hi new to the session,need some help,have a 1929 tb2 gibson tenor banjo tuned eadg,the tension on the strings is very loose for my likeing,have tried every make and guage with no joy,would love to hear comments thanks
Hey Brian - I have a 1925 TB2, so I know exactly what you're talking about. Previously I had been a big fan of John Pearse Bronze Heavy Gage strings, but on the TB2 they sounded too floppy and dead. I ended up with D'Addario Tenor Banjo steel medium gage and also tightened up the head a bit. I also changed the bridge to a wider spacing and a harder wood. These combinations seemed to brighten up the old gal significantly. Good luck with your project. Experiment with the head tension. Sometimes it takes a while to get it tweaked in to your liking.
thanks for that,am using irish tenor banjo strings on it at the moment,they seem to be the best i have tried so far,i think if i tighten the head any more it will be fit to burst,the bridge is teak off a 1950 black head framus and i love it so thats staying put,but will try the head again,or is it just the way its sopposed to be im perplexed
For me it's :
G 036w
D 028w
A 018plain
E 012plain
I prefer stainless steel rather than bronze although many prefer the bronze.
Elderly Instruments or Clareen Banjos stock banjo strings, like drinkybanjo I buy single strings.
I'm very pleased with my 1929 TB-01 and wouldn't say the strings were in any way floppy. It currently has John Pearse medium gauge strings .012, .018, .024, .036 (wound 2nd) and apart from changing the strings I haven't adjusted it in any way since it came to me from a shop that seems to know a bit about banjos. I think they fitted a new head and it is very tight. They checked it over for me and I bought it unseen on the description. Perhaps they just set it up well. The shop was Frailers of Runcorn.
ok thanks for all the comments,will try tightening the head some more,banjo seems to be set up ok and plays really well,but compaired to my old framus,the strings are not as tight.thanks again will let you all know the outcome....
One extra thing to consider when you tension is slightly loose is the proper intonation. Sometimes a slight adjustment to the bridge is needed. You can always tell by playing 12th fret harmonics, the actual note and the open string. Any variation will mean it's off slightly. I agree with @Boots MacAllen. Mandolin strings can work nicely since they are meant for eadg. Jazz Tenor strings flop out easily depending on the gauge too. Im a bit fussy when it comes to having as close to perfect as possible. Have fun.
string tension tenor banjo
string tension tenor banjo
hi new to the session,need some help,have a 1929 tb2 gibson tenor banjo tuned eadg,the tension on the strings is very loose for my likeing,have tried every make and guage with no joy,would love to hear comments thanks
# Posted on May 3rd 2011 by brian bmx
Re: string tension tenor banjo
Hey Brian - I have a 1925 TB2, so I know exactly what you're talking about. Previously I had been a big fan of John Pearse Bronze Heavy Gage strings, but on the TB2 they sounded too floppy and dead. I ended up with D'Addario Tenor Banjo steel medium gage and also tightened up the head a bit. I also changed the bridge to a wider spacing and a harder wood. These combinations seemed to brighten up the old gal significantly. Good luck with your project. Experiment with the head tension. Sometimes it takes a while to get it tweaked in to your liking.
# Posted on May 3rd 2011 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: string tension tenor banjo
thanks for that,am using irish tenor banjo strings on it at the moment,they seem to be the best i have tried so far,i think if i tighten the head any more it will be fit to burst,the bridge is teak off a 1950 black head framus and i love it so thats staying put,but will try the head again,or is it just the way its sopposed to be im perplexed
# Posted on May 3rd 2011 by brian bmx
Re: string tension tenor banjo
I buy single strings:
G: .040w
D: .030w
A: .020w
E: .013 plain
# Posted on May 3rd 2011 by drinkybanjo
Re: string tension tenor banjo
I have a 17 fret Vega whyte laydie strung with GHS regular gauge octave mandolin Strings. 12,22w,32w,44w. Added bonus you get a spare set.
# Posted on May 3rd 2011 by Boots MacAllen
Re: string tension tenor banjo
Brian,
You say the strings "sounded too floppy and dead". Did they FEEL floppy? If so, you need heavier gauge strings. What is your scale length?
# Posted on May 3rd 2011 by will morgan
Re: string tension tenor banjo
For me it's :
G 036w
D 028w
A 018plain
E 012plain
I prefer stainless steel rather than bronze although many prefer the bronze.
Elderly Instruments or Clareen Banjos stock banjo strings, like drinkybanjo I buy single strings.
# Posted on May 4th 2011 by Tony O'Rourke
Re: string tension tenor banjo
I'm very pleased with my 1929 TB-01 and wouldn't say the strings were in any way floppy. It currently has John Pearse medium gauge strings .012, .018, .024, .036 (wound 2nd) and apart from changing the strings I haven't adjusted it in any way since it came to me from a shop that seems to know a bit about banjos. I think they fitted a new head and it is very tight. They checked it over for me and I bought it unseen on the description. Perhaps they just set it up well. The shop was Frailers of Runcorn.
# Posted on May 4th 2011 by RichardB
tenor banjo string tension
ok thanks for all the comments,will try tightening the head some more,banjo seems to be set up ok and plays really well,but compaired to my old framus,the strings are not as tight.thanks again will let you all know the outcome....
# Posted on May 4th 2011 by brian bmx
Re: string tension tenor banjo
@ WroughtKadin
Are you a robot?
# Posted on May 4th 2011 by gam
Re: string tension tenor banjo
One extra thing to consider when you tension is slightly loose is the proper intonation. Sometimes a slight adjustment to the bridge is needed. You can always tell by playing 12th fret harmonics, the actual note and the open string. Any variation will mean it's off slightly. I agree with @Boots MacAllen. Mandolin strings can work nicely since they are meant for eadg. Jazz Tenor strings flop out easily depending on the gauge too. Im a bit fussy when it comes to having as close to perfect as possible. Have fun.
Peter Corfield
http://www.CelticTurnTable.com
# Posted on May 4th 2011 by celticturntable