dewbanjo - Posted - 03/16/2013:  05:35:07

I am a "bit" confused about strings.....not just light/med/etc.... but about the diameter size.... does a smaller diameter give a brighter tone/sound???  Guess maybe I need an explanation on how to decide what strings might improve the Clawhammer sound ....

Any help??  Oh, yeah, currently using Black,Black Diamond light strings on my Deering Ole tyme Banjo....but they need replacing...

grm405 - Posted - 03/16/2013:  07:26:38

Smaller strings do give a significantly brighter, livelier sound.  Generic terms, such as "Light" or "Medium" are pretty useless, as one brands Light is anothers Medium.

After trying various gauges I find that I like a 10,11,13 or 14, 22,10 set.  These are the GHS PF145 set, with a replaced second string.  I find that I really don't like first strings larger than 10 or seconds larger than 11 as they sound to deader to my ears.  I also like the PF150 set which uses a bronze 4th string, but there I replace the second string with a 11 and live with the 14 third, although I prefer the 13 third slightly.

AMB offers my ideal set, the Mary Cox signature set but they are a little more pricey than GHS strings at Elderly.  I may order a few sets to try them; my experience with the cryo-treated AMB sets is that I like them on some banjos, but not on others.  They do last a long time in either case.

americanmadebanjo.com/index.ph...65de0bb63

Strings are cheap and do have a significant effect on the banjos sound.  You probably want to experiment and see what you like.  I find no difference between brands, other than for the cryo-treated strings.

Gerry

Jim D - Posted - 03/16/2013:  07:37:10

After trying a whole range of "mediums" and "lights", I settled on D'Addario J-61s (10, 12, 16, 23w, 10) for both my Vega with tone hoop and my Gold Tone Whyte Ladye. They give more plunk and less ping than lighter strings. They run under $3 a set in bulk from Elderly.

You might want to buy several different sets and try them out as "how they sound" is going to be relative to your banjo setup and to your tastes.

Jim

carlb - Posted - 03/16/2013:  07:47:25

I'm a light string guy. I tune my banjo up to pitch and don't use a capo. For years used 9, 10, 13 20w, 9, 10; switched to phosphor bronze 21w for the 4th string for my new pearl on maple bridge to enhance the bass back to where I like it.

jasonbeers - Posted - 03/16/2013:  07:50:42

I like a heavier fifth string.

oldtimer - Posted - 03/16/2013:  08:27:48

I have used D'Addario J-61s (10, 12, 16, 23w, 10) since the mid-1970's. But I frequently replace the 23w third with a 24 because I play a lot in Old G tuning where the 3rd string is tuned a step lower.

stay tooned...
Glenn Godsey

hweinberg - Posted - 03/16/2013:  08:38:24

There's how they sound and there's how they feel when playing.  Lighter strings, especially tuned low as in old G tuning, can be kind of "floppy".  Also, you will probably find your ability to get loud, clean pull-offs is more challenged on heavier strings.  Of course, that can be fixed with practice.  Like most things about setting up your banjo, there are a lot of things you can do -- including string choices -- to get the sound you want.  -- Howard

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 03/16/2013:  08:40:24

Strings are very personal - and they are very cheap. The best thing to do is try out as many different sets as possible until you find that perfect set for you. 

plunknplinkntwang - Posted - 03/16/2013:  10:31:32

i like heavier 4th & 1st strings - makes the tension a little more even on all strings when playing in dbl C rather than G

Dingoman25 - Posted - 03/16/2013:  13:02:28

quote:

---

Originally posted by jasonbeers

I like a heavier fifth string.

---

Interesting concept Jason.

I hadn't thought about having  different gauge 1st/5th strings.

That's worth exploring.

dewbanjo - Posted - 03/16/2013:  14:09:51

Thanks for all the replies!! The Black, Black diamond strings I put on were to help me more with the visual (being able to see the string) eye problems.

I don't like the "feel" of these coated black string...plus, I get a lot of squeek from the strings too. So, I think I'll order a few different sets of light strings and do a "test" to see what I like to hear/feel...

dewbanjo

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 03/16/2013:  15:15:15

In general the only strings that will give you squeak are the wound ones and banjo only has one of those. I've found that going a little lighter than one would think optimal reduces the squeaking. I've never played with any coated strings so I can't really comment on them, but I know Hunter Robertson used black coated strings when he recorded a bunch of tunes for his DVD, but I can't recall hearing a single squeak.

dewbanjo - Posted - 03/17/2013:  04:53:15

Hmmm, maybe the squeak is from my old bones....lol

maryzcox - Posted - 03/17/2013:  07:20:17

Don't be afraid to try the cryos from American made Banjo Strings--after you use them once,  then try something else--you'll return for more. 

