Carver Banjos: Instruments Handmade by You and Me › Forums › Building Banjos › Kit Strings and neck width questions? › Reply To: Kit Strings and neck width questions?
Thanks for the questions. I’m asked this a lot so I’m glad to have it here on the forum for everyone to see.
All measurements are in inches
Classic minstrel
nut width: 1 13/32
String spacing: 5/16
Classic cello
Nut width 1 19/32
Spacing approx 5/16
Classic Americana (these are probably the closest to “standard” for any of my kit offerings).
Nut 1 7/32
Spacing 5/16
Celebration Minstrel
Nut 1 17/32
Spacing 3/8
All other necks not listed above have identical nut widths and spacing.
This would cover all discontinued 12” and 10” diy kits, all the mountain kits, all the gourd kits all the travel kits.
Nut 1 5/16
Spacing 5/16
All kits have a scale length of 24 13/16
EXCEPT: celebration minstrel scale length 21”, travel kit scale length 22”.
All kits use a standard size bridge string spacing approx 7/16 and all kits come with a 5/8 tall bridge, some include a 1/2 tall bridge as well.
I do not have a brand on the strings because I’ve used various non-branded strings which I acquire in bulk.
I’m planning to release my own string sets soon that include 7 strings so you can choose the range you want to tune your kit to. These strings will work on all of my kits.
The best I can say for replacements at the moment is to use classical nylon guitar strings in the light-medium range. I talk about my strings in the video posted below at the 25 minute mark.
- This reply was modified 3 weeks, 5 days ago by Carver Banjos.