Nylon Strings? - Minstrel Banjo2024-03-29T09:35:38Zhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/topics/nylon-strings?commentId=2477478%3AComment%3A111024&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI know it's gonna be a great…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-04-14:2477478:Comment:1114582014-04-14T14:58:05.688ZCanaan Myskowskihttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/CanaanMyskowski
<p>I know it's gonna be a great adventure ;-)</p>
<p>I know it's gonna be a great adventure ;-)</p> Thanks Strumelia, I'm gonna…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-04-14:2477478:Comment:1112782014-04-14T14:56:13.813ZCanaan Myskowskihttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/CanaanMyskowski
<p>Thanks Strumelia, I'm gonna try all these things, but my poor prust is at home, and I shall not see her for another 3-weeks! Oh the denial!</p>
<p>Thanks Strumelia, I'm gonna try all these things, but my poor prust is at home, and I shall not see her for another 3-weeks! Oh the denial!</p> Have you tuned it down to min…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-04-14:2477478:Comment:1111862014-04-14T14:48:33.518ZStrumeliahttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/Strumelia
<p>Have you tuned it down to minstrel tuning yet? Try doing that with the bridge where it usually is, and see how the playing tension and sound is. With such a short scale it may indeed be a bit too loose. Then slide the bridge towards the tailpiece some more, retune again, and see how that feels and sounds. By sliding the bridge, you can play in both old-time tunings and minstrel tunings once you figure out what the strings and the banjo are capable of. Get some extra strings (you will…</p>
<p>Have you tuned it down to minstrel tuning yet? Try doing that with the bridge where it usually is, and see how the playing tension and sound is. With such a short scale it may indeed be a bit too loose. Then slide the bridge towards the tailpiece some more, retune again, and see how that feels and sounds. By sliding the bridge, you can play in both old-time tunings and minstrel tunings once you figure out what the strings and the banjo are capable of. Get some extra strings (you will likely break a string at some point while figuring it all out), and experiment! :)</p> Thanks for the Help everyone!…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-04-14:2477478:Comment:1111852014-04-14T14:39:15.714ZCanaan Myskowskihttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/CanaanMyskowski
<p>Thanks for the Help everyone! I'm going to try Minstrel Nylguts when I get the chance. Who knows when?</p>
<p>Thanks for the Help everyone! I'm going to try Minstrel Nylguts when I get the chance. Who knows when?</p> 23" is a pretty short scale. …tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-04-12:2477478:Comment:1111612014-04-12T23:49:18.091ZStrumeliahttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/Strumelia
<p>23" is a pretty short scale. I'd think you might want to experiment with the Aquila 'Minstrel' set which is a bit heavier. On my regular OT banjos with mostly 25-26 scale, with steel strings I never have any trouble tuning up to A, so I've always wondered why people get "A scale" banjos when they could tune up and down for both G and A.</p>
<p>Before I got my 'dedicated' minstrel banjos, I just put Aquila regular classic sets on my regular claw banjos and tuned them down to practice stroke…</p>
<p>23" is a pretty short scale. I'd think you might want to experiment with the Aquila 'Minstrel' set which is a bit heavier. On my regular OT banjos with mostly 25-26 scale, with steel strings I never have any trouble tuning up to A, so I've always wondered why people get "A scale" banjos when they could tune up and down for both G and A.</p>
<p>Before I got my 'dedicated' minstrel banjos, I just put Aquila regular classic sets on my regular claw banjos and tuned them down to practice stroke style.</p> So if instead of dGDF#A I cou…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-04-11:2477478:Comment:1110272014-04-11T14:24:27.006ZCanaan Myskowskihttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/CanaanMyskowski
<p>So if instead of dGDF#A I could set it at eAEG#B? Or perhaps going up just a half-step would work? </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>So if instead of dGDF#A I could set it at eAEG#B? Or perhaps going up just a half-step would work? </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p> I'm not at home, so I don't k…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-04-11:2477478:Comment:1108352014-04-11T13:22:43.283ZCanaan Myskowskihttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/CanaanMyskowski
<p>I'm not at home, so I don't know the measurement of the nut to the bridge off hand. I do know that the it has a scale length of 23". I apologize for my ignorance of the correct terms. I'm fairly new ;-)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I BELEIVE the bridge is more toward the nut then the center, its not in the middle. </p>
<p>I'm not at home, so I don't know the measurement of the nut to the bridge off hand. I do know that the it has a scale length of 23". I apologize for my ignorance of the correct terms. I'm fairly new ;-)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I BELEIVE the bridge is more toward the nut then the center, its not in the middle. </p> It is my understanding there…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-04-11:2477478:Comment:1110242014-04-11T12:24:55.621ZGreg Terryhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/GregTerry
<p>It is my understanding there are two different tension sets: standard & light. I suspect if you tried the standard tension, it would be satisfactory for your needs.</p>
<p>I'm rather new at this also and would defer to those more expert who I am sure would have more knowledge on the subject.</p>
<p></p>
<p>It is my understanding there are two different tension sets: standard & light. I suspect if you tried the standard tension, it would be satisfactory for your needs.</p>
<p>I'm rather new at this also and would defer to those more expert who I am sure would have more knowledge on the subject.</p>
<p></p> "A" scale is a fairly new con…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-04-11:2477478:Comment:1108322014-04-11T11:10:44.970ZJoel Hookshttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/deuceswilde
<p>"A" scale is a fairly new concept. Give us the measurement between the bridge and nut with the bridge placed in your favorite position.</p>
<p>Now that I think about it, do you keep the bridge directly in the middle of the head (the dead spot)? If so, slide it back towards the tailpiece a inch or two. Tighter strings and a clearer tone will result.</p>
<p>There are no set rules to pitch and if historical accuracy was the goal we would probably be tuned one step up from "minstrel"…</p>
<p>"A" scale is a fairly new concept. Give us the measurement between the bridge and nut with the bridge placed in your favorite position.</p>
<p>Now that I think about it, do you keep the bridge directly in the middle of the head (the dead spot)? If so, slide it back towards the tailpiece a inch or two. Tighter strings and a clearer tone will result.</p>
<p>There are no set rules to pitch and if historical accuracy was the goal we would probably be tuned one step up from "minstrel" pitch.</p>
<p>As a little side, I have been trying to remove the term "tuning" from general use to and replace it with "pitch" when referring to early/mid/late standards. It is the pitch that changes, the intervals remain the same.</p>
<p>Because of the scordatura used with the "old time" banjo, "Minstrel tuning" insinuates a change in string intervals, and that can be confusing. I think that simply stating "lower pitch" would make it more inviting.</p>