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| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner | Page: 1 2   |
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| New Sound for a Good Time | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12th, 2006 01:51 am |
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1st Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator 
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I just spent a couple of hours putting new strings on my Deering Goodtime Banjo. As I have mentioned in several threads, I am looking for a more "plunky," or "Tubby" sound. I decided that I would take some advise given me and move the strings out from under the tension bar of the Deering tailpiece. Not wanting to put on new strings, necessarily, I capoed the neck at the 4th fret and loosened each string in turn, slipped it out from its tension slot, and retightened it. All went smoothly, until I started tuning back up to pitch! The high D string (1st string), promptly broke at the tuner  .Oh, well, I figured that since I was now forced to change strings, I might as well put on the LaBella Nylons I have been meaning to try. One string at a time, I removed the metal strings and replaced them with the nylons, running a pencil through the slots on the bridge and nut for each string. The difficult part was deciding how to attach the strings to the tailpiece. I thought about getting online and finding the thread that told how to tie string knots for banjos, but didn't want to lose the time I would spend. So, I used a variation of the knot I use on my guitar. I looped the end of the string, circled the running end around the standing string a couple of times, then pushed the end through the loop. This has, so far (fingers crossed) held. It didn't take long for the strings to settle to pitch, and now need adjusting only every few minutes (they have been on the banjo a total of about 45 minutes as I write this). For anybody interested, here are a couple of tunes on the nylons: Rolling Mills http://ezfolk.com/audio/play.php?band_id=5&song_id=3749&mode=song_hifi John Henry http://ezfolk.com/audio/play.php?band_id=5&song_id=3611&mode=song_lofi Let me know how you like this sound. I am pleasantly surprised, so far, and will now have to play for a while and see if it sticks. If so, then I will have to think about a new tailpiece. I want to thank beeconk for the suggestion that I do the tailpiece thing.  Keep on pickin'Brad Last edited on Wed Jan 25th, 2006 01:05 am by banjo brad ____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12th, 2006 01:50 pm |
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2nd Post |
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beeconk Approved
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That sounds great Brad. That tailpiece trick opens up the sound nicely and them nylon strung banjos can become addictive. I gotta good laugh about your reluctance to change the strings...didn't you say they were 4 years old?  The only reason I get 4 weeks out of any given set of steel strings is because I rotate banjos  Based on my experience though - if you like the sound you're getting, bite the bullet and order your nylguts now so they'll be there within the two - three weeks that it takes for the winding on your fourth string to break and start unravelling over the second or third fret. I've never had any luck with LaBella's nylon strings on a banjo - although you can make a nice tapered leader for fly fishing with them. 
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12th, 2006 08:20 pm |
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3rd Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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Yep, at least 4 years old! I follow the axiom of a lot of Old Time players - strings don't need to be changed until one breaks, then change them all. They do seem to go through a couple of stages of flatness, but eventually come out to the sound that I like with the metal. I have to think about these nylons - doing pull-offs on the 1st string needs a very delicate touch! (I bought the LaBellas because the price was right for experimenting - I think I paid $3.95 or so US.) I'll also have to think about the nylguts - I think $$ may be a concern, along with longevity. If they don't last as long, I can't afford 'em. Keep on pickin'Brad
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12th, 2006 09:29 pm |
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4th Post |
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guatemalass Approved 
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Tubby Tubb Tubb, I like 'em Brad. I have labellas on my banjo uke, and they sound alright...I think what I really want is the metal banjo sound out of my banjuke...If you want to trade me, I'll take a pre-war gibson flathead. Ha! -guat 
____________________ http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/549/ |
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13th, 2006 01:20 am |
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5th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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Ok, now I've got a problem! The first year I had my banjo, I installed a railroad spike at the 7th fret. I mananged to get it in almost too far to get the 5th string under, but it can (could, with a steel 5th string) be done. Not with the nylons! So, how is the best way to fix this spike (5th string capos are not an option)? It was inserted by drilling a hole, putting a dot of white wood glue in it and gently(!) tapping the spike in. Can I heat the spike and pull it out then reglue it with proper clearance? Or will I need to fill the hole and place the spike in a new area near the fret? This is playing havoc with my D tunes! Keep on pickin'Brad Them flatheads is expensive! I only got the one Goodtime, sorry!
