Try Andy Banjo. You can find him at www.andybanjo.com. The guage you have been recommended sounds a bit light to me. Do you have a 17 or 19 fret banjo? I have a 17 fret and use 13/22w/32w/44w.
You may also look at juststrings.com. I play a short scale (17 fret) banjo and have lately started buying Octave Mando string sets, there by I get 2 sets for my banjo. The GHS octave Mando set comes 12-22-32-44.
On a 19 fret you could drop to a lower guage than a 17 fret and keep the same tension because of the longer scale. Ultimately it is what sounds best for you. I started playing D'Addario J63Is 12/16/24/36 but found the intonation was not good on the short scale so I stepped up initiallly to 13/20w/30w/40w and then to the 13/22w/32w/44w I play now. Personally I prefer a wound A string and I find the heavier guage produces a better tone and volume for my style of playing.
whilst local music shops often do stock indivdual strings, they seldom have them in loop-end format - which is what most banjo players need. they can also be expensive - rather dearer than buying sets.
andybanjo's string sets are £3/set for 2 plain/2 wound or £3.50/set for 1 plain/3 wound - buy 4 sets at a time and
(1) the order comes post free and
(2) you can have "custom" sets - whatever set of gauges you want - at the standard set prices
for my 80 year old shortscale 17 fret, 11, 16w, 24, 36. This is because the neck has no truss rod and for some reason the instrument plays well and loud with this setup.
for my new 19 fret, 12, 18w, 26, 38 because it can take the tension easily and they make the tone ring work for its money
I use Eagle Newtone phosphor bronze wound strings. You get discount for buying more than just odd sets. They will make up custom sets.
The scale lengths from 20.0" to 24.0" should cover the range of most tenor banjos. Included are two "Irish tenor" string sets, two octave mandolin sets, and a standard CGDA tenor banjo set for comparison. These are commercially available sets made of various materials.
I have a 20.0" 17-fret vintage Vega. The total tension for these string sets ranges from 44.98 lbs. to 70.74 lbs. on my banjo. The "regular gauge" CGDA string set has a total tension of 62.84 lbs. for my scale length, and I am guessing that might be about what the banjo was designed for. I would like to experiment with different string materials and weights without harming the banjo. Are they any guidlines?
Tenor Banjo strings
Tenor Banjo strings
Anyone know where to source tenor banjo strings... preferably in the UK... even better in Ireland or better still in the North somewhere...
I've been recommended to use the following guage.. 12, 14, 24 and 34/36. The problem is that not many sets of 4 come in the above guage.
Anyone out there any thoughts????????
Regards
DB
# Posted on December 10th 2006 by dannyboy
Re: Tenor Banjo strings
Try Andy Banjo. You can find him at www.andybanjo.com. The guage you have been recommended sounds a bit light to me. Do you have a 17 or 19 fret banjo? I have a 17 fret and use 13/22w/32w/44w.
# Posted on December 10th 2006 by Thumper
Re: Tenor Banjo strings
Hi Thumper.. I play a 19 fret banjo. Thanks for your suggestion bout Andy banjo... just off to check site now.. thanks.
DB
# Posted on December 10th 2006 by dannyboy
Re: Tenor Banjo strings
A bit light? I use 11, 17, 26, 36 ! Any music shop should have individual strings for sale. You dont need to buy sets at all.
# Posted on December 10th 2006 by Backer
Re: Tenor Banjo strings
ok then.. what about going another angle to the question!!!!!!
What guage is best?? Mainly for pub sessions, 19 fret etc...
# Posted on December 10th 2006 by dannyboy
Re: Tenor Banjo strings
You may also look at juststrings.com. I play a short scale (17 fret) banjo and have lately started buying Octave Mando string sets, there by I get 2 sets for my banjo. The GHS octave Mando set comes 12-22-32-44.
