How to Put Nylon or Nylgut Strings on a Banjo

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Here's the easiest way to restring your banjo with nylon or gut strings. I'm using Aquila Nylgut "Classic Banjo" strings and an 1888 Luscomb banjo; however, the process is basically the same on any vintage banjo, whether you're using gut, nylgut, nylon, fluorocarbon, or fishing line.
If you have a modern instrument like the Deering "Goodtime," a Pisgah banjo, Recording King, or Gold Tone, I recommend trying La Bella No. 17 nylon strings instead. These are lighter and more likely to fit without having to widen the nut slots.
The best USA-made bridges for gut and nylon strings are made by Joel Hooks: www.banjothimble.com/
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How to restring your banjo; how to change banjo strings; change the strings on your banjo; how to put nylon strings on a banjo; how to restring a banjo; the best way to change strings on a banjo; easiest way to string your banjo; how to replace banjo strings; restringing your banjo; S.S. Stewart tailpiece tail piece...
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Clifton Hicks banjo heritage, luthier, luthiery, instrument repair, banjo setup, set up, string gauge, restringing, classic banjo, classical banjo, ragtime, guitar style, historical, outlaw old-time music, overhand, clawhammer tablature, two finger tab, thumb lead, 2 finger, frailing and stroke styles plus Appalachian mountain murder ballad hoedown and early minstrel show techniques. History, anthropology, folklore, research and musicology including breakdowns, Oldtime banjo old time close ups demonstrations blues, waltz, skiffle, tin pan alley, Afro-Caribbean and West African, Cajun zydeco, Métis, Creole, Melungeon indigenous native American music traditions. Folk art, asmr, relaxation, calming, meditation, chill, trance. Mountain music, southern culture, dark folk, murder ballad. George Gibson, Ernie Williams, Cousin Emmy, Dock Boggs, Rufus Crisp, Virgil Anderson, Lily May Ledford, Roscoe Holcomb, Unknown Henson, Tab Ward, Frank Proffitt, Riley Baugus, Tommy Jarrell, Kyle Creed, Lee Sexton, Morgan Sexton, Lead Belly, Pete Steele, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Leroy Troy, JD Crowe, Rising Appalachia, Clarence Ashley, Fred Cockerham, Dwight Diller, Gaither Carlton, John Snipes, Dink Roberts, Clifford Essex, Joe Sweeney, Archibald Ferguson, Dan Emmett, John Hartford, Picayune Butler, Gus Cannon, Art Rosenbaum, Coon Creek Girls, Grandpa Jones, Snuffy Jenkins, Buell Kazee, Bascam Lamar Lunsford, Uncle Dave Macon, Tommy Makem, Luke Kelly, Charlie Poole, Ola Belle Reed, BF Shelton, Rhiannon Giddens, Billy Whitlock, Hobart Smith, Samantha Bumgarner, Peggy Seeger, Mike Seeger, Jean Ritchie, Dom Flemons, Ralph Stanley, music tutorial, Odell Thompson, Wade Ward, Hedy West, Fred McDowell, poor white trash, Steve Earle, Del McCoury Band, Clifton Hicks, Stanley Hicks, Dee Hicks, Dirk Powell, Enoch Rutherford, Ray Hicks, Mabel Cawthorn, Florie Stewart, Maybelle Carter Family, Uncle Homer Walker, Mississippi John Hurt old time, folk, Riley Baugus, Gillian Welch, trad roots picker redneck songster troubadour minstrel medicine show tent revival hoedown, Americana, Morgan Sexton, Lee Sexton, Clyde Troxell, Blanche Coldiron, Black Banjo Songsters, Banjo Bill Cornett, clawhammer banjo.

Пікірлер: 134

  • @XRing45
    @XRing453 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Clifton, My first adventure with nylon strings is a success... Nylon is way more fun.

  • @DaniotheManio5
    @DaniotheManio53 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Clifton for being my teacher and guide through this amazing world of old-time American heritage. It has been such a joy learning from and listening to you. You really share a part of you in all of your videos and it has made you feel almost like a friend. I'm excited to continue learning with you and share this banjo heritage with others too.

  • @bryanlentz7160

    @bryanlentz7160

    Жыл бұрын

    Same here! I really enjoy learning about banjo history

  • @Avocado7765
    @Avocado7765 Жыл бұрын

    I just added nylon strings today, wish I’d seen this video, it took me about two and a half hours and I snapped a string and had a hell of a time tying the little knots but it sounds great.

  • @mikerucker9305
    @mikerucker93053 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Clifton, am in the process of restringing two of my banjos with nylon. Appreciate the lesson.

