[ninjato]

I have a resonator 5 str banjo....anything I have to keep in mind to re-string it?

[dadfad]

No not really, it's pretty much as it looks. Like any typical string-thru (or hooked-onto) the tailpiece kind of instrument. (I have a few banjos but not a resonator type, if that makes a difference).

[rasav]

Mark the position of your bridge!!!!!!!!!!!
Otherwise it's pretty straight forward.
BUT while you're at it...
Hows the condition of your head? Is the tension still pretty tight?
How's the action? Do you need to raise or lower it to make it easier to play high or low?
Is now the time to finally spend the 20 bucks and get a geared fifth string tuner?
How's the bridge? Might want to look at getting a higher or lower one or maybe a half moon style?
Hows do you like the sound of the old strings? Maybe you'd like a higher tension set for more volume or a lighter set to up the twang level to max?
How is the intonation? Is the bridge at the right place? If not nows a good time to tweak your bridge location to get the instrument to really sing.

Changing the strings though is pretty easy.
If you feel like tweaking check out banjo parts at www.elderly.com

[The_buffalo]

...Mark the position of your bridge!!!!!!!!!!! ...

Or change strings 1 at a time.

[dadfad]

I think a resonator banjo has a fixed bridge, mounted to the resonator-cone biscuit (like a National guitar).

[rasav]

I think a resonator banjo has a fixed bridge, mounted to the resonator-cone biscuit (like a National guitar).

Breeds of banjo...

Irish/tenor/plectrum banjo... four strings tuned gdae , dgbd cgbd (Depends on style of music played)
Open back banjo/frailing banjo/river boat banjo... Original US banjo 5 strings with open back.
Resonator banjo/Bluegrass... the American institution... has a wood back side that forms a sound box chamber.
Resophonic banjo... A cone & biscut banjo based on national or that other one design.


(I'm going bald, I have to split hairs!)

[ninjato]

mines a floating bridge. if all the strings are off, this wood thing (the bridge I presume) would just fall off. LOL

Resonator banjo/Bluegrass... the American institution... has a wood back side that forms a sound box chamber.

Yup..that's what I got..it's pretty much this banjo w/ an opaque face and heavy as hell.

This post has been edited by ninjato: 28 February 2008 - 09:48 PM

[dadfad]

Sorry, I thought you meant one of these...



...when you said resonator banjo. Actually, I've never heard them (the non-Dobro/National kind) called that since basically all banjos are very similar except for the ones with the resonator-cone. They all have open backs with a plastic or skin head. I know that adding a tone-ring or tone-back to a banjo, or having one with a tone-ring or tone-back built in usually makes one louder and is more common in Bluegrass. I have one with a tone-ring on it and one more simple one without a tone-ring, often called a "mountain-banjo." (Both are 5-strings of course). I also have a long-neck banjo (sometimes called a Seeger-style because Pete Seeger often used one.) It's also a 5-string, and with the longer neck it's usually tuned to E or Eb.

Anyway, I'd never heard them called that before. (Except by Wikepedia! ) Now I have!

[rasav]

mines a floating bridge. if all the strings are off, this wood thing (the bridge I presume) would just fall off. LOL

Resonator banjo/Bluegrass... the American institution... has a wood back side that forms a sound box chamber.

Yup..that's what I got..it's pretty much this banjo w/ an opaque face and heavy as hell.

WOW that's a pretty one! I don't trust the honer name brand ,but, if that's the you got it looks like it'll out play the devil! Love the detail carving on the neck.

[ninjato]

mines a floating bridge. if all the strings are off, this wood thing (the bridge I presume) would just fall off. LOL

Resonator banjo/Bluegrass... the American institution... has a wood back side that forms a sound box chamber.

Yup..that's what I got..it's pretty much this banjo w/ an opaque face and heavy as hell.

WOW that's a pretty one! I don't trust the honer name brand ,but, if that's the you got it looks like it'll out play the devil! Love the detail carving on the neck.

The model I have is the HB800-T. It's Hohner's top of the line model (Korean made). I paid $700 for it used..it's $1300 or so new.

[ibionika]

Jim, It was definately Pete Seegar, and he might have been playing "The Last Thing On My Mind" but I was mesmorised by the fretless banjo. Not seen American Roots this side of the pond. - Jeff