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13th, 2006 11:03 am |
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6th Post |
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beeconk Approved
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Pshaw!! just crank the sucker up to D..it's nylon, it should handle it easily enough....'course if you do and break it: don't blame me...blame the LaBella's  As for the spike it may or may not hold well if you heat it; pull it and reset it higher. you could try doing that though - with epoxy this time but then when you switch back to steel .... Personally I'd leave than one be and install another one on the 8th or 9th fret and tune it down to D. I went mental on my Goodtime and had spikes on every fret from the 6th to the 10th  Then I realized one or two at most would suffice. It wasn't as if I was on stage and needed accurate retuning instantly.
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13th, 2006 12:25 pm |
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7th Post |
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1four5 Approved 
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Brad, have you seen this? Might be something to try while you have nylons on there, and not mess up your set up for steel strings if you ever go back. http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/Banjo/PenCapCapo/pencapcapo.html
____________________ These are the good times! |
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13th, 2006 06:50 pm |
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8th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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Oh, Land O' Goshen! Just when you think everything is too complicated. Leave to a banjo player to have the intuition, intelligence and clarity of mind to come up with a simple solution like this beeconk- I have considered both methods, I was just a little leery of tuning up a whole step on that 5th string, but will probably try it - no blame given . The ninth fret is also something I am considering adding (the tune "Kennedy Rag" is really meant to be played in F, so an additional fret would be handy for that (H Strawm uses a pony banjo, but says to capo 4, so maybe one at 10 or 11, too)).Any rate, looks like I have several options - thanks, guys.
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13th, 2006 08:13 pm |
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9th Post |
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kurtk Approved 
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Wow! I never would have thought of putting nylon strings on my Goodtime. Great sound! I have a fretless, calf skin, nylon string banjo that I like the sound of, but don't like the feel of nearly as much as my Goodtime. Plus, being fretless makes it harder for me to hit the right notes ;~) I may have to try this. I think your Gootime sounds even better than my old calf skin thingamabob... Thanks to 1four5 as well for that cool link on the 5th string capo trick. That is AWESOME! Kurt Last edited on Fri Jan 13th, 2006 08:19 pm by kurtk |
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13th, 2006 08:59 pm |
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10th Post |
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beeconk Approved
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Not to highjack your thread Brad - but since we're on the topic of nylon strings - this is a short clip of some two-finger picking on my Huss & Dalton Singletree open back that I set up with a calfskin head and nylgut strings. I jes love playin them nylguts! http://members.aol.com/beeconk/music/hdsoundtest.mp3
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| Posted: Sat Jan 14th, 2006 02:23 am |
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11th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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That's got a nice sound to it, what's the tune?
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Sat Jan 14th, 2006 07:45 am |
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12th Post |
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beeconk Approved
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banjo brad wrote: That's got a nice sound to it, what's the tune? I named it "Emma Claire's Reel" - after my granddaughter. At first it was a melodic clawhammer piece - but I changed the tempo a bit to two finger it on the H & D
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| Posted: Sat Jan 14th, 2006 06:30 pm |
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13th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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Rats- It isn't pd, so I won't ask for link to the whole tune so I can try to work it out clawhammer (or a tab would be really nice). Nice, lively little tune. I have been finding that I really enjoy the tabs Hank Strawn is doing in his BNL column. Fun to play, and, maybe I'll be able to convert them back to fiddle when I get some time in on that instrument. Incidently, the pencap-o works, but is a little loose under the nylons (tension, I think). I will probably try to crank up the 5th string next time I go to D 
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Sat Jan 14th, 2006 09:29 pm |
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14th Post |
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beeconk Approved
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Thanks for the compliment Brad - I'm glad you like the song. Feel free to figure it out and play it all you want. Somebody else has already done their own version of it..that got better reviews than the original  There's a full (ish) version of it on my Nowhere Radio site under the title "Dunno Yet" As the name implies, it's an older version before I'd fully fleshed out the song - my apologies for the flubs etc. - it's not the easiest song to play with my skill level. It sounds alot better in my head than it does on my banjo here's the link http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=4644&alid=-1
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| Posted: Sun Jan 15th, 2006 12:23 am |
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15th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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B- I had checked out your stuff earlier this afternoon! I really enjoyed Emma Claire's Lullaby. You do well, I am trying to work on some two finger stuff, but find I tend to just pick the melody with the index finger and plunk the 5th with the thumb!