  • @itsobvious5835
    @itsobvious58353 жыл бұрын

    Clifton, this info is priceless. I have learned a lot from you. Thanks Again, Nate

  • @prestonlloyd4520
    @prestonlloyd45203 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Chris. I love your videos. I play an 1894 S.S. Stewart banjo that I have restored. It was strung with steel strings for many years before I got it. I had to reset the neck because it was slightly bowed. I have a Goldtone CC banjo also but I love to play the S.S. Stewart the most. I also have the same bridge and tailpiece. Great video. I love to watch you play.

  • @garycowger9579
    @garycowger95793 жыл бұрын

    Clif I started using Nylon about 9 months ago and once they quite stretching they stay in tune and boy do I love the sound I use them on My fretless banjo's now and I think I will never go back to steel thanks for the info , keep on pickin Brother

  • @horsedrawnfarmer6885
    @horsedrawnfarmer68853 жыл бұрын

    I love your videos and your style of playing. Thanks.

  • @toadeepants
    @toadeepants3 жыл бұрын

    Great tutorial, thanks as always, Clifton.

  • @vinsamson8061
    @vinsamson8061 Жыл бұрын

    Great video Clifton thanks as have just got my first couple of vintage nylon strung 🪕🤘banjos

  • @jaynebrookes1904
    @jaynebrookes19043 жыл бұрын

    Hi all, my dad is teaching me how to play the banjo via ZOOM as we don't live near each other. He is an amazing musician and self taught. I have just purchased an original SAVANA open back banjo as my 1st and dad sent me La Bella strings. He also recommends following your good-self on learning and playing, so thank you for making this look easy to follow & wish me luck. :0) Edit... Over 3 hours, much cursing & frustration i have now completed this. :0)

  • @jakeglanville6835
    @jakeglanville68352 жыл бұрын

    Dear Clifton Hicks, I've been a fan of yours ever since I first found you on KZread many years back. Apart from your singing and playing where I would rate you my No.1 favourite living banjo player, you produce some really useful stuff like this video. I've been using Nylgut strings for many years and prefer them to steel any day -but that of course is simply a matter for the individual. I play English zither-banjos all of which are over 120 years old, and almost everything you advocate is the way I've always done it and it's good to know I've been following in the footsteps of the great master (that's you!) quite independently. I sometimes tune to full pitch, but like you I sometimes de-tune to a lower one, to avoid stressing the banjo. As you know the tuners on a zither banjo are different to old American banjos and are almost always geared. I find it unnecessary to knot the string before putting it through the hole in the tuning peg. I just wind the string around the tuner tube a couple of times before pushing it through the hole. The strings have never slipped, and the banjos stay in tune very well indeed. I'm lousy at knots, so I just thought I'd mention it! Black Jake of Norwich, England.

  • @maineguitarists
    @maineguitarists Жыл бұрын

    Very nicely done! As a guitarist for years i have always wanted to play banjo. I have an antique buckbee on it's way and it already has nylon strings on it and is set up nicely. Although i'm pretty good at fingerstyle guitar on steel and classical, i will give the frailing technique a try. I love the calm dulcet tones you get and being a history major also wanted an older instrument and will want to learn some old American tunes. So glad to have found your videos. I'm very impressed with your playing and singing. MT

  • @Mo11y666
    @Mo11y6663 жыл бұрын

    You're a brave soul using that match haha

  • @Gedagnors
    @Gedagnors3 жыл бұрын

    Wow! Thank you so much! I did not know that and it is great advice!

  • @RockStarOscarStern634
    @RockStarOscarStern6342 жыл бұрын

    That Lower Tuning is Down a Minor third from the Modern 5 String Banjo and Pete Seeger used this lower tuning which allowed him to sing in a lower key

  • @corticallarvae
    @corticallarvae2 жыл бұрын

    Such useful information here

  • @corticallarvae
    @corticallarvae2 жыл бұрын

    You’ve mentioned Joel hooks several times in your videos, I can tell this is a serious preference your

  • @blaisegirl420
    @blaisegirl4203 жыл бұрын

    this was posted on my birthday

  • @kyndramb7050
    @kyndramb70503 жыл бұрын

    Great thumbnail! I watch all your videos anyway, but that thumbnail really caught my attention.

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    3 жыл бұрын

    O good! I'd hoped it would be eye-catching.

  • @ingersollmusicacademy2698
    @ingersollmusicacademy26983 жыл бұрын

    Super Groovy Dude.

