5th string capo recomendations fore cello banjo...

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Cello banjo pluckers

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Everything about 4- and 5-string cello banjos -- gear, technique, music. Any and all experience levels welcome!

93 Members, Created 10/22/2011 -

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From kaloochie on 10/1/2015 8:06:12 AM

When I originally got by cello banjo, I was playing songs in D. I am using the Gold Tone light gauged silver wound strings and can successfully tune them up to D without any problems as long as I leave them tight. The kicker is that the group I play in, is now doing a number of songs in C. While I can tune the strings up to D and back down to C, the strings do not hold up to being loosened to C and then tightened back to D. Within a short time they break or come unwound. I like the sound and feel of these strings and do not want to go to steel strings.

I am looking at tuning to C and using a capo. My question is what would work best for the 5^th string? My other banjos all are spiked. I do not think the wound strings will do well with a spike. I am afraid the spike will cause the string to break or unwind. There are a few different 5^th string capos out there, but I have no experience with any of them. I am looking for recommendations from folks who have already gone down this path. What would be a good 5^th string capo solution for the Gold Tone light gauged silver wound 5^th string?

7 Comments
	mbudsberg says: 10/1/2015 3:21:19 PM I have a spike in my CEB-5 and it works fine. I can't remember if Gold Tone installed it or Paul Roberts (got it through him). Haven't had any issues with it coming unwound or wearing at the spike. Also using the medium gauge, but it works with the heavy gauge string too.
	mbudsberg says: 10/1/2015 3:23:19 PM Oops, meant light and medium. Works with both of the Gold Tone sets. Good luck!
	kaloochie says: 10/1/2015 3:30:01 PM Thanks for the info! Knowing that, I might get brave and spike it.
	mbudsberg says: 10/1/2015 3:38:58 PM It does look a little larger than the spike on my other banjo. Not sure if you they come in different sizes? I'd go big, and be sure there's enough clearance / height for the wound string to slip under.
	mbudsberg says: 10/2/2015 8:33:09 AM It does look a little larger than the spike on my other banjo. Not sure if you they come in different sizes? I'd go big, and be sure there's enough clearance / height for the wound string to slip under.
	kaloochie says: 10/2/2015 9:06:20 AM Thanks for the input. I can ask more intelligent/relevant questions now. I happen to be taking a trip this weekend to visit the maker of my Wildwood in Bend, OR. I will ask Mark about spike sizes. I will plan on taking my cello banjo into Portland Fretworks in the next week or two and see what they can do.
	kaloochie says: 1/20/2016 11:35:32 AM For what it is worth, I had a spikes installed and everything works great. Thanks for the input!
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