Help: Long Neck Banjo Strings

Subject: Long Neck Banjo Strings
From: DonMeixner
Date: 19 Feb 01 - 06:43 PM

I was recently told by a friend who owns the shop where I have bought my Vega Long neck strings for years that "They are no longer available from the supplier."

Can this be true? I looked in several shops today and heard the same tale. One place offered to creat a set from GHS bulk banjo strings but no other shops I was in had this ability. And 46 miles is a bit of a trip to buy strings.

Anyone have success with online suppliers? I rarely use them myself and wonder if there are any recomended.

Don

Subject: RE: Help: Long Neck Banjo Strings
From: Justa Picker
Date: 19 Feb 01 - 07:22 PM

I've purchased bulk quantities of string sets from Just Strings with absolutely no problem. I get them within days of the submitting the order, and they're a bit cheaper than buying in stores.

Subject: RE: Help: Long Neck Banjo Strings
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 19 Feb 01 - 07:52 PM

Don, I just checked the site for which Justa Picker provided the clicky: Of the dozen or so manufacturers whose strings they carry, only John Pearse® lists extra long strings--at least the length is available. I am not familiar with the brand, so no comment there.

C. F. Martin now owns the Vega trademark and makes the long neck folk banjo strings. Their website is www.mguitar.com.

--seed

Subject: RE: Help: Long Neck Banjo Strings
From: GUEST,Blind Desert Pete
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 06:18 PM

I buy regular medium guage sp? strings from ome here in boulder Co and they fit just fine on my epiphone long neck.

Subject: RE: Help: Long Neck Banjo Strings
From: GUEST,Carol's Friend Don
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 06:27 PM

Elderly's carries the GHS PF-180's that I use on my '64 Vega Folk Ranger. Anything lighter and they just twang or buzz in E/A (no capo), but all the GHS strings will reach the 1st and 3rd tuners just fine. Contact them at www.elderly.com . They are slow to mail though, so be prepared to wait about 10 days.

Subject: RE: Help: Long Neck Banjo Strings
From: GUEST,CraigS
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 07:16 PM

I got fed up trying years ago - I've got pieces of guitar strings reef-knotted onto mine above the nut

Subject: RE: Help: Long Neck Banjo Strings
From: DonMeixner
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 08:11 PM

Hi Don,

Thanks alot, never tried that set before.

I know that GHS strings are long enough, I have problems with the guages. Most are too light for my needs. I flat pick the beast as much as frail it. Some shops in the area will make up sets from GHS bulk strings but the ones I wanted they are out of. Must be a resurgence of Long Neck activity in Central New York.

Don

Subject: RE: Help: Long Neck Banjo Strings
From: DonMeixner
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 11:24 PM

Well it has been awhile dealing with the long neck banjo string problem. I have used six sets of Deering long neck mediums and I have to say I am now very disappointed with them. I find I am breaking string now and I rarely did this before. typically the first and second strings. I have several partial sets and I will eventully use them up.

But back to the original problem. Who has found a decent substitute for the old Vega Long scale medium string?

Don

Subject: RE: Help: Long Neck Banjo Strings
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 07:25 AM

Don,

I don't know if this info is useful, but Elderly note that D'ADDARIO J61 (medium 010 012 016 023w 010) 5-STRING NICKEL WOUND BANJO STRINGS are long enough and Stewmac 5 star strings (010 - 021) are also apparently long enough Stewmac

good luck
Brian

Subject: RE: Help: Long Neck Banjo Strings
From: JedMarum
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 11:18 AM

Just Strings is a great place - butI bought my long neck strings (a year's worth at a time) from Deering; good strings, good folks to deal with.

Subject: RE: Help: Long Neck Banjo Strings
From: GUEST,Doug
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 04:20 AM

Try the John Pearse 1700-L strings. They're 48" long and will do the trick. 1700-L is a light gauge string. If you want medium gauge, then go with the 1800-M. First Quality Music sells them for $3.69/set, which won't break the bank. Supposedly the Pearse brand is not well-known but is reputed to be of very high quality. I'm getting ready to order a few sets for my 1963 Vega Pete Seeger. GHS states that their banjo strings are "extra long (42") and will fit most long neck banjos." However, that would barely reach the 2nd and 3rd tuners on my Vega. The Pearse strings make it with tons of room to spare.

Subject: RE: Help: Long Neck Banjo Strings
From: GUEST,gary
Date: 18 Oct 08 - 03:23 PM

Order extra long 5 string banjo strings from Martin/Vega in Pa.

Subject: RE: Help: Long Neck Banjo Strings
From: Stringsinger
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 12:59 PM

The problem with most long neck banjos is that the neck is too narrow. The second problem is that many are not set up for medium gauge strings. The bluegrass bias is what has erroneously influenced the long-neck Pete Seeger style banjo market.

Medium gauge strings work best for the long-neck because it brings out the lower
frequencies of the instrument. Thin strings don't work well at the lower musical end of
the banjo.

I think that the whole long neck market needs to be looked at again. Pete was responsible and the innovator for the long-neck banjo and he uses a wide long neck made out of hard wood (Lignum vitae, originating from the Bahamas and is on the endangered species list) with a Stu Jamieson bridge cut wide.

Many long-necks were thrown together to appeal to a market which didn't really understand Pete's innovation.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Help: Long Neck Banjo Strings
From: GUEST,Lyle Caine
Date: 09 Jun 10 - 01:57 PM

Frank, I am very pleased to have stumbled upon your name here. My father was Howard Caine. My memory is that you two were friendly. I was interviewed on his behalf for the May 2010 issue of Banjo Newsletter. A gentleman who writes for the newsletter contacted me to do an article on my dad because, as he put it, the banjo community is not aware that Major Hochstetter was a banjo player.

I have just pulled his banjos out and found out the hard way that standard banjo strings are not long enough to accommodate either his Vega long neck or his fretless long neck. This thread was of great assistance. I wish to string up his banjos and make use of them.

In any case I was thrilled when I saw you had posted here. I would love to send you an email and say hello. I also have a very fond memory of being in attendance for a jam session that occurred between you and Don Mclean when I was a kid. My email address is [e-mail] I would love to hear from you if you are so inclined. Wishing you all the best, Lyle Caine

Subject: RE: Help: Long Neck Banjo Strings
From: GUEST,Gears_D_Husky
Date: 20 Feb 11 - 09:01 AM

haha i am making a longneck right now, what strings would you folks reccomend?