  • @sesa2984
    @sesa29843 күн бұрын

    My uncle has a penchant for giving my girlfriend fiancée and I any banjo/ukelele (she plays that)/both he finds at his endless string of yardsales and flea-markets he attends because that’s his thing and he knows we like/play folk music etc. (still waiting for a’59 telecaster that somebody didn’t know what it is, but thats ok! ) Anyhow, most of what he gets us is run of the mill Ukeleles, and entry-level banjos, and the occasional banjo uke etc. AND ALL ARE APPRECIATED, and some are useful for her to play to her library kids and me to make noise with, but recently he got me an A.C. Fairbanks (metal plate) Banjo mandolin, (has a “Supertone” label inside it too) and I’m GENUINELY interested in knowing what it is and how to get the most out of it. I am interested in playing the mandolin, and have a couple, but I think theres a good sound in this thing that might be able to come out. It probably needs some work to set up, I’m wondering what type of strings etc to make it play best. I didn’t know where else to go. Anything you could know would help. Peace.

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    3 күн бұрын

    La Bella nylon strings

  • @sesa2984

    @sesa2984

    Күн бұрын

    @@CliftonHicksbanjo Thanks!

  • @fingal42
    @fingal422 жыл бұрын

    Very useful - thanks, Clifton. I have an English Windsor zither banjo, made in Birmingham UK, and I'm thinking of putting a set of nylon strings on it. Mainly because (and I think this is right) Windsor didn't bother to include a truss rod in its neck, so with metal strings, it's more like an egg slicer than a banjo: I mean, the action is too high. The tailpiece on my Windsor requires a loop, so I just use a simple angler's knot for that.

  • @MySpottyGirlfriend
    @MySpottyGirlfriend2 жыл бұрын

    There's no need for gut strings, we're past that. Great video man ✌️

  • @pamt6829
    @pamt68293 жыл бұрын

    Thank you 👍

  • @guitzanin
    @guitzanin3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @robynlatham6451
    @robynlatham64513 жыл бұрын

    Very nice

  • @professorbootycheeks1
    @professorbootycheeks13 жыл бұрын

    yeah baby!

  • @jakeglanville6835
    @jakeglanville68352 жыл бұрын

    Your J W Hooks bridge looks remarkably like the Clifford Essex bridge for zither banjos I use on all of mine. Some have a raised bit for the 5th string, which I've found very useful for clawhammer. The problem of breaking strings, and mine always break when nothing's happening i.e. overnight when the banjo isn't being played or tuned, can be resolved by not being in too much of a hurry. Give your Nylgut strings a good 8 hours to settle in, Having made sure all grooves are smooth and strings able to move easily, the trick is to dislodge them from their grooves in the top nut and tune them in stages. When you've got them almost there, about three bars under on your electronic tuner, pop them back into the groove for the final bit, I've just fitted Nylgut strings to my Windsor Artiste and Cammeyer zb's with no sign of breakage gCGBD with the 'C' an octave below Middle 'C' i.e. f

  • @farnorthpicker56
    @farnorthpicker56 Жыл бұрын

    Love your stuff Clifton! I have an old Framus. I’m thinking about pulling the frets to make it fretless. Also, what would be a suitable tail piece for nylgut strings? I’d appreciate any advice you could give me, or your thoughts on my plans. Thanks for all the info, great old time music and beautiful antique banjos you show us! Best wishes from Northern Canada

  • @user-sx3sz1yd3j
    @user-sx3sz1yd3j3 ай бұрын

    Sure wish you had someone to film you doing that.

  • @RockStarOscarStern634
    @RockStarOscarStern6343 жыл бұрын

    Nylon Strings also break less easily than Gut Strings.

  • @paulgrady4183
    @paulgrady41833 жыл бұрын

    Hi brother just wanted to say I love your video's and watching you play it's amazing how easy you make it look, I've been playing for 4 month's now and I'm hooked,I've been sober now 16 months and I was telling my sponsor I'd love to play the banjo and he said do it, so I bought the only left handed banjo I could afford an old ozark with a resonator so I took the resonator off and Ive played it every day. I've been looking for a 12" open back but I've only got around £500 to spend I've looked around for weeks now and the only one really is the deering americana and I was thinking of getting the shop put a no knot tail piece and nylgut strings on for me because I love the old time sound, I would love any advice thanks, stay safe and keep smiling brother x

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    3 жыл бұрын

    If you're tuning your banjo up to standard G tuning, I recommend using La Bella No. 17 nylon strings. These are actually superior to the Aquila Nylgut strings, and often cheaper. The only reason I use the heavier nylgut is because, as a singer, I am forced to drop-tune my instruments two frets, meaning that instead of tuning my banjo to gDGBD, I _always_ down-tune to fCFAC, in order to match my singing voice. The La Bella strings don't perform as well as the Aquila strings when playing in lower tunings.

