This cello banjo has a scale length of 24 3/4". String gauges are .048w, .042w, .034w, .042p. CGDA tuning. I have had this banjo for over a year and have the problem of the D string (.034w) breaking. Always. Every D string I have put on no matter if it is the D string sold by Gold Tone (supposedly supplied by Aquila) or the the .034w Pro-Arte strings from D'Addario. So far I have: sanded smooth (progressing in stages from 220 grit to 1500 grit silicone carbide grit) any and all of the edges at the tailpiece, the nut slot and the edges of the tuning machine posts; I slide pencil lead in the nut slot; and, last week I talked with a technical rep at Gold Tone he thought maybe that the tuner was slipping internally which resulted in him sending me a new set of tuning machines. All of the above and still the D string breaks. And, except for one time when the string broke at the tailpiece, all of the strings have unraveled just below the tuning post.
When I get the D string to pitch it always drops to the C# almost immediately and then seems to settle right around C or slightly lower. The gears of the new tuner feel the same as all of the other tuners.
Do you think the string gauge is incorrect? If yes (or maybe yes) should I try a string one or two gauges thicker or thinner? Should I try a plain/not wound string?
Any other ideas or suggestions? Have any other CEB-4 owners had this problem?
My next option is to tune each string down at least a half step and then capo at the first fret. Other than that I am stumped. And this is too bad because when I can keep that string in tune (usually for no more than a few minutes) it is a fun banjo.
Thanks for any help.
Ken
Hmm, I checked the Pro Arte normal guitar set, and the D there is 29W. Scale length of a classical guitar is a little longer than 24 3/4, but banjo strings are usually lower tension than guitar strings for the same length.
This suggests that 34W is too heavy - it will need a lot more tension than 29W to raise it to D, which might explain why it breaks. Certainly, trying a lighter string would be worth while. I think a heavier string would be worse!
I was going to offer a burr on the shaft hole of your tuning peg until you said you replaced them. If you are using a tuner, are you sure it is calibrated correctly so that A = 440?
Bobby
Was the original Gibson cello banjo (one octave below the tenor banjo) strung with wire strings?
Thanks for your replies. The .034w Pro-Arte string is not the D string from the classical set but is the string gauge and winding listed for the D string for this cello banjo.
I will try a lighter string.
Tuner is calibrated to A=440.
I was told by one Gold Tone distributor that I am not the only CEB-4 owner who has had this problem. I am hoping that one or two of them might see this post and respond.
I think they're strung too tight.
Thanks for your response. I agree that at least the D string is. Any suggestions on string gauges to replace the gauges sold by Gold Tone?
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