Strings and Bridges - Minstrel Banjo2024-03-29T13:29:38Zhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/topics/strings-and-bridges?commentId=2477478%3AComment%3A42612&feed=yes&xn_auth=noYes...I made three identical…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2011-07-28:2477478:Comment:427742011-07-28T21:08:02.181ZTim Twisshttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/TimTwiss
Yes...I made three identical bridges. The best was the soft and sweet SUGAR PINE. Cedar and Redwood were harsh.<br/><cite>John Masciale said:</cite>
<blockquote><div>George, at a couple of the early banjo conferences stated that bridges for minstrel banjos should be of as light a mass as possible. I tend to use basswood, and have played with pine, poplar, and aspen. I've tried oak and maple, and did not like the sound as much.</div>
</blockquote>
Yes...I made three identical bridges. The best was the soft and sweet SUGAR PINE. Cedar and Redwood were harsh.<br/><cite>John Masciale said:</cite>
<blockquote><div>George, at a couple of the early banjo conferences stated that bridges for minstrel banjos should be of as light a mass as possible. I tend to use basswood, and have played with pine, poplar, and aspen. I've tried oak and maple, and did not like the sound as much.</div>
</blockquote> I helped Mimmo (owner of Aqui…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2011-07-28:2477478:Comment:427722011-07-28T20:50:57.703ZTrapdoor2http://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/Trapdoor2
<p>I helped Mimmo (owner of Aquila) with a bit of the development on the Banjo string sets. At one time he was sending out non-wound basses suitable for the set. The biggest problem was the diameter of the string required most people to file their nut slots wider to suit the unwound bass. Mimmo sent me two solid basses, one @ 1mm in dia and the other at 1.06. The 1.0mm (.039") was huge and barely would sit in the nut-slot on my banjo...but it did sound and play quite nicely.</p>
<p>The current…</p>
<p>I helped Mimmo (owner of Aquila) with a bit of the development on the Banjo string sets. At one time he was sending out non-wound basses suitable for the set. The biggest problem was the diameter of the string required most people to file their nut slots wider to suit the unwound bass. Mimmo sent me two solid basses, one @ 1mm in dia and the other at 1.06. The 1.0mm (.039") was huge and barely would sit in the nut-slot on my banjo...but it did sound and play quite nicely.</p>
<p>The current "classical" set from Aquila features a silver-wound bass.</p>
<p>The only problem with the wound string is that it wears out very quickly on a fretted instrument. On my fretless...my set has been on for years.</p>
<p>If you want a solid (unwound) 4th, simply purchase a suitable nylon one from a guitar set. Singles are routinely available online from a number of string vendors like "stringsbymail" and "juststrings". I would pick a few in the 1mm range and give 'em a try. Savarez "yellow card" are well liked by a number of banjoists I know (they're playing more modern banjos though).</p> George, at a couple of the ea…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2011-07-28:2477478:Comment:428572011-07-28T18:47:01.524ZJohn Mascialehttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/JohnMasciale
George, at a couple of the early banjo conferences stated that bridges for minstrel banjos should be of as light a mass as possible. I tend to use basswood, and have played with pine, poplar, and aspen. I've tried oak and maple, and did not like the sound as much.
George, at a couple of the early banjo conferences stated that bridges for minstrel banjos should be of as light a mass as possible. I tend to use basswood, and have played with pine, poplar, and aspen. I've tried oak and maple, and did not like the sound as much. That's very helpful info Terr…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2011-07-28:2477478:Comment:426902011-07-28T03:16:07.251ZStrumeliahttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/Strumelia
That's very helpful info Terry- thanks!