  • @paulgrady4183

    @paulgrady4183

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks brother 👍

  • @gausscone
    @gausscone2 жыл бұрын

    I came across that same website looking for alternative banjo bridges! Incidentally, for banjo ukuleles, which use non-metal strings. Funny unusual trick about burning the ends into a ball. It makes sense, but personally, the fire came too close to the string at the peghead for my comfort... I figure most people can relate, to say nothing of bringing fire anywhere near their delicates. Have you ever considered fluorocarbon strings? By no means a recommendation, just a logical connection to nylon strings.

  • @richardfalls5633
    @richardfalls56333 жыл бұрын

    Hello Clifton have you ever heard a Recording King RK-OT 25 BR Madison strung up with nylon, if so how did it sound

  • @UncleSamWantsBanjoPlayers
    @UncleSamWantsBanjoPlayers3 жыл бұрын

    Hey, Clif! I really appreciate this video. I think a lot of us are "experimenting" with nylgut. There's one more problem maybe you could address. It's when you tighten the strings up - you get way too many coils around the pegs. Any ideas on solving that?

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    3 жыл бұрын

    I start with the strings already pretty tight before I start winding. Also, it's better to have too many coils than too few!

  • @harvdog5669

    @harvdog5669

    Жыл бұрын

    @@CliftonHicksbanjo hello mr.hicks, I am looking for somebody to play a Resenator Banjo with nylon strings to see how that sounds and play it claw hammer style. Would love to see a video on this from you. Thankyou.

  • @NemoNepersonne
    @NemoNepersonne3 жыл бұрын

    Animals aren’t actually butchered to make gut strings. The guts are leftovers being put to good use.

  • @fennarios

    @fennarios

    3 жыл бұрын

    Animales get butchered for 5 minutes of pleasure either way

  • @WoodBilly53
    @WoodBilly53 Жыл бұрын

    I like Aquilla Red mediums Nylon

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    Жыл бұрын

    The red string _always_ breaks on me. Sometimes while I'm stringing it.

  • @bluesblabber
    @bluesblabber3 ай бұрын

    Hello Clifton, I just recently bought myself an Oscar Schmidt OB4-AU Banjo, and I'm wondering whether I can just put nylon strings on it without replacing the bridge / tailpiece / or the 5th string tree (I hope you get what I meant by the 5th string tree). I would really appreciate your help or anyone here who knows. Thank you very much in advance!

  • @alanstarbuck5203
    @alanstarbuck5203 Жыл бұрын

    Hi , I have a 4 string 17 fret tenor banjo which i have altered the tuning to the same as a ukulele/banjolele but have steel strings on it, can you tell me if its possible to put nylon strings on to get the same tuning, gCAE and if so which ones

  • @cymbolic_space1832
    @cymbolic_space18322 күн бұрын

    I picked up a pretty standard alabama banjo on sale at the local music shop here and a few different nylgut strings. Should I still throw a new bridge on there and what strings would be most appropriate? They are all aquila: Classic Banjo Medium All NG, Classic Banjo Light All NG, Classic Banjo Medium 1R and, Minstrel Banjo. many blessings from thr South of the North 🙏

  • @curtissmolen4411
    @curtissmolen44113 жыл бұрын

    What makes a bridge better for nylon as opposed to steel strings? I would love to see a video on the thimble pick.

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    3 жыл бұрын

    Nylon strings are wider than steel strings, so they require a bridge with slightly wider string slots. Also, a solid maple bridge will sound much better than a modern bluegrass bridge with it's characteristic ebony "cap" running along the top. When using nylons, the ebony cap is unnecessary and only serves to mute the strings.

  • @FRETLESSBANJO
    @FRETLESSBANJO2 ай бұрын

    I have not been able to find a video on tuning nylgut or nylon banjo strings. Any suggestions!

  • @kylemorrison8460
    @kylemorrison84602 жыл бұрын

    How do you feel about aquila red series banjo strings?

  • @HiNinqi
    @HiNinqi3 ай бұрын

    Has La Bella made thicker vague strings to compete with Aquila yet?

  • @PermacultureAppalachia
    @PermacultureAppalachia Жыл бұрын

    👍👍

  • @uncommonsensewithpastormar2913
    @uncommonsensewithpastormar2913 Жыл бұрын

    That match trick is pretty cool, although I don’t know how necessary it is. If a string is slipping that much, I would take the string off and put it on again long before it reaches the end. Still, I think I’ll start doing the match trick any way purely for the “cool” factor.

