Has anyone found using flatwound strings for the D and G strings can improve the sound because possibly one could lower the action a little more without causing buzzing? If so, where might they be obtained?
I haven't tried flat wound strings, but it's an interesting idea. I buy bulk guitar strings anyway, and pull the ball ends out (although that my Orpheum has holes drilled in the tailpiece, and takes ball ends just fine - which makes life easier).
Anyway, I would just get a set of flat wound guitar strings that has the appropriate gauges (or buy singles) and give it a try.
Another thing to note - I like my A string wound as well, I think it blends better that way...
Although, come to think of it... aren't flat wound strings really still the same diameter gauge? So I don't know that they would really help with lowering the action.
I was always under the impression that flat winding was just to cut down on string noise when you're moving your hand along the string on a guitar...
low actions aren't all that good in terms of tone production anyway.
whether or not the string buzzes on frets is a function of neck relief, bridge height, string gauge, string tuning and fret condition. I don't think flat or round windings would make any difference.
Million is right. Find the root cause of your problem and address it specifically. If high action is the problem, then lower it. By the way, flat-wound strings often don’t sound as good (or appropriate, maybe) as round-wound, but YMMV.
The advantage of flatwound strings is that they are easy to play and last forever because they are virtually sealed. I don't think they will solve your tone problem in the G and D strings, however.
Bad string tone is usually the result of poor setup. Either you have strings that are not the right gage for your banjo, your head is too flabby, your bridge is not transmitting the vibrations to the head efficiently, you need a different head, or the tailpiece is wrong.
Buzzes and playability issues usually rest on the way the nut is set up, the neck, and or the bridge height. Frets, if they are very worn or in the wrong place, will also have an effect (see above for most of this.)
Getting your banjo to play well in the lower strings is often a task. It is a task that should be done, however, because one of the finest things about the banjo (just ignore the jealous cretins who eschew the banjo) is the invoking of the low G string either as a primary note or as a double stop. If your G string is not sounding good, your whole banjo sound will suffer.
I would not go with the flat wound strings. I've tried them (you have to buy the plectrum banjo set to get the right gages if you use Thomastiks and they are very expensive) and they are not all that impressive in the GDAE tuning. The volume is less and the tone is more mellow. You may want this, but I prefer to use other (cheaper) strings. Each banjo is different, so you will have to experiment with setup including the type of strings you use.
Thanks for you reply.
I have a Gibson made 1929. 20 3/4" scale length, 18 fret, 11" 'star' velum. From what I understand there is no 'tone ring' but instead a brass ring of about 1/4" dia. just under the skin.
I have had the nut filed down by a professionan luthier recently. I am not happy with G string tone. It's slightly muffled.
A flatwound string is going to be a little thinner because if the density is going to be the same per unit length it has less gaps as it were. I just thought that if I used a flatwound string, I could lower the action just a little and maybe the tone would improve and be easier to play.
You have a Gibson TB-0 which is a pretty good little banjo. They tend to be mellow, but if you change the head to a mylar frosted or clear head it will become a lot brighter. I would also consider going to bronze strings in a .040-.042 gage which should wake it up.
Your banjo has a sought after rim (by the bluegrassers) even if it is a bracket style banjo. I have heard that banjo, well setup, sound great in the GDAE tuning.
flatwound strings for the banjo
flatwound strings for the banjo
Has anyone found using flatwound strings for the D and G strings can improve the sound because possibly one could lower the action a little more without causing buzzing? If so, where might they be obtained?
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by Sandy Holdom
Re: flatwound strings for the banjo
I haven't tried flat wound strings, but it's an interesting idea. I buy bulk guitar strings anyway, and pull the ball ends out (although that my Orpheum has holes drilled in the tailpiece, and takes ball ends just fine - which makes life easier).
Anyway, I would just get a set of flat wound guitar strings that has the appropriate gauges (or buy singles) and give it a try.
Another thing to note - I like my A string wound as well, I think it blends better that way...
