Having the guts to repair a string....

[Ian Bell]

I broke a string tonight while playing. Judy immediately said, "Wow, I didn't realize I could do that with my mind..." (That's why I love her)
Not a suitable gut spare to be found and not enough left on the peg to make up the difference, but I did have a baggie of random string ends. I now have a 1st string with not one, but two splices in it — one above the nut and one below the bridge. Seems to be holding so far. Three cheers for natural materials.

[Dave Culgan]

I just tie a simple overhand knot, maybe its called a figure 8 knot. On the 3 banjos I have with gut strings they will all typically have a splice, often above and below. I like the way you can splice them and move the worn spots around by re-positioning or reversing the string. Broken 1st strings become with 5th strings, eventually. I think I've even finished out a weekend gig with a knot on the wrong side of the bridge just to get by. Ian, your wife's comment cracks me up. Dave.

[Al Smitley]

Your inventiveness must have impressed Judy!.........or did it?

Yes, "splicing technique, please."  I never passed Tenderfoot.

[Ian Bell]

The sight of me tying the string together was her cue to go to bed.   I just did a reef knot with an extra knot on top and left as much loose end as I could for slippage as it tightened up.

[Joel Hooks]

I'd think a bend would be a more secure choice in knots.  Square knots make great hemp jewelry and macrame plant hangers, but collapse under a load.

Try a sheet bend next time. 

[Ian Bell]

I'm looking for my Scout manual now.

[Silas Tackitt]

1911 copy of the Boy Scout Handbook linked to page which includes the sheet bend : http://books.google.com/books?id=lCnwo8crqr4C&lpg=PT107&pg=...

[Dave Culgan]

Square knot worked fine for me for 20 years. I don't know anything about hemp jewelry or macrame.

[Ian Bell]

I can see how that would do the trick. I work in Marine Museum - you'd think I'd know it already!