  • @Hopeful_Wanderer
    @Hopeful_Wanderer2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much (as always!) I've just put Nyguts on mine, I'm scared of snapping them if I try to tune too tight, I'm struggling to know if I'm in the correct octave when tuning... They seemed really really loose, but if I try to go up to the next octave it feels like I could break them ..hmmmmmmmm

  • @Boldten

    @Boldten

    2 жыл бұрын

    I just put my first set of nylguts on and am wondering the same. Did you go for the next octave?

  • @Heathharris508
    @Heathharris5082 жыл бұрын

    Just got another banjo that was made in the 1810s or something like that idk what kind but is there away I can send you a photo?

  • @nathanielrossi9659
    @nathanielrossi96593 жыл бұрын

    Mr. Clifton, What are some good cheap/not much money bridges for heavier nylon strings?

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    3 жыл бұрын

    Joel Hooks makes the best banjo bridges available in the U.S. for nylon strings: www.banjothimble.com/

  • @Mo11y666
    @Mo11y6663 жыл бұрын

    Have you tried the Aquila classic red? And has anyone ever mix matched any of these companies like La Bella to Aquila so on and so fourth and how they blend. Mix matching while staying in the same string gauge that is..

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    3 жыл бұрын

    I'm sure people have mixed & matched every conceivable string combination. Most serious traditional/early/classic banjoists just stick with "La Bella No. 17 Nylon" strings--these are the closest cheap strings to what most music companies offered 1880-1930. The _real_ snobs, however, order custom diameter single strings directly from La Bella, and that way can achieve the exact mix they're after. Even snobbier folks order custom diameter fluorocarbon strings, or true gut from classical music suppliers like Gamut Inc. As for Aquila's red series strings, I strongly advise you to avoid them like the plague! I have tried several sets, and _every_ time the red strings broke before I could even get one song out of them. Terrible product, in my experience.

  • @Mo11y666

    @Mo11y666

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@CliftonHicksbanjo well shit..guess this conversation would have been more of a yesterday thing. I got a pair today not knowing A. They are even red. B. The 4th isn't wound. C. I got them wanting to try something alittle different and the description on these strings were saying they are supposed to be alittle brighter and more precise tones within each string compared to others. Ill string em up here later on. Already paid for so why not at least give em hell. Before I did was curious of you or anyone else who has used them and what they thought of them.

  • @TimDonk
    @TimDonk3 жыл бұрын

    I've heard the sentiment more than once, so I have to chime in/question it. Are animals being slaughtered specifically for gut strings, or (more likely) are gut strings simply made from byproducts of the slaughter?

  • @jonwheatley6047

    @jonwheatley6047

    3 жыл бұрын

    they were already slaughtered. well, even banjo players have to eat

  • @davideddy2672

    @davideddy2672

    3 жыл бұрын

    I’ve found the Cat Rescue to be a great source of gut strings and skins - all you want for a small donation, couple of tins of food and a bag of biscuits! 😊

  • @JD-rp1fx
    @JD-rp1fx2 жыл бұрын

    I went to put nylguts on a 1908 fairbanks white laydie no. 2 banjo but the 3rd and 4th are too thick to sit in the nut. Since it's a vintage instrument i don't want to mess around with filing the nut. It has the original friction tuners and currrently light gauge steel strings, but hard to keep in tune. What would the original factory strings have been? Any suggestions on good replacement strings?

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    2 жыл бұрын

    La Bella No. 17 nylon strings are closest to the 19th century factory strings.

  • @garberwarren
    @garberwarren3 жыл бұрын

    Clifton, how aggressive can you be with the tuning? I have tried the nulgut reds and the ones in the gold package you show. The last time I spent three days getting them up to tune. Just a little bit more tension each day. Every time I try to tune to G, C or D the high D string will always snap. I have smoothed the tail piece, nut and the bridge. I even tried using the second string from another pack as the first string. It still snapped. I am new to this but I really love the way my banjo sounds with the nylon strings just frustrating when they break. Thank you for all of the videos they are all very informative and I look forward to every one of them.

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    3 жыл бұрын

    Warren, I've really only experienced the plain white nylguts breaking on instruments with new nuts, tailpieces, pegs, &c. As I've mentioned before, the "red series" strings are notorious for breaking, no matter what one does. It may just be that I _never_ tune Aquila nylguts up past fCFAC--I really don't enjoy the sound or feel of the strings when tuned up to gDGBD. If you're tuning the instrument up to gDGBD or higher, then you should be using "La Bella No. 17 Nylon" strings instead. These strings are better quality, often cheaper that nylgut, and are designed to play in standard gCGBD & gDGBD tunings.

