Strings

Nylon

Nylon strung Thumpy banjos are typically strung with extra-hard tension nylon strings made for classical guitars. The D’Addario Pro-Arte strings are just great. For a brighter sound consider Hannabach strings.

Individual strings can be ordered from Southwest Strings in a wide variety of gauges.

Here are the gauges starting with the string nearest to the floor

  1. .0290 – This is the high E from a Pro Arte set – clear nylon
  2. .0333 – This is the B from a Pro Arte set – clear nylon
  3. .0416 – This is the G from a Pro Arte set – clear nylon
  4. .030 – This is the D from the Pro Arte set – silver plated
  5. .0290 – This the high E from the Pro Arte set – clear nylon

Steel

I’m currently using mostly La Bella Country Western & Bluegrass, light ball-end strings. 730PL-BE. I use ball-end because most of my steel strung banjos string through the rim. Here are the string gauges starting from the string nearest to the floor:

  • .010
  • .012
  • .016
  • .024 wound
  • .010