On my vintage short-scale tenor banjo tuned GDAE, the E-string is louder than the other strings, so much that I experience it as a problem.
In order to lower the volume I have currently made the groove in the bridge deeper and then added a piece of rubber / elastic in it, under the string. This seems to help a bit once done, but not enough, as the rubber is pressed together by the string tension, and so it all seems to become progressively compressed and firm.
What can I do except trying to play softly on the one string (which'll be a problem too)?
Is this true guys?! I seriously thought that if there existed a gauge-type sollution to this, that it would be to use a lighter string (which I have tried earlier). Hm... So wrong can one be. Well, I'll try 0.14 out as soon as I can. I currently use a 0.12.
That would have been my guess too. A heavier string would mean more tension to get the same tone (think of how tense the heavier A string would get if you tried to tune it to E), and slack strings seem to be quieter than strings at normal tension in my experience. Are you folks saying this trend reverses at a certain point, or is my logic off? I don't get it.
I have tried using a 0.14 now, and as you mention, Pat, there seems to be a reverse trend at some point. The 0.14 definitively seems more quiet than the 0.12. At times the volume does go dangerously up, but at other times, and for long periods too, it seems to behave really acceptable. It really does blend more with the rest of the strings volume-vice. I don't even use a piece of elastic in the E groove of the bridge now. All in all I'm more satisfied than before, even though the string is kinda tense as far as using the plectrum goes.
Guess a 0.15 would be too much, or does it help even more?
(My other banjo, a GT IT250 bought new, came with a *gasp* 0.16, which felt super tense, and so, out of line with the other strings. That banjo has the same tendencies when using a 0.12, but on a much smaller scale. Maybe the company ships their banjos like that with the intention of lowering volume?)
Loud tenor banjo E-string...
Loud tenor banjo E-string...
On my vintage short-scale tenor banjo tuned GDAE, the E-string is louder than the other strings, so much that I experience it as a problem.
In order to lower the volume I have currently made the groove in the bridge deeper and then added a piece of rubber / elastic in it, under the string. This seems to help a bit once done, but not enough, as the rubber is pressed together by the string tension, and so it all seems to become progressively compressed and firm.
What can I do except trying to play softly on the one string (which'll be a problem too)?
# Posted on April 3rd 2005 by c_t_s_o
Re: Loud tenor banjo E-string...
Try using a heavier string. Maybe 00.14" plain steel.
# Posted on April 3rd 2005 by Bog_Trotter
Re: Loud tenor banjo E-string...
Hate to leave you with one post on this, but I had the same problem and a heavier string fixed the problem.
# Posted on April 3rd 2005 by CeolCairdeas
Re: Loud tenor banjo E-string...
Is this true guys?! I seriously thought that if there existed a gauge-type sollution to this, that it would be to use a lighter string (which I have tried earlier). Hm... So wrong can one be. Well, I'll try 0.14 out as soon as I can. I currently use a 0.12.
# Posted on April 4th 2005 by c_t_s_o
Re: Loud tenor banjo E-string...
That would have been my guess too. A heavier string would mean more tension to get the same tone (think of how tense the heavier A string would get if you tried to tune it to E), and slack strings seem to be quieter than strings at normal tension in my experience. Are you folks saying this trend reverses at a certain point, or is my logic off? I don't get it.
# Posted on April 11th 2005 by Pat McGee
Re: Loud tenor banjo E-string...
I have tried using a 0.14 now, and as you mention, Pat, there seems to be a reverse trend at some point. The 0.14 definitively seems more quiet than the 0.12. At times the volume does go dangerously up, but at other times, and for long periods too, it seems to behave really acceptable. It really does blend more with the rest of the strings volume-vice. I don't even use a piece of elastic in the E groove of the bridge now. All in all I'm more satisfied than before, even though the string is kinda tense as far as using the plectrum goes.
Guess a 0.15 would be too much, or does it help even more?
(My other banjo, a GT IT250 bought new, came with a *gasp* 0.16, which felt super tense, and so, out of line with the other strings. That banjo has the same tendencies when using a 0.12, but on a much smaller scale. Maybe the company ships their banjos like that with the intention of lowering volume?)
# Posted on April 12th 2005 by c_t_s_o