  • @garberwarren

    @garberwarren

    3 жыл бұрын

    Clifton Hicks thanks for taking the time to respond I really appreciate the input. I ordered two sets of the 17’s I am a beginner and most of the online instruction and cord shapes are in either open G, C or D so I have to tune up to those. Thanks again and have a great day.

  • @maddogmorgan1

    @maddogmorgan1

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@garberwarren Chord shapes stay the same if you tune down as long as it is relatively tuned eg: GDGBD --> FCFAC

  • @Leo1903able
    @Leo1903able3 жыл бұрын

    I understand that one should use the Bella #17 Nylon strings for a Goodtime banjo. If the banjo has a resonator, would it be OK to leave it on for better projection of sound?

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    3 жыл бұрын

    I always recommend leaving the resonator on. A resonator banjo with nylon strings and a solid maple bridge sounds great.

  • @jwscience9897
    @jwscience98973 жыл бұрын

    I have a cheap fender bluegrass banjo that I am in the thought processes of converting it into an old timey clawhammer style banjo. So far my ideas are to scoop out a section of the fretboard for playing, switching out a nylon head for a skin head and putting nylon strings on it. I like that lower key that you can get from the nylons with a skin head. My only fear is the frets not being made for that key and hoping it doesnt go too far out of tune. Do you know anyone who has ever converted a resonator (bluegrass) banjo into a clawhammer style banjo? I plan on keeping the resonator on just out of curiosity and personal flavor.

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    3 жыл бұрын

    No need to alter the banjo beyond _maybe_ having to widen the nut slots in order to accept nylon strings. Many of the real "old time" banjo players of yesteryear played unmodified resonator banjos: Dock Boggs, Lee Sexton, Morgan Sexton, Charlie Poole, Wade Ward, Dave Macon, Grandpa Jones, Stringbean, Ralph Stanley, Gus Cannon, Phoebe Parsons, Creed Birchfield, Cousin Emmy, George Pegram, Ed Teague, Guy Bruce, Mabel Cawthorn, Dink Roberts, Lawrence Eller, and many others.

  • @mikegager
    @mikegager3 жыл бұрын

    hey clifton, any advice on how tight to get the head for good sound?

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    3 жыл бұрын

    Mike, the bluegrassers (and maybe the classic pickers as well) will tell you to "tune" the head to the same pitch as the banjo. In essence: if you tune the banjo up to standard gDGBD tuning, then flick the head, the ringing sound produced by the drum should produce a G note. I almost always down-tune to fCFAC, so (by their logic) I'd tighten or loosen the head until it produced an F note when flicked. I think this is a good rule-of-thumb, but in truth their is so much variance in material/quality/condition of banjo heads that I don't use this method myself. It really depends on the player and the instrument. I used to prefer a loose calfskin head, but lately I have switched to a Remo frosted head which I keep very tight.

  • @mikegager

    @mikegager

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@CliftonHicksbanjo thanks clifton i will give it a try!

  • @stewartapplegath2783
    @stewartapplegath27835 ай бұрын

    I've been enjoying your videos- watched this one today, as I was wondering about changing my Goodtime to nylon/ Nylgut strings- could you comment on the following quote from a Deering rep I received today?? "Our Goodtime Americana banjo is designed for light gauge steel strings, so we always recommend those as the standard strings to be used on the Americana. While some people will swap them out for nylon strings, It would be recommended to keep an eye on the neck for any unwanted movement that could occur from the difference in tension that those strings provide compared to the standard light gauge steel strings." Was wondering whether this is a legit worry, and as a newbie, whether I would notice such "movement" before it became a problem? Do I really have much to worry about with the nylon strings you mention (Bella etc for Goodtime)?? Thanks for the Videos- love seeing that woodstove in the background!

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    5 ай бұрын

    If the banjo neck goes wobbly from having nylon strings installed, that means the neck-to-rim joint is loose. Deering is a very dishonest company that builds very mediocre instruments.

  • @stewartapplegath2783

    @stewartapplegath2783

    5 ай бұрын

    This makes sense-thanks for the quick response! For future purposes, if you were starting again, what would be your go-to choice for a starter banjo that was the same cost (or less) of a Deering Goodtime? That would be good enough quality to give you some room to learn and enjoy with good sound, even if you wanted to move up or change to a conversion/ better-quality instrument later on? @@CliftonHicksbanjo

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    5 ай бұрын

    I try to steer people toward Gold Tone. They currently offer the best balance between price and value.

