What good are lt. guage banjo strings?

Subject: What good are lt. guage banjo strings?
From: Downeast Bob
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 06:01 AM

First, let me apologize for the misspelling of gauge. Next, I'd like to know the purpose of light gauge strings. I have five 5-string banjos: A Japanse copy of a mastertone, an antique Vega/Fairbanks; two handmade Appalachian fretless banjos (by Frank Proffitt and Clifford Glenn) and an August Pollmann which has a five-string neck on a mandolin-like body. I use all of these banjos for old-time string band music and always play without fingerpicks, even on the resonator banjo. I'd welcome the opinions of knowledgeable banjo players as to what light gauge strings would do for the sound of each of these instruments.

Subject: RE: What good are lt. guage banjo strings?
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 09:02 AM

The banjo questions are flying today. You might have better luck with this question on Banjo-L. See http://idt.net/~zepp29/bn00002.htm.

Subject: RE: What good are lt. guage banjo strings?
From: GUEST,Uncle Jaque in Maine
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 09:58 AM

They require less tension to bring up to pitch, and to some of us seem to give a sharper, clearer, more "sparkling" tone. With less tension, they are easier to warp or "choke", if u do that sort of thing, and seem a bit more responsive. As to the fretless "primitive" banjos, most of them were designed (up until around the 1890s) for GUT ("catline") trebles (bronze wound silk - or currently nylon - bass 4th). Using steel will eventually dig up the fingerboard, may be a bugger to keep in tune with friction pegs, and will not create the authentic sound that these instruments made in their hayday. You do know, don't you, that in the "Minstrel" period most 5-stings were tuned to about Ab, or 2 1/2 steps lower that today's "Bluegrass" instruments? It makes a big difference! I run Black Diamond lite-guage on my Vega "Folk Ranger" for modern stuff (never have been all that hot a Banjoist) and Boston Catline "guts" on my Civil-War style 5-string plunker. There are several reprints of "period" banjo instruction manuals available if you want to brush up on the old "stroke" style used predominantly in the 19th Century.

Subject: RE: What good are lt. guage banjo strings?
From: Downeast Bob
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 11:13 AM

Thanks, U.J. My biggest remaining question is, how would they sound on a resonator banjo played without picks? I, like a lot of southern pickers including Wade Ward, often use a resonator banjo without picks for old-time clawhammer, especially when playing with a band in which the banjo needs more volume than an open-back provides. BTW, what part of Maine are you in? I'm in the mid-coast area in Newcastle.

Subject: RE: What good are lt. guage banjo strings?
From: Jon W.
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 11:33 AM

I don't much like the light gauge ones myself - the volume and clarity seem to be less and they buzz more since they are at lower tension for the same note and they just don't feel right. I made the mistake of buying three sets at once. I've already thrown one set away and replaced with mediums, I'll do the same to another set when I get around to it, and the third is still in the package. You're welcome to them if you want them - send me a personal message. I've had the two sets I used on open back banjos played without picks.

Subject: RE: What good are lt. guage banjo strings?
From: Auxiris
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 11:03 AM

Might just be a question of personal taste in some cases. I find that mediums wear out my fingernails too quickly and the light gauge strings work just fine on my banjo (OME single X. . . does anyone else play an OME?)

cheers,

Aux

Subject: RE: What good are lt. guage banjo strings?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 04:08 PM

Just to easy-stretchy to my feel.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: What good are lt. guage banjo strings?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 07:23 PM

I find them to be very good n my lap dulcimer, other wise I use Vega Longs for my ODE longneck. They are a little heavier gauge. Brcause I flat pick the banjo as much as anything else, I'd like heavier still.

Don

Subject: RE: What good are lt. guage banjo strings?
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 07:40 PM

I just changed my light gauge strings on my Deering Goodtime banjo to medium gauge after about 1 year of playing with light strings. What a difference!!!
My banjo now has less of the bright sparkling tone. The tone is deeper now and with a rag I like the way it sounds for playing old-timey tunes.
The Goodtime is limited in the range of tone it can offer but for me changing the strings made a significant improvement.
I guess it is a personal taste thing.

Bonnie

Subject: RE: What good are lt. guage banjo strings?
From: Oversoul
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 08:44 PM

I use a light guage set, (.010) on all my banjos. Resonator, open-back and "travel". I wish I could say the same about my guitars! Find your string preference, and then buy them by the dozen. Get on with it!

Subject: RE: What good are lt. guage banjo strings?
From: Margo
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 12:17 AM

Hey Bonnie, I just put light gauge strings on my Deering Vega, (the Little Wonder) and I am amazed at how the sound sparkles! But my old strings were really worn out.(Have had the banjo for four month without changing) Even so, I think the old ones were mediums. I haven't made up my mind if I like them or not. They are definately stretchy.

So how often do you all change your strings? I play a couple hours a day max. - sometimes just an hour. My teacher says every two months is good. Overkill? Margo

Subject: RE: What good are lt. guage banjo strings?
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 08:55 AM

I think changing your strings is also a personal thing.
How often do you dust your home?
I always appreciate when I do change my strings yet I can let lots of time go by before doing so. Same thing with the dusting my home.
And when I do change my strings, I say to myself, oh, they sound great. I am going to do that more often!!!!!!

Bonnie

Subject: RE: What good are lt. guage banjo strings?
From: GUEST,Arnie
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 11:32 AM

I like mediums. In fact I put on a .026 bronze string on the 4th, and a .012 on the 5th. which gets me bigger bass, and also less ring on the 5th. which is the string you will hear most often. I don't recommend these guages for banjos with weak necks, and a no knot tailpiece is also recommended to take the tension off the slots of the bridge ,unless you have a 12" pot ( due to the angle, and pressure of the strings). The no knot will also give you more mid and sweeter tone - but less sustain and brightness. The heavier the strings, and higher the action, the more you will need to deal with intonation problems up the neck - nothin's easy. A compensated bridge can help. It may be harder to play chords and fancy ornaments as well. Some players like Reed Martin, or Ken Perlman prefer low action and light strings. It's a matter of what you get used to and how you develope your style of playing. I was playing an OME open back 12" pot with a Silverspun tone ring for a while. Incredible tone and good response with medium strings! They are currently making me another banjo. Changing strings: I know some people who will not change strings for a long time because they are too lazy ( and a little cheap ). When I tell them to put a new set on, and they finally do, they tell me it's like having a brand new banjo. Face it - the strings wear out - especially the 5th. which is played 3 times more than all the others. Not only will you face more intonation hassels than you need, but the response of the entire instrument will diminish. It's like having a good high powered stereo with terrible speakers. My advice is if you feel the strings are not responsive, are getting corroded, if you have tuning problems that just won't go away - try changing the strings.

Subject: RE: What good are lt. guage banjo strings?
From: JedMarum
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 08:52 AM

I use mediums on my Deering/Vega long neck. I like the feel and the sound. I do not change my banjo strings as often as I change my guitar strings. I believe it is because my hand is less 'involved' with the neck and strings when I play banjo; that is there is less wrapping of fingers across the neck - bathing strings in sweat and oils, adding to corrosive decay. When I play banjo, it is mostly my finger tips that touch the string, as opposed to guitar playing (it seems) with my whole left hand.