Howdy folks.
A couple of my banjos have recently developed some real forward bow. A little bit of banana neck as a friend of mine used to say (enough to look a little off when sighting down the neck). One more so than the other. I have adjusted the worse of the two by tightening the truss rod to get to about .015 with a feeler gauge, but this left me with some buzzing on the fifth string. I noticed that my capo spikes are also sticking up a little high, so I filed them individually, and put a little relief back in the neck so that it now measures roughly .020-.021.
This pretty much fixed my buzz issue, and that banjo now plays just fine.
My other banjo measures pretty similar as it is. Relief is .022 or so. This banjo plays well and I like the set up overall. So I'm inclined to leave it as is.
I use light gauge strings on all my banjos, which I know means more relief is necessary as a general rule. But should I attempt to remove a little more relief from both necks and then address any other set up issues that may cause? Get a little closer to the recommended .010-.015? Or just leave them both?
Edited by - TScottHilton on 09/13/2026 17:54:24
You don't say where you are measuring, but .015 at the 7th fret is plenty in my experience. I would make that my goal.
One size does not fit all. I think the range for recommended relief for Stelling banjos goes to .025 or even more. Mike Munford did a setup on one of my banjos a couple years ago and found it behaved well with relief at .017.
I don't know what adjustments you can make elsewhere to force your banjo to accept a specific relief that you prefer. Maybe a nut with slots less deep or a slightly taller bridge?
Maybe you have to get used to the relief the banjo is giving you.
Both banjos are in the .020-.022 range and playing fine, cosidering other aspects of the set up, strings you are using, and how you play. Suitable relief is not set in a vacuum, but depends on other factors.
Since you asked, I wouldn't change anything. Maybe in a week or so check the relief to see if it has stabilized.
Don't know where a recommendation for .010 would come from for a 5-string banjo. That's guitar territory , or maybe a short scale tenor with heavy strings.
Edited by - Alex Z on 09/13/2026 16:53:02
quote:
Originally posted by Alex ZDon't know where a recommendation for .010 would come from for a 5-string banjo. That's guitar territory
Yeah. I think .012 to .015 is a place to start then adjust as needed. I may have said .01 in a discussion as a bottom of a range, but it's nothing I shoot for.
The banjo on which Mike M did a setup (as part of other fret work it needed) has an old one way truss rod that doesn't really set relief so much as allow the strings to pull the neck into relief. So I find the truss rod needs adjustment one way or the other maybe twice a year. Or sometimes it goes longer. This time it went a long time. But earlier this summer action looked and felt high above the fifth fret, so I tightened the truss rod a little. Didn't measure. So I don't know if I brought it back to where Mike set it or went further. But after the slight tightening the banjo plays better in the 7th to 10th frets and still sounds good, so I didn't do any harm.
Is it a mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard?
Thanks everybody.
Yes, I am measuring at the 7th fret. As has been suggested, I think I will leave things be for now and just monitor to see if it stabilizes.
One of these banjos has a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard and the other is mahogany with rosewood fretboard.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent (EU/GDPR Only)
Copyright 2026 Banjo Hangout. All Rights Reserved.
