I’ve re-strung my banjo lately, and normally (in my own experience) there is a few days before the strings "stable-ise". However its now a week since I re-strung my banjo (using a set of strings I got from Tom Cussan, so should be good strings), and I found that the A string is slipping and I have to constantly re-tune, and its driving me mad. I have tried re-stringing this one string this morning, and I will see if this fixes it, but if it does not, should I just fit a whole new set of strings or could there be some other issue here? - The bridge position as far as I’m aware is fine....
any ideas?
Also check to see if your A string is not seated properly in the nut slot or if it is sticking as you tune. This is a common problem for A strings on banjos and mandolins for some reason. The slot is not the right size (or the string is too big) and it catches only to slip later and detune. If you lift the string from the slot and put in graphite (pencil lead is fine) it may help the situation.
Hi BanjoBongo - I know the problem - it drives you crazy, and Reverend is right to suggest tightening up the tension screw. If you have planetary tuners it does make a difference. If you've got old-style friction pegs then you're a brave man - best of luck. Also try winding the strings like this: http://www.victorgann.com/GuitarTools/ChangeStrings/ChangeStrings.htm - it does stop slipping. The other thing is to put some graphite dust in the nut slots or this type of grease: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_saddles/Tools_and_supplies:_String_slot_lubricant/Guitar_Grease.html - if the string gets gripped in the nut the tensions even themselves out as you play and the string goes sharp or flat depending on whether you last tuned up or down. That's me finished going on like I'm some kind of expert - I'm not! Someone will now be along to shoot me down in flames.
When you have the string in tune, press a finger tip down on each side of the bridge, that is fingerboard side and tailpiece side, and rock the string like a seesaw a couple of times to even out the tensions in front of and behind the bridge. You can also try pressing at the other end, between the nut and the tuning peg/machine head. If the pitch changes significantly, the string will probably catching in the slot as pointed out above. Another thing you can try is taking hold of the string in the middle somewhere and pulling it up, that is away from the fingerborad an inch or so.
All of the above are good suggestions. If none of those work, you might consider taking up the box. It's a lot of fun to play, and when it needs to be tuned, you're not the one who does it.
Has to be said, as has been stated by others, that the machine head screw is the likely candidate and a slight tweek with a screw driver should sort it.
What Mr Jon means in his post above is that as you are a banjo player already your skin is thick enough to handle the slating you'll get when leaping out the closet with a box hanging from your shoulders..... ; >)
I think coming out of the closet with a box hanging from your shoulders would be almost as embarassing as coming out of the closet with the toilet roll hanging from your arse.
Don't know if it's relevant here, but at a mandolin lesson a few days back another player had a similar slippage problem. The tutor identified that his tuner posts are constant radius cylinders whereas most of the others were tapered towards the centre. Apparently the taper forces the strings together increasing the friction. The cylindrical ones require additional turns wrapped on.
string slipping on banjo
string slipping on banjo
I’ve re-strung my banjo lately, and normally (in my own experience) there is a few days before the strings "stable-ise". However its now a week since I re-strung my banjo (using a set of strings I got from Tom Cussan, so should be good strings), and I found that the A string is slipping and I have to constantly re-tune, and its driving me mad. I have tried re-stringing this one string this morning, and I will see if this fixes it, but if it does not, should I just fit a whole new set of strings or could there be some other issue here? - The bridge position as far as I’m aware is fine....
any ideas?
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by BanjoBongo
Re: string slipping on banjo
Have you tried tightening the screw on the tuning knob slightly?
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by Reverend
Re: string slipping on banjo
thanks Reverend (I do all my web stuff from my office/work) I will check this out when I go home.....
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by BanjoBongo
Re: string slipping on banjo
Also check to see if your A string is not seated properly in the nut slot or if it is sticking as you tune. This is a common problem for A strings on banjos and mandolins for some reason. The slot is not the right size (or the string is too big) and it catches only to slip later and detune. If you lift the string from the slot and put in graphite (pencil lead is fine) it may help the situation.
Mike Keyes
http://www.mikekeyes.com
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by mikeyes
Re: string slipping on banjo
Hi BanjoBongo - I know the problem - it drives you crazy, and Reverend is right to suggest tightening up the tension screw. If you have planetary tuners it does make a difference. If you've got old-style friction pegs then you're a brave man - best of luck. Also try winding the strings like this: http://www.victorgann.com/GuitarTools/ChangeStrings/ChangeStrings.htm - it does stop slipping. The other thing is to put some graphite dust in the nut slots or this type of grease: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_saddles/Tools_and_supplies:_String_slot_lubricant/Guitar_Grease.html - if the string gets gripped in the nut the tensions even themselves out as you play and the string goes sharp or flat depending on whether you last tuned up or down. That's me finished going on like I'm some kind of expert - I'm not! Someone will now be along to shoot me down in flames.
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by RichardB
Re: string slipping on banjo
cross-posted with Mike - he IS an expert!
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by RichardB
Re: string slipping on banjo
When you have the string in tune, press a finger tip down on each side of the bridge, that is fingerboard side and tailpiece side, and rock the string like a seesaw a couple of times to even out the tensions in front of and behind the bridge. You can also try pressing at the other end, between the nut and the tuning peg/machine head. If the pitch changes significantly, the string will probably catching in the slot as pointed out above. Another thing you can try is taking hold of the string in the middle somewhere and pulling it up, that is away from the fingerborad an inch or so.
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by gam
Re: string slipping on banjo
I would also check tha tailpiece to make sure the post holding the string isn't damaged or that the loop isn't failing.
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by Steve L
Re: string slipping on banjo
All of the above are good suggestions. If none of those work, you might consider taking up the box. It's a lot of fun to play, and when it needs to be tuned, you're not the one who does it.
# Posted on July 22nd 2009 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: string slipping on banjo
Has to be said, as has been stated by others, that the machine head screw is the likely candidate and a slight tweek with a screw driver should sort it.
What Mr Jon means in his post above is that as you are a banjo player already your skin is thick enough to handle the slating you'll get when leaping out the closet with a box hanging from your shoulders..... ; >)
# Posted on July 22nd 2009 by Solidmahog
Re: string slipping on banjo
I think coming out of the closet with a box hanging from your shoulders would be almost as embarassing as coming out of the closet with the toilet roll hanging from your arse.
- chris
# Posted on July 22nd 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: string slipping on banjo
wow I was curious as to what the filters would do with Father Jack's Favourite. To my surprise: nothing
- chris
# Posted on July 22nd 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: string slipping on banjo
Don't know if it's relevant here, but at a mandolin lesson a few days back another player had a similar slippage problem. The tutor identified that his tuner posts are constant radius cylinders whereas most of the others were tapered towards the centre. Apparently the taper forces the strings together increasing the friction. The cylindrical ones require additional turns wrapped on.
# Posted on July 22nd 2009 by All Moldy