The reason I signed up for a signature series of these strings is so I could get these cryros with a bronze fourth string. I really loved the cryos, but do not like a nickel wound fourth.  Tom, made them up in both a light & medium gauge set for me with the bronze fourths because some of my banjos sound best with lights and some sound better with mediums.

I do not make any profit at all by endorsing these strings--I use them because I love them--and have become spoiled with their sound and durability.  I used to use GHS--but they sound dead after 2 weeks of heavy play--and the cryros sound new and alive for almost 6 months!

Tom is an awesome man and only sells them from his website.   He and his buddies that developed these strings were really committed to putting together strings that really were an improved variety. He doesn't sell wholesale to vendors--and I'm pretty sure most of his profits go directly into charitable organizations.  :)

Wish he made guitar strings too--as all the cryos I've tried with the major companies are a far cry from Tom's banjo cryos :)

Best wishes,

Mary Z Cox

maryzcox.com

Ken Miller "Little star" guitar

Dan Gellert - Posted - 03/17/2013:  09:12:40

Hey Mary.

Those 2 GHS sets (w. bronze-wound bass string) are my favorites.  Good example of the vagaries of gauging. The "lights" are heavier than some sets labeled "medium", not just by other makers, but by GHS themselves!

The PF150 "light" set is what I'd put first on just about any banjo that was made to take steel strings, and it's what I recommend to my students. 

I ought to try those AMB cryo's, but I don't know...  When I change strings, I usually don't think they sound their best until they've had some of that "new and alive" worn off of them!

howseth - Posted - 03/17/2013:  12:28:07

I just got a set of 'New Nylgut' strings to try out - from Nylgut maker Mimmo Peruffo (Italy). I will try those on my 12" Ome Silverpun openback banjo in a couple weeks. I have been a confirmed metal string user always, and GHS PF160 set user the last 2 years (medium/heavy strings - Bronze 4th, as I always down tune my banjo).

It will be interesting to not use metal for a change for my music.

maryzcox - Posted - 03/17/2013:  17:15:49

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dan Gellert

Hey Mary.

Those 2 GHS sets (w. bronze-wound bass string) are my favorites.  Good example of the vagaries of gauging. The "lights" are heavier than some sets labeled "medium", not just by other makers, but by GHS themselves!

The PF150 "light" set is what I'd put first on just about any banjo that was made to take steel strings, and it's what I recommend to my students. 

I ought to try those AMB cryo's, but I don't know...  When I change strings, I usually don't think they sound their best until they've had some of that "new and alive" worn off of them!

 

---

Try them--really--you will be surprised--they hold their tuning better too. Know you probably shudder at the thought of using "Mary Z Cox signature series strings"  but--hey--I didn't make them or sell them--just picked my favorite gauges with the bronze 4ths.  I used to love ghs too--but after using these cryos awhile--if I put on a set of ghs--I'm always surprised at how fast they go dead. the cryros aren't overly bright either--they just don't get that really dead tone.  Whenever I want that really tubby sound--I'll put on nylgut- with a real skin head-but any metal string--I MHO-like it to have a little sustain :)

Used to use those Damien Dlucki (spel?) real gut strings instead of nylgut--they really sound awesome and much better tone and volume than the nylguts--but at over $150 a set--everytime one of those suckers would pop--it would be anywhere from $40- $70 to replace one string. :)  

Best wishes,

Mary Z Cox

ps. Like your banjo picking :)

tsander - Posted - 03/17/2013:  17:38:19

I know I'm just a novice as a player, but I'll second Mary's thoughts on the cryo treated strings from AMB.  I'm sold on them.  I can keep a set on for many months without them hinting at sounding dead.  Tom is great to deal with, too.  He just recently replaced a group of sets that got misordered somehow.  I've moved to lighter gauges simply to minimize the damage to my fingers.  I think I like the sound of  medium/lights, but lights are easier for me to play.  I put together my own custom sets from AMB.  9.5, 11, 13, 20W and 9.5. 

Oh, and Dan, just today I was showing Russ Childers a lick that you taught me a year ago or so.  Pretty basic stuff with an alternate string pulloff, but he hadn't seen it before.  So, thanks for that.  I'm taking lessons with Russ recently.  Still plugging away at learning.