I seek advice for locating a suitable vendor of real gut strings. Many thanks in advance.
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Bob Thornburg used to sell gut strings, but I don't know if he still does that.
Thanks for the input. I guess the question now is will the difference in tone be worth the investment? I didn't realize they were so expensive. I also wonder about durability - how long do they last and how easily can they be broken? I also found this source online http://www.drhorsehair.com/accy.html
You should certainly check them out to compare. They are really nice, but there is a crazy placebo effect. All in all, weigh it out and you will be way better off with nylgut, so far as price, availability, wearability, and subtle difference in tone.
I put gut strings on my Fairbanks & Cole A-Scale many years ago.
http://www.thekimerers.net/brian/music/fandcbanjo.shtml
I really liked them, but after about two months they wore through and broke. At $25 bucks a shot (in 2002 dollars) they seemed a bit expensive, so I decided to go with the new Nylgut strings. The Nylgut strings are still on the banjo and doing fine. I use Nylgut on all my minstrel and gourd banjos.
It also depends upon the humidity when you play. A mist string wears way faster......and then it is a matter of time once it frays just a bit.
The main difference I can tells is the additional "click" you get from the surface of the nylgut as the nail hits it.
mist??? jeez i mean moist
Years ago i used good quality (Thornburg) gut strings on ALL my banjos. I did notice that in extreme moist camping conditions, the strings themselves did absorb moisture from the air and they became a bit thicker and softer- not a good thing if you combine that problem with soggy skin head. Nowadays I really appreciate Nylgut. I do keep real gut strings on my rebec however...but I wouldn't take that camping!
A mist string wears way faster...
Sounds pretty nebulous. ;D
I get mine from gamut strings. I get them varnished. A set of strings can last a long time.
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