Kit Strings and neck width questions?

[guitango]

Hey Brian,

I am curious what brand of nylon string you ship you kits with? I really like them compared to a different set of nylon strings I picked up locally. The brand i bought are a bit more sticky and catch my fingers more.

Separate question, are the width of the different necks all the same or do they vary depending on the style/kit?

Thanks man

[SacredCaramel]

I am also interested in the neck width question, especially at the nut. I’m assuming that in order to make the kits efficiently, there is a standard jig size for all or most necks. I’m leaning toward getting the cello banjo kit, because I want a wider neck and cello banjos are usually wider. I saw on the forum that the nut for the minstrel banjo is “non-standard in every way” but I don’t know if that means wider or narrower.

• This reply was modified 2 months, 1 week ago by SacredCaramel.

[Carver Banjos]

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 2 months ago by Carver Banjos.

[Carver Banjos]

The classic cello kit has the widest neck for my full-sized kits. The string spacing can accommodate 4 or 5 strings at the nut. If you go with 4 at the nut I can space them out even further because there is plenty of room on the neck width for it.
The next widest nut in full size would be the classic minstrel.

[SacredCaramel]

Thank you so much for the information! This is one of the hardest specs to find, I’ve been discovering, in my search for a comfortable banjo. So far only Goldtone provides them consistently. The others are hit or miss or miss entirely.

[guitango]

Thank you for the answers. When I built my celebration minstrel I decided to use the 5th – 2nd of the guitar strings and actually the first string in place of the 5th. I tune it down in the D area and it sounds amazing.

I recently received a set of aquila nylguts that I am going to give a shot. They look very thin, but I may try them and see what tuning up a bit higher sounds like. My friend who also got a celebratory minstrel kit has had his tuned up around standard and it sounds good on recording, have not heard it in real life.

Do you think if I am using a bridge taller than 5/8ths to get an action I like that I should adjust the neck angle? Or is that more of a preference thing? The 5/8 bridges work okay, but I am a beginner and seem to want to pluck pretty hard. Keep in mind humidity is pretty high down here around where I am, could this be the reason for needing a little taller bridge?

Thanks

[Carver Banjos]

You bring up another good point to mention. My sets are thicker strings and standard g tuning is possible but not ideal for the strings. My personal banjos always settle down to E, 2 steps below standard g tuning. And instead of always retuning I just leave it there.
For standard G definitely experiment with banjo string sets like Aquila nylgut etc.
I’ve used classical guitar nylon strings for years because they are a fraction of the cost of banjo sets and they are much more durable.
I’d love to hear your findings on how the aquilas work out and what tunings they hold the best for your kit. Thank you

For the bridge question: there can be a lot of debate on it but I’ll give you my opinion.
5/8 should be the maximum height bridge used. If you need higher action you should adjust the neck angle by resetting the black screw in the dowel/rim joint.
My reasoning is that using taller bridges is less effective past 5/8 because you are adding more tension at the bridge- the strings are going to push down harder on the bridge and sink it into the skin further, it starts to just even out no matter how tall the bridge gets.
Adjusting the neck angle keeps the downward force on the bridge in a good range.

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