hi again - sorry for the new thread, but why doesn't this forum return threads with new posts back to the top??
anyway - as i mentioned in my last thread, i ve just taken delivery of a short scale, 17 fret 1915 orpheum no.1. thanks for advice re. tone , adjusting the head has improved it greatly, as has deadening the strings behind the bridge.
my next question is regarding string guage -
the banjo has arrived with bronze strings, guages 42w, 30w, 22w, 14. now this is a bit 'flappy' for my liking. on my 19fret, 23 inch scale framus i use 44w 30w 22w 14. i d like something approaching the same tension on the orpheum, but... how much of a risk would it be on an instrument with no truss rod? i ve bought a set comprising 44,32,24,16 to put on, but would like reassurance that this will be ok. the lighter set currently on really are very loose..
If the banjo has been recently set up with a new head, new bridge, new strings etc I would just play it for a while. I put a new head on mine and it took ages to settle in. The banjo I'm playing is 80 years old, and I put lighter strings on it as the neck already has a little bit of a curve.
Well yes, it must affect it. If the head is slack the bridge will make more of a dip in the head and the action will be lower and the sound will be thunkier. Tighten up the head without retuning and you'll notice the pitch has gone up. There's a lot of expert advice on the web about tightening the head so do a search (I don't count myself as an expert but I've managed to replace three without any trouble). Finger-tighten first and then work round with the spanner tightening evenly with quarter turns. Do one nut, then do the opposite one, then the next one and its opposite, until you've made a circuit. Look along the top and make sure the tension hoop isn't getting distorted and then repeat as necessary until it sounds about right, but obviously you don't want to over-tighten. You might want a few bridges with different heights to try - they're cheap enough. As for strings, I prefer a lighter string because I like to bend notes a bit sometimes, and it's certainly loud enough.
The head has no direct effect on the string tension which is going to be the same for GDAE tuning no matter how slack or tense the head is. The thing to worry about is the total tension of the strings which can be calculated by one of the available string tension calculators. the 42 (or even 44) - 14 set should be just about the same as a cgda set which the banjo was made for, but a 44-16 may be more tension than you want. I have not done the math, bu you can.
17 fret necks are less likely to have problems, but a lot depends on how the banjo was stored and under what conditions.
I would have thought that 44 - 14 on a 19 fret neck is pretty heavy, I would be a bit nervous using that on a vintage neck, on a modern neck with truss rod etc might be less of a risk. Although i should add that is just my opinion and not backed up with any science!
another banjo setup question
another banjo setup question
hi again - sorry for the new thread, but why doesn't this forum return threads with new posts back to the top??
anyway - as i mentioned in my last thread, i ve just taken delivery of a short scale, 17 fret 1915 orpheum no.1. thanks for advice re. tone , adjusting the head has improved it greatly, as has deadening the strings behind the bridge.
my next question is regarding string guage -
the banjo has arrived with bronze strings, guages 42w, 30w, 22w, 14. now this is a bit 'flappy' for my liking. on my 19fret, 23 inch scale framus i use 44w 30w 22w 14. i d like something approaching the same tension on the orpheum, but... how much of a risk would it be on an instrument with no truss rod? i ve bought a set comprising 44,32,24,16 to put on, but would like reassurance that this will be ok. the lighter set currently on really are very loose..
any thoughts?
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by saltybrian
Re: another banjo setup question
The larger strings should feel alot nicer on that instrument, I play 12-22-32-44, don't worry about the neck.
A.) that is a pretty minor upgrade in string size.
B.) most of that tension will be absorbed by the banjo head, it's not like a guitar.
Although, I do think that a 16 for your E might feel a little tough.
I hope you have strong hands.
Enjoy
# Posted on May 12th 2007 by fife
Re: another banjo setup question
If the banjo has been recently set up with a new head, new bridge, new strings etc I would just play it for a while. I put a new head on mine and it took ages to settle in. The banjo I'm playing is 80 years old, and I put lighter strings on it as the neck already has a little bit of a curve.
# Posted on May 13th 2007 by RichardB
Re: another banjo setup question
does the head affect string tension?
# Posted on May 13th 2007 by saltybrian
Re: another banjo setup question
Well yes, it must affect it. If the head is slack the bridge will make more of a dip in the head and the action will be lower and the sound will be thunkier. Tighten up the head without retuning and you'll notice the pitch has gone up. There's a lot of expert advice on the web about tightening the head so do a search (I don't count myself as an expert but I've managed to replace three without any trouble). Finger-tighten first and then work round with the spanner tightening evenly with quarter turns. Do one nut, then do the opposite one, then the next one and its opposite, until you've made a circuit. Look along the top and make sure the tension hoop isn't getting distorted and then repeat as necessary until it sounds about right, but obviously you don't want to over-tighten. You might want a few bridges with different heights to try - they're cheap enough. As for strings, I prefer a lighter string because I like to bend notes a bit sometimes, and it's certainly loud enough.
# Posted on May 13th 2007 by RichardB
Re: another banjo setup question
The head has no direct effect on the string tension which is going to be the same for GDAE tuning no matter how slack or tense the head is. The thing to worry about is the total tension of the strings which can be calculated by one of the available string tension calculators. the 42 (or even 44) - 14 set should be just about the same as a cgda set which the banjo was made for, but a 44-16 may be more tension than you want. I have not done the math, bu you can.
17 fret necks are less likely to have problems, but a lot depends on how the banjo was stored and under what conditions.
Mike Keyes
http://www.mikekeyes.com
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by mikeyes
Re: another banjo setup question
mike - thanks for good advice. how do i calculate total string tension? i ve seen these tension calculators, but i don't get it.....
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by saltybrian
Re: another banjo setup question
I would have thought that 44 - 14 on a 19 fret neck is pretty heavy, I would be a bit nervous using that on a vintage neck, on a modern neck with truss rod etc might be less of a risk. Although i should add that is just my opinion and not backed up with any science!
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by nick b
Re: another banjo setup question
its a 17 fret, 19" scale neck
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by saltybrian
Re: another banjo setup question
Then that should be OK - I use very similar weights on all my vintage vegas with no ill effects
# Posted on May 17th 2007 by nick b