  • @stewartapplegath2783

    @stewartapplegath2783

    5 ай бұрын

    Thanks for taking the time. Fascinating to see all of the banjos you play! I look forward to digging deeper into your catalogue. @@CliftonHicksbanjo

  • @stewartapplegath2783

    @stewartapplegath2783

    5 ай бұрын

    Could you please confirm whether or not there is still space in your course? You mentioned 1000 on the wait list, but that you only wanted to deal with 50 at a time.. thanks@@CliftonHicksbanjo

  • @dannychetwode949
    @dannychetwode9493 жыл бұрын

    did he mention the 5th string?

  • @banjoboy01
    @banjoboy016 ай бұрын

    hello, in your opinion what makes the La Bella a "superior string"? more of a banjo twang response? I can see how the nylgut would be warmer sounding especially tuned lower

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    6 ай бұрын

    Nylgut sounds dull and muted to me. La Bella strings sound and feel more like real gut strings. It's also difficult to find Nylgut in appropriate gauges; most are way heavier than anything used by 19th-century banjoists. The only type of Nylgut I recommend are the 1892 "New Nylgut" sets, which are actually copied from old gut strings.

  • @banjoboy01

    @banjoboy01

    6 ай бұрын

    thanks so much, I'm experimenting with Aquila nylgut on a homemade lute and I had to swap out the lower course bass strings to something wound because they were so fat and dull. real gut is not an option at this point. I switched my jo to nylon this year for xmas (aquila) my songbook is half bluegrass and half clawhammer, made sense to me. cheers@@CliftonHicksbanjo

  • @banjoboy01

    @banjoboy01

    6 ай бұрын

    one more thing, did they really use cats? because in the lute world it means "cattle"@@CliftonHicksbanjo

  • @rosemariek2309
    @rosemariek2309 Жыл бұрын

    Can I tune to GCAE ?

  • @corticallarvae
    @corticallarvae2 жыл бұрын

    Appalachian musicology should have always looked Like this

  • @mikew3194
    @mikew31946 ай бұрын

    Hey folks, I'm trying to put these same strings on what was a steel string with metal tailpiece and pegs. The 1st string keeps snapping before I can get it close to tuned, and I even tried using a thicker blue/2nd string in that place with the same result. I've read about stretching them bit by bit, and working it into tune that way. The ends of the strings are angled, which makes me think it could also be a rough point on the tail piece cutting them. Help please and thank you!

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    6 ай бұрын

    It is probably a rough spot on the tailpiece. Use a thin drill bit wrapped in fine sandpaper to smooth out all the contact points on the tailpiece.

  • @mikew3194

    @mikew3194

    6 ай бұрын

    @@CliftonHicksbanjo Will do, thanks for the response and merry christmas.

  • @barbarajacobs5549
    @barbarajacobs55495 ай бұрын

    What if you have a “no-knot” tailpiece ? Would you illustrate making the knot for that?

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    5 ай бұрын

    No need to tie a knot on those. You wrap the string under itself. There are instructions.

  • @barbarajacobs5549

    @barbarajacobs5549

    5 ай бұрын

    I will look for that, unless you show it somewhere. Thanks.

  • @barbarajacobs5549

    @barbarajacobs5549

    5 ай бұрын

    @@CliftonHicksbanjo thank you that worked. 🙏

  • @stephgaspardquagliata4086
    @stephgaspardquagliata40863 жыл бұрын

    It seems that Aquila change their nylgut strings in "new nylgut strings" are they really differents, have you try these?

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    3 жыл бұрын

    There's a "new" nylgut now? I have _not_ tried them. After the "red series" fiasco and general lackluster performance of regular nylgut, there's certainly room for improvement.

  • @stephgaspardquagliata4086

    @stephgaspardquagliata4086

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@CliftonHicksbanjo I found many references for classical and minstrel banjo ("new nylgut", "super nylgut"...), curiously not on the Aquila website but on many retailer's websites.

  • @debrasue2793
    @debrasue27932 жыл бұрын

    anyone have any hard opinions on regular aquila vs aquila reds? i can't tell if it's just an aesthetic difference or if they're supposed to have different sound qualities.

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    2 жыл бұрын

    Personally, I have learned to avoid Aquila Red Series strings. Those red strings are so soft, you can break them with your bare hands. I've never had a red string last very long. Aquila Nylgut 5B (heavier) or La Bella No. 17 Nylon (lighter) are the two I use.

  • @debrasue2793

    @debrasue2793

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@CliftonHicksbanjo thanks for the info!