That's very helpful info Terry- thanks! At Bernunzio music they descr…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2011-07-28:2477478:Comment:428522011-07-28T02:43:16.098ZBell Banjoshttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/TerryBell
At Bernunzio music they describe it quite well. They have all combinations of Nylguts but unfortunately the Minstrel set does not have a Nylgut fourth, only the Classical Medium, which sound good on 26" scale in F, a little floppier in E but still playable. Regarding your gourd - at 26" classical medium Nylguts in 'F' is about as tight as you would want to go and if you're using some kind of new string, keep an eye out for 'puckers' in the skin, which would be a sign that your gourd is changing…
At Bernunzio music they describe it quite well. They have all combinations of Nylguts but unfortunately the Minstrel set does not have a Nylgut fourth, only the Classical Medium, which sound good on 26" scale in F, a little floppier in E but still playable. Regarding your gourd - at 26" classical medium Nylguts in 'F' is about as tight as you would want to go and if you're using some kind of new string, keep an eye out for 'puckers' in the skin, which would be a sign that your gourd is changing shape. Just a word of caution. Bernunzio doesn't charge shipping, can you believe it? Is there a Nylgut string set…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2011-07-27:2477478:Comment:426122011-07-27T20:36:14.559ZStrumeliahttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/Strumelia
<p>Is there a Nylgut string set <em>that has a solid (not wound) bass string</em> as opposed to the wound?</p>
<p>This would be for a 26" scale gourd banjo tuned to the keys of E-F. I want nylon rather than gut strings (had some major humidity problems years ago).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I figured I'd be getting the Aquila Classical (not Aquila minstrel) set that is labeled as being intended for G tuning. But I'd like to avoid wound bass string if possible. I'm not sure what kind of bass string comes…</p>
<p>Is there a Nylgut string set <em>that has a solid (not wound) bass string</em> as opposed to the wound?</p>
<p>This would be for a 26" scale gourd banjo tuned to the keys of E-F. I want nylon rather than gut strings (had some major humidity problems years ago).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I figured I'd be getting the Aquila Classical (not Aquila minstrel) set that is labeled as being intended for G tuning. But I'd like to avoid wound bass string if possible. I'm not sure what kind of bass string comes in the Aquila Classical Banjo set. Can someone tell me that info?</p>
<p>Any other specific recommendations for this 26" vsl gourd banjo for E-F tuning?</p>
<p>Thanks for any insights!</p> Jeremy,
The thinnest strings…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2009-05-22:2477478:Comment:82592009-05-22T11:54:19.000ZJohn Mascialehttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/JohnMasciale
Jeremy,<br />
<br />
The thinnest strings are Treble gut, and the 1.1 mm string is a Lyon gut string.<br />
<br />
I don't order the guitar string through gamut, but get it from my local guitar/music store. I've been playing with different strings for this. My latest was a Pro-Arte Classical guitar string (.74 mm) (D'Addario).
Jeremy,<br />
<br />
The thinnest strings are Treble gut, and the 1.1 mm string is a Lyon gut string.<br />
<br />
I don't order the guitar string through gamut, but get it from my local guitar/music store. I've been playing with different strings for this. My latest was a Pro-Arte Classical guitar string (.74 mm) (D'Addario). I've bought a new Minstrel br…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2009-05-21:2477478:Comment:82462009-05-21T18:51:32.000ZJeremyShttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/JeremyS
I've bought a new Minstrel bride so hopefully that will help some. John, I went to GamutStrings.com and it is a little overwhelming to pick out strings to buy. Is it treble gut that I get? Also can you buy singles of the classical D guitar string? And any recommendations for it?
I've bought a new Minstrel bride so hopefully that will help some. John, I went to GamutStrings.com and it is a little overwhelming to pick out strings to buy. Is it treble gut that I get? Also can you buy singles of the classical D guitar string? And any recommendations for it? JeremyS said:I have just orde…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2009-05-19:2477478:Comment:79582009-05-19T23:27:11.000ZTim Twisshttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/TimTwiss
<cite>JeremyS said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/topics/strings-and-bridges#2477478Comment7897"><div>I have just ordered a new taller, more Minstrel bridge from Jeff Menzies. I am a little intimidated by the gut strings. Are they very susceptible to weather/humidity? What is the average lifespan of a single set? How much is the difference in tone of gut vs nylon/Nylagut?</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
Gut strings last a long time, and will never give near the agony that the…
<cite>JeremyS said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/topics/strings-and-bridges#2477478Comment7897"><div>I have just ordered a new taller, more Minstrel bridge from Jeff Menzies. I am a little intimidated by the gut strings. Are they very susceptible to weather/humidity? What is the average lifespan of a single set? How much is the difference in tone of gut vs nylon/Nylagut?</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
Gut strings last a long time, and will never give near the agony that the skin head does. I have just ordered a new tal…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2009-05-18:2477478:Comment:78972009-05-18T12:16:05.000ZJeremyShttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/JeremyS
I have just ordered a new taller, more Minstrel bridge from Jeff Menzies. I am a little intimidated by the gut strings. Are they very susceptible to weather/humidity? What is the average lifespan of a single set? How much is the difference in tone of gut vs nylon/Nylagut?
I have just ordered a new taller, more Minstrel bridge from Jeff Menzies. I am a little intimidated by the gut strings. Are they very susceptible to weather/humidity? What is the average lifespan of a single set? How much is the difference in tone of gut vs nylon/Nylagut?