Strings...

[John Cohen]

I've been having trouble finding strings for my large minstrel banjo (~30'' scale).  Minstrel nylguts are have too much tension tuned to D for my tastes, and I really don't like how nylgut strings sound for early banjo styles.  Savarez Alliance KF strings sound much closer to actual gut (these are what Dr. Winans uses on his minstrel banjos) and come in plenty of gauges as well as 2 meter lengths, but I cannot for the life of me get these to stay tied to the tailpiece... I have no such problem with minstrel nylguts.  Does anybody have other string suggestions?