  • @Atalanta1313
    @Atalanta13133 жыл бұрын

    How far do you down tune it to?

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    3 жыл бұрын

    Usually just one octave. So my standard gDGBD tuning is _actually_ in the neighborhood of fCFAC. I usually tune by ear to my own voice, so it's not exact. I have noticed that after a few hours of playing and tuning by ear, when checked with an electric tuner, that my ear-tuning sometimes creeps up as high as F#, but I _never_ tune all the way up to G.

  • @yeshualyon5329
    @yeshualyon53293 жыл бұрын

    Is it possible to retrofit a modern banjo to use nylon strings?

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yes. Many modern banjos will accept "La Bella No. 17 Nylon" without altering the nut. You will, however, have to get a bridge made specially for gut/nylon strings. I recommend ordering one from BanjoThimble.com

  • @duncangibb123

    @duncangibb123

    3 жыл бұрын

    I recently put nylon strings onto my deering goodtime americana - a steel strung modern instrument, and I'm not too precious about it. All I needed to do was smooth the nut notches (they were big enough already, so it was just smoothing it out with 600 or 1000 grit aandpaper). I also sanded down the notches on the bridge so that the fatter strings are about half in the slot. All I needed was sandpaper folded onto itself to take off a small amount of material, and then just smoothing that with 600+ grit paper. I didnt do anything with the tailpiece as its was pretty smooth chrome so I figure its smooth enough and I didnt want to damage the chroming.

  • @duncangibb123

    @duncangibb123

    3 жыл бұрын

    Obv if you have a more expensive or historic instrument you may want to look at higher quality solutions for the nut and bridge...!

  • @Leo1903able

    @Leo1903able

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@duncangibb123 What do you mean by "I'm not too precious about it"? Are you saying that you are not happy with the sound after replacing your Goodtime Americana with nyon strings. Did you replace your strings with the brand that Clifton recommends...the La Bella No. 17?. I have a Goodtime II and am considering switching to nylon to get the more "old time" sound but wanted to tap into other experiences if possible before ordering.

  • @duncangibb123

    @duncangibb123

    3 жыл бұрын

    Hi Leo - to clarify, by saying not too precious I mean that when I did it I wasn't too worried about damaging the nut or bridge and requiring buying new ones. If I had a vintage instrument then I would have been more worried about damaging the instrument as it was my first time doing it. I actually used the Aquila Nylgut medium gauge that Clifton uses here rather than the Labelles as I did it a few days ago before this video. I tune up to the standard G unlike Clifton who says he is usually a full step down from this. I'm very happy with the results and the sound of the instrument! There is a difference in both left and right hand feel when making the switch which takes a bit of getting used to, but if you have the fundamental muscle memory then it is just a slight tweak in your technique. In an ideal world I would like to have a second banjo with steel strings as they offer a different benefits. Overall I am very happy with the result - and ultimately if I didn't like the result I could easily switch back to steel

  • @Popcorn_Kernel
    @Popcorn_Kernel3 жыл бұрын

    i use labella strings and i tune to long neck banjo tuning I don't remember what that was

  • @Popcorn_Kernel

    @Popcorn_Kernel

    2 жыл бұрын

    I also have a different prosses at the tuners but id need to show via video as its hard to explain

  • @SkeeterMcBeater
    @SkeeterMcBeater Жыл бұрын

    Do they really kill an animal for the gut & throw the rest away? That's what you're making it sound like.

  • @johncohen4996
    @johncohen49963 жыл бұрын

    No need to use a match... just tie a simple self-tightening knot at the pegs.

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    3 жыл бұрын

    Sure. But the lit match makes for great click-bait, no?

  • @elijahbruton2136

    @elijahbruton2136

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yes lol

  • @rob-cooks
    @rob-cooks Жыл бұрын

    you don't butcher an animal to make a few strings. It actually makes more sense, the animal they slaughter for meat gets used in its entirety. You know large companies will slaughter animals no matter what we do. Even after their short life, they still live in the songs you play; a tribute to them if you will.

  • @theeclecticbanjo
    @theeclecticbanjo Жыл бұрын

    Great tutorial, loved the bits about pushing strings down on tuner shafts and melting ends. And nice politically correct gender comment at end (not that I care)!

  • @far2tired
    @far2tiredАй бұрын

    great view of the back of your hand. Not very helpful for putting on strings

  • @CliftonHicksbanjo

    @CliftonHicksbanjo

    Ай бұрын

    🫱🏼

  • @TheBigMclargehuge
    @TheBigMclargehuge3 жыл бұрын

    You do realize we don't kill animals take their gut and throw the rest away right?