Questions about string length and setup

[LizzyPie]

Hey all,

So I am a complete newb (also, N00b) at this and thought you guys might be able to sort me out.

I have a short necked tenor banjo that I play Irish style, tuned GDAE. I've not yet changed the strings on it, and we ran into issues and out of time before I moved here, so my teacher back home couldn't help me. The main problem we ran into is I couldn't get the right strings. I had picked up the D'addario Irish tenor banjo set, but the string lengths are for long/standard necked banjos. He had told me that if you cut the strings down, they wouldn't be resonating at correct, uh, level. Pitch? It was sub optimal at any rate. We went online and found that other players we're down on the D'addario anyway, saying they sounded muddy, and were loose.

FF to now. I contacted a repair and set-up guy here in Sydney and asked how much he would charge, explained my problem and history with the D'addario strings, and politely asked if I could watch so that I would know how to do it, because I'm embarrassed that I play an instrument, and don't know how to set it up. (Not to mention It's kind of important if I want to build them!)
He responded with a price, saying he couldn't have me watch because he is too busy and it would slow him down too much. He also said he's never had a problem with the D'addario strings, he just cuts them down and it's fine.

SO.... what's the general consensus on cutting strings down? And, does anybody know of someone in Sydney who would help me change the strings and make sure everything is hunky dory? I'd pay them, and furnish cookies as well.

Thanks Heaps!
-Lizzy

[kiwigeo]

Cookies...did someone mention cookies????

[jeffhigh]

Ok Lizzie, I have very limited experience on Banjo's, but I'll try to answer your question.

The problem is not so much that you are cutting down the strings, but that the tension is different on the shorter scale

With the d'addario irish banjo strings, you have a set designed for a long neck banjo tuned to G-e that you are fitting on a shorter scale and tuning the same
They will therefore be looser.

If you don't like the tension of the strings that are on there at the moment and want them to feel tighter, you will need to increase the string guage (diameter).
You may need to make up a set from individual loop end strings to get what you want
You will need access to a micrometer reading in thousandths of an inch to measure each string and then make decisions as to what would be better for you.

[P Bill]

What Jeff said. I put a set of d'addario Irish banjo strings on a tenor box guitar ( 23 in scale ) and wasn't happy with the tension either. I cross tuned GDEA to AEAE, that was an improvement.

[steve roberts]

Hi lizzie
Give the guys at Gladesville Guitar Factory a call 029817273 worth a try
Regards Steve

[P Bill]

I just spotted a typo in my post, should read GDAE to AEAE. One of the most common fiddle tunings, makes for easy double stops and drones.

[Taffy Evans]

If you find that loop end strings limit the choice of gauges, you cab cut the ball ends out of guitar strings with side nippers, this will leave you a loop.

[P Bill]

That's gold Taffy.

[LizzyPie]

Update:

Thanks to your tip, Steve, I decided just to hop a bus and check out the Gladesville guitar shop. They were really awesome, (and what a great banjo selection, too!) The string guy, whose name I didn't catch, was patient with me and set me up with some strings. I ended up talking to Rob, American ex-pat of 33 years long enough that I had to catch the next bus! So thanks again for the handy tip!

The wonderful Trevor Gore ended up helping me out with the banjo strings, and we did a variation on the clipping tip, Taffy. We just unwound the loop once and popped the bead out. Seemed safer than trying to carefully cut the bead and not the string. As it is I broke at least 2! But I think I could do it on my own now, so, hooray!

Thanks again, guys!

[Taffy Evans]

Glad you got your problem fixed. I'm a bit wary of the winding area of some brands of strings, as often I've had them break at the winding, but glad its works for you.