# Posted on December 10th 2006 by fife
Re: Tenor Banjo strings
On a 19 fret you could drop to a lower guage than a 17 fret and keep the same tension because of the longer scale. Ultimately it is what sounds best for you. I started playing D'Addario J63Is 12/16/24/36 but found the intonation was not good on the short scale so I stepped up initiallly to 13/20w/30w/40w and then to the 13/22w/32w/44w I play now. Personally I prefer a wound A string and I find the heavier guage produces a better tone and volume for my style of playing.
# Posted on December 10th 2006 by Thumper
Re: Tenor Banjo strings
i had my local music shop order up sets from ghs. they sound great on the epi 19 fret, 12-18w-28w-38w. don
# Posted on December 10th 2006 by Dont
Re: Tenor Banjo strings
whilst local music shops often do stock indivdual strings, they seldom have them in loop-end format - which is what most banjo players need. they can also be expensive - rather dearer than buying sets.
andybanjo's string sets are £3/set for 2 plain/2 wound or £3.50/set for 1 plain/3 wound - buy 4 sets at a time and
(1) the order comes post free and
(2) you can have "custom" sets - whatever set of gauges you want - at the standard set prices
# Posted on December 10th 2006 by teetotaller
Re: Tenor Banjo strings
http://www.banjo.ie
i buy mine of tom cussen
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by tnoumarap
Re: Tenor Banjo strings
Not in UK or Ireland, but I buy custom sets of GHS from JanetDavisMusic.com. On a 19 fret Paramount, I use 12,20,30,40.
Pete
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by Reverend
Re: Tenor Banjo strings
Newtone strings are top and they will make up sets in any format and weight
i use 13, 20, 30, 44 for a 17 fret
and 12, 18, 30, 40 for a 19 fret
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by nick b
Re: Tenor Banjo strings
for my 80 year old shortscale 17 fret, 11, 16w, 24, 36. This is because the neck has no truss rod and for some reason the instrument plays well and loud with this setup.
for my new 19 fret, 12, 18w, 26, 38 because it can take the tension easily and they make the tone ring work for its money
I use Eagle Newtone phosphor bronze wound strings. You get discount for buying more than just odd sets. They will make up custom sets.
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by millionyears_bc
Re: Tenor Banjo strings
Here are some results from the string tension calculator at:
http://www.pacificsites.net/~dog/StringTensionApplet.html
The scale lengths from 20.0" to 24.0" should cover the range of most tenor banjos. Included are two "Irish tenor" string sets, two octave mandolin sets, and a standard CGDA tenor banjo set for comparison. These are commercially available sets made of various materials.
I have a 20.0" 17-fret vintage Vega. The total tension for these string sets ranges from 44.98 lbs. to 70.74 lbs. on my banjo. The "regular gauge" CGDA string set has a total tension of 62.84 lbs. for my scale length, and I am guessing that might be about what the banjo was designed for. I would like to experiment with different string materials and weights without harming the banjo. Are they any guidlines?
