonder if you are thinking 0.005? 

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Originally posted by Maurice McMurry

quote:

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Originally posted by jdeluke137

Here’s a follow up question for anyone still reading. With the slight differences we’re talking about am I likely to get any buzzing or other setup issues by going up 0.5 on a string diameter?

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I think I see a typo. I am not being picky, I just want to understand. 0.5 is a gigantic change.  

I wonder if you are thinking 0.005? 

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Yes, you're correct.

In high school (1969), I discovered that light gauge strings sustained longer (Vega Earl Scruggs Stainless Steel Light) so I went back to Vega Stainless Steel Mediums .012 .015 .020w .026w .012. When they were discontinued around 1974 or so, I bought up all the sets I could find in every music store in the San Jose area. When those ran out, I trued Gibson Earl Scruggs Medium .012 .014 .020w ss .025 monel on my standard scale banjos but that .020w wasn't long enough for the 3rd string on my Ode longneck.

Although I've messed around with various sets since over the last 56 years, those Vega gauges are the ones I still use. GHS is the only maker who's .020w is long enough for the 3rd string of my four long necks but D'Addario will wind them any length I want—no up-charge as long as I am not in a hurry. I discovered that when I needed a custom wind for my electric basses—GHS refused the order because I wasn't in a "name" brand but D'Addario stepped right up.

Just for grins try a set of 9-22-13-10-9 and see what you think. I buy them individually from GHS and make my own sets. You may be surprised how much less effort there is in playing and the tone tends to "sparkle" more than heavier strings. It also let me lighten up on my attack for a cleaner, clearer response.  On a good banjo there doesn't seem to be any volume lost either, in fact it helps with sustain. 

A small change of ".5" would likely be .0005, five ten-thousandths,  such as .009 to .0095, or .0095 to .010, or .0125 to .013.