Pete
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by Reverend
Re: flatwound strings for the banjo
Although, come to think of it... aren't flat wound strings really still the same diameter gauge? So I don't know that they would really help with lowering the action.
I was always under the impression that flat winding was just to cut down on string noise when you're moving your hand along the string on a guitar...
Pete
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by Reverend
Re: flatwound strings for the banjo
Try "Tomastic" strings -- I use flat wound for mando -- they are fantastic. Never go out of tune, last forever.
One set of Tomastic for mando cost $30. These are not cheap strings.
I may have the spelling wrong.
http://www.mannamusic.com/_Products/Guitar_Bass/Accessories/Strings/tomastic.htm
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by Eliot
Re: flatwound strings for the banjo
thomastik
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by Eliot
Re: flatwound strings for the banjo
low actions aren't all that good in terms of tone production anyway.
whether or not the string buzzes on frets is a function of neck relief, bridge height, string gauge, string tuning and fret condition. I don't think flat or round windings would make any difference.
save your money and get a box....
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by millionyears_bc
Re: flatwound strings for the banjo
Million is right. Find the root cause of your problem and address it specifically. If high action is the problem, then lower it. By the way, flat-wound strings often don’t sound as good (or appropriate, maybe) as round-wound, but YMMV.
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by Bob himself
Re: flatwound strings for the banjo
The advantage of flatwound strings is that they are easy to play and last forever because they are virtually sealed. I don't think they will solve your tone problem in the G and D strings, however.
Bad string tone is usually the result of poor setup. Either you have strings that are not the right gage for your banjo, your head is too flabby, your bridge is not transmitting the vibrations to the head efficiently, you need a different head, or the tailpiece is wrong.
Buzzes and playability issues usually rest on the way the nut is set up, the neck, and or the bridge height. Frets, if they are very worn or in the wrong place, will also have an effect (see above for most of this.)
Getting your banjo to play well in the lower strings is often a task. It is a task that should be done, however, because one of the finest things about the banjo (just ignore the jealous cretins who eschew the banjo) is the invoking of the low G string either as a primary note or as a double stop. If your G string is not sounding good, your whole banjo sound will suffer.
I would not go with the flat wound strings. I've tried them (you have to buy the plectrum banjo set to get the right gages if you use Thomastiks and they are very expensive) and they are not all that impressive in the GDAE tuning. The volume is less and the tone is more mellow. You may want this, but I prefer to use other (cheaper) strings. Each banjo is different, so you will have to experiment with setup including the type of strings you use.
What kind of banjo do you have, anyway?
Mike Keyes
http://www.banjosessions.com
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by mikeyes
Re: flatwound strings for the banjo
Thanks for you reply.
I have a Gibson made 1929. 20 3/4" scale length, 18 fret, 11" 'star' velum. From what I understand there is no 'tone ring' but instead a brass ring of about 1/4" dia. just under the skin.
I have had the nut filed down by a professionan luthier recently. I am not happy with G string tone. It's slightly muffled.
A flatwound string is going to be a little thinner because if the density is going to be the same per unit length it has less gaps as it were. I just thought that if I used a flatwound string, I could lower the action just a little and maybe the tone would improve and be easier to play.
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by Sandy Holdom
Re: flatwound strings for the banjo
Sandy,
You have a Gibson TB-0 which is a pretty good little banjo. They tend to be mellow, but if you change the head to a mylar frosted or clear head it will become a lot brighter. I would also consider going to bronze strings in a .040-.042 gage which should wake it up.
Your banjo has a sought after rim (by the bluegrassers) even if it is a bracket style banjo. I have heard that banjo, well setup, sound great in the GDAE tuning.
Mike Keyes
http://www.banjosessions.com
# Posted on September 18th 2007 by mikeyes
Re: flatwound strings for the banjo
OK Mike, that's for that, I'm quite new to this. I'm using at present LEO38PB by D'Addario, I'll try a thicker one. Sandy
# Posted on September 18th 2007 by Sandy Holdom