D'Addario J63I Irish Tenor 012 016 024W 036W nickel
len 20.0
E4 .012" PL == 14.37#
A3 .016" PL == 11.38#
D3 .024" NW == 9.7#
G2 .036" NW == 9.54#
total == 44.98#
len 21.0
E4 .012" PL == 15.84#
A3 .016" PL == 12.54#
D3 .024" NW == 10.7#
G2 .036" NW == 10.52#
total == 49.59#
len 22.0
E4 .012" PL == 17.38#
A3 .016" PL == 13.76#
D3 .024" NW == 11.74#
G2 .036" NW == 11.54#
total == 54.43#
len 23.0
E4 .012" PL == 19.0#
A3 .016" PL == 15.04#
D3 .024" NW == 12.83#
G2 .036" NW == 12.61#
total == 59.49#
len 24.0
E4 .012" PL == 20.69#
A3 .016" PL == 16.38#
D3 .024" NW == 13.97#
G2 .036" NW == 13.74#
total == 64.77#
GHS CTB Celtic Tenor 014 024W 032W 042W stainless
len 20.0
E4 .014" PL == 19.55#
A3 .024" XS == 21.55#
D3 .032" XS == 17.02#
G2 .042" XS == 12.61#
total == 70.74#
len 21.0
E4 .014" PL == 21.56#
A3 .024" XS == 23.76#
D3 .032" XS == 18.77#
G2 .042" XS == 13.9#
total == 77.99#
len 22.0
E4 .014" PL == 23.66#
A3 .024" XS == 26.07#
D3 .032" XS == 20.6#
G2 .042" XS == 15.26#
total == 85.59#
len 23.0
E4 .014" PL == 25.86#
A3 .024" XS == 28.5#
D3 .032" XS == 22.51#
G2 .042" XS == 16.68#
total == 93.55#
len 24.0
E4 .014" PL == 28.16#
A3 .024" XS == 31.03#
D3 .032" XS == 24.51#
G2 .042" XS == 18.16#
total == 101.86#
D'Addario J80 Octave Mandolin 012 022W 032W 046W phosphor bronze
len 20.0"
E4 .012" PL == 14.37#
A3 .022" PB == 19.81#
D3 .032" PB == 18.78#
G2 .046" PB == 17.32#
total == 70.28#
len 21.0"
E4 .012" PL == 15.84#
A3 .022" PB == 21.84#
D3 .032" PB == 20.71#
G2 .046" PB == 19.1#
total == 77.48#
len 22.0"
E4 .012" PL == 17.38#
A3 .022" PB == 23.97#
D3 .032" PB == 22.72#
G2 .046" PB == 20.96#
total == 85.04#
len 23.0"
E4 .012" PL == 19.0#
A3 .022" PB == 26.2#
D3 .032" PB == 24.84#
G2 .046" PB == 22.91#
total == 92.94#
len 24.0"
E4 .012" PL == 20.69#
A3 .022" PB == 28.53#
D3 .032" PB == 27.04#
G2 .046" PB == 24.94#
total == 101.2#
GHS PF285 Octave Mandolin 012 022W 032W 044W phosphor bronze
len 20.0"
E4 .012" PL == 14.37#
A3 .022" PB == 19.81#
D3 .032" PB == 18.78#
G2 .044" PB == 15.95#
total == 68.91#
len 21.0"
E4 .012" PL == 15.84#
A3 .022" PB == 21.84#
D3 .032" PB == 20.71#
G2 .044" PB == 17.59#
total == 75.97#
len 22.0"
E4 .012" PL == 17.38#
A3 .022" PB == 23.97#
D3 .032" PB == 22.72#
G2 .044" PB == 19.3#
total == 83.38#
len 23.0"
E4 .012" PL == 19.0#
A3 .022" PB == 26.2#
D3 .032" PB == 24.84#
G2 .044" PB == 21.1#
total == 91.13#
len 24.0"
E4 .012" PL == 20.69#
A3 .022" PB == 28.53#
D3 .032" PB == 27.04#
G2 .044" PB == 22.97#
total == 99.23#
Martin V720 Vega Tenor (CGDA) 009 016 023W 030W nickel
len 20.0"
A4 .009" PL == 14.39#
D4 .016" PL == 20.27#
G3 .023" NW == 15.95#
C3 .030" NW == 12.22#
total == 62.84#
len 21.0"
A4 .009" PL == 15.87#
D4 .016" PL == 22.35#
G3 .023" NW == 17.59#
C3 .030" NW == 13.48#
total == 69.28#
len 22.0"
A4 .009" PL == 17.42#
D4 .016" PL == 24.53#
G3 .023" NW == 19.3#
C3 .030" NW == 14.79#
total == 76.04#
len 23.0"
A4 .009" PL == 19.04#
D4 .016" PL == 26.81#
G3 .023" NW == 21.1#
C3 .030" NW == 16.17#
total == 83.11#
len 24.0"
A4 .009" PL == 20.73#
D4 .016" PL == 29.19#
G3 .023" NW == 22.97#
C3 .030" NW == 17.6#
total == 90.49#
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by bjbutler