Strings and Bridges

[JeremyS]

Hello all. I am still getting the hang of all of this minstrel stuff. I was wondering if there are any suggestions for strings and/or bridges for a gourd banjo. I have a Calkins which came with a standard looking Grover bridge. I have just put a pair of Nylaguts on it which sound good but I think they are streching and arevgetting "slappy."

[Bell Banjos]

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?

[Strumelia]

That's very helpful info Terry- thanks!

[John Masciale]

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.

[Trapdoor2]

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.

The current "classical" set from Aquila features a silver-wound bass.

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.

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).

[Tim Twiss]

Yes...I made three identical bridges. The best was the soft and sweet SUGAR PINE. Cedar and Redwood were harsh.
John Masciale said:

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.