Finally buying a Carver

[KirbyBanjo]

Been wanting to get one for years, convinced myself to get one now that I am finishing up school.

Problem. Which one do I get? And what tuning should it be? Play Keys and Brass and Irish trad Tenor banjo and 5-string with a hodge-podge half finger-picking / half clawhammer style that i use to play everything out of Fake books… I’m completely self-taught and don’t know the first thing about strings.

Love the cello banjo, but I think I want a dedicated minstrel, fretless, 10″inch to learn real old-timey banjo. So confused by tuning, though. I think I am reading in the forums that these 10″ play best in standard gDGBD tuning, but down in E (eBEG#B), is that right? But I could tune it to standard G tuning with “Nylgut” strings? Or would that only work for the Gourd banjo? Are there any specific brands or styles that would work best to accomplish this?

I would really like to stick with G so i could more easily play with other people, but I don’t want to hinder the sound of the banjo.

Sorry for the long post. Does anyone have any recommendations?
Kirby

[Carver Banjos]

Hi Kirby, welcome to the forum!
If you are looking at the 10” full scale minstrel model here are my recommendations:
Option 1: use the provided strings and use the high set to tune to E.
Option 2: use the provided strings and use the low set to tune to low A (almost a full octave below standard G. If you go all the way to low G the strings are going to be maxed out and they won’t intonate very well).
Option 3: purchase a set of banjo nylgut, gut, or nylon strings that are intended for G tuning and tune to standard G.

My provided string set allows you to choose from a wide range of tunings, but to get up to standard G they don’t quite allow it or want to hold tuning. I make the sets from classical guitar nylon sets. I discuss this in a previous thread about strings here on the forum.
Hope that helps out and hope to make a kit for you.

[KirbyBanjo]

Thanks, Brian. I ended up ordering the original Minstrel, 12″ kit with the scroll late last week. I love the mellow tone and the ability to play it in cello banjo tunjng.

I dug through the forum to try to learn about what strings I may want to get, but I quickly got lost talking about widths and wound strings and wasn’t sure if they applied to the tuning I was looking for.

So I dug back in the forum and think I found a string set that would work. I am sure you don’t want to rep any certain brand of strings, but would something like the Aquila AQ-5B strings fit the bill? It is nylgut and lists the tuning I am looking for.
I am very new to strings, so I really appreciate the help!
Kirby

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[KirbyBanjo]

Anyone else thinking about tuning to gDGBD tuning so they can play easier with other people, I put the Aquila 5B banjo nylon strings and they seem to be holding beautifully. It took me like 6 tunings before they started to hold pitch, and then another day or two before they really settled in.

I will need to record myself playing a tune (after I get used to playing a fretless) and posting it here. Side note, loving the fretless!

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