Nylon strings for my long neck

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Long Neck Banjo

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... for those of us who prefer the tuning and singing differences the LN provides. All questions & help welcome!

273 Members, Created 1/30/2011 -

Administrators: TonyS (owner) , Gary Blanchard , pastorharry , vega long neck

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From john bange on 7/22/2012 7:06:23 AM

I have been using nylon strings on my long necks for about 6 years now and I think I have finally found the best set up...not just the best as far as action but durability. Most of the nylon/nylgut sets are too short.

I use 40,50, and 60 lb test fishing line on my Deering Vega little wonder long neck. The weight of the strings helps with the slack feel of the long scale. To this mix I have tried all the wound 4th's that were long enough. I bought LaBella #17 wound single strings from Julie at Bernunzio's and I have been going through them quite fast.

I have finally found the solution for the fragile 4th. It is the all nylon Aquilla nylgut set. The .039 nylon 4th string from this set is long enough for a long neck banjo when using a "no knot tie" on my Kirschner t/p. I have played 5 gigs with this string and the sound is great...the string looks like I put it on this morning.

I have an order in to Bernunzio for a bunch of singles...I might have to cut the quantity back.

I also have a spool of 100 lb. test fishing line for a test. This is .039 also and I seem to have quite a lot of it.

Don't know if there are any other players using nylon out there on their l/n but this is the way to go if there are

5 Comments
	TonyS says: 7/22/2012 7:47:02 AM thanks John - I may try it someday...
	coalandice says: 7/22/2012 7:54:01 AM Yes indeed thanks for sharing the info! Please keep us updated
	john bange says: 7/22/2012 8:40:08 AM thanks guys, it's probably the answer to the question that never gets asked but, It's what I do. My Vega is really loud also.
	olelise says: 7/23/2012 12:09:31 AM Interesting! Would be nice to hear a sample:)
	coalandice says: 9/14/2014 6:51:45 PM Having met and heard Greg Adams play I've decided that nylon is the way to go for me. I'm still digging in the forums to decide how to go, harp strings, fluorocarbon leader, or fishing line.
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