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Sun Jan 15th, 2006 12:26 am |
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16th Post |
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beeconk Approved
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that version of EC's reel is ancient - here's the latest incarnation of the tune I just recorded. I'm playing a Ramsey Electric Custom with a 12" pot and a Renaissance head. the banjo's tuned to ECGCD. Apologies again - I'm rusty from playing only ukes since Christmas http://members.aol.com/beeconk/music/emma-claires-reel.mp3 edited to add...seems we're posting simultaneously kinda Last edited on Sun Jan 15th, 2006 12:28 am by beeconk |
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24th, 2006 07:03 am |
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17th Post |
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Patrick_Woolery Approved
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Brad, how are the nylons holding up? I have had terrible luck with the wound strings on my old beat up nylon string guitar. I ended up just giving up on the thing because a string would just give out unexpectedly after a month or so. I am not willing to keep spending money on strings for an instrument I still can't play! One other option for nylon strings is to make them yourself. Pete Seeger's banjo book talks about this and there is at least one website out there that covers it, including the knot. The material is, of course, fishline. http://members.aol.com/otjammin/ft/nylonst.htm I have not yet tried it, but will eventually. I have a set of Labellas and I want to compare the sound and feel of them to just cheap fishing line. I bought the fishline with the intent of using it on cheesy cookie tin instruments that were not worth a set of real strings. Hey, if I have to pay more for the strings than for the tuners, that instrument isn't cheap enough! But I still haven't built the things I want to build. Not enough time with two small kids in the house. (And that's also my excuse for not getting better with my banjo.) -Patrick
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24th, 2006 10:23 pm |
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18th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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Patrick- So far, so good. I do see a little wear on the 4th (wound) string at the second fret, but no fraying yet. If you are having trouble on a guitar, you really need to check the fret where it is happening; it probably has a rough spot on it, which you could take off with steelwool and/or fine sandpaper. Check out http://www.frets.com for some info. Same thing possible for bridge and/or nut. I will probably change back to steel soon, the retuning of nylon takes forever, due to the elasticity of the strings. I do like the sound, though.
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24th, 2006 10:55 pm |
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19th Post |
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beeconk Approved
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ah...another plug for nylguts! They take a very frustrating day or two to stretch all the way, in fact the banjo is pretty much unplayable for the first few hours - but once they do stretch they're very stable and stay tuned rather well. so if'n you ever decide to go back to nylon...mebbe go nylgut Patrick - there used to be a guy on the Banjo Hangout that made banjo string sets from fluorocarbon (sp?) monofilament fishing line. He, and others that tried them, claimed they were great. I've got a bunch of different spools of it for saltwater flyfishing leader material but it's all the wrong diameters...too thin. It's expensive up front but if it makes a lot of string sets it could be worthwhile.
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| Posted: Wed Jan 25th, 2006 12:18 am |
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20th Post |
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J-Walk Approved 
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I'll vouch for the sound of those nylon strings. I had the pleasure of meeting Banjo Brad this afternoon, and I heard those strings in person. Much of the good sound, of course, is caused by the guy behind the banjo. Brad has a very light touch on the strings. I tried playing his banjo, and it didn't work very well for me (I tend to hit that G string a lot harder than he does). In any case, we had some fun.
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