String suggestion... I just got a...

Hey guys, after years of longing I finally got a banjo-uke! Well, when I say 'got' I mean I've just paid for it, hopefully arrive Saturday or Monday! I've been waiting for two weeks to get paid to buy this out of the classifieds, hoping it didn't get sold and finally today I transferred the money! YAY! I can't give you much detail, it doesn't appear to have a makers name from the photos I've seen but it's lovely! I think the lady selling said she's had it 15 years but I don't remeber. Either way she says it's intage so I'm guessing it wasn't new when she got it.

Anyway, just wanted some ideas for strings. I'm guessing it will need re-stringing when it arrives so was gonna bang some concert Aquillas on it. Just wanted to know if anybody had any other recommendations and if anybody could offer any advice on metal strings?

Well thanks guys, hopefully there should be a pic or two below, lets see if anybody can shed some light on it?...

it's tough to say whether or not the neck and dowel is strong enough to handle steel.. but you COULD in theory use some light gauge banjo strings on it, strung in gcea order. it really depends though. you'd have to take it for pro setup, because your nut and bridge are probably slotted for nylon.

i use aquilas on my five string banjo and they sound AWESOME.

I guess I'll stick with the nylons then!? I knew the steels would prob be a long shot, just wanted to see where I stood. Wanted to see if there was anything else to consider other then Aquillas, I already have some in so I'll re-string it in those and then maybe move onto something else if anybody comes up with anything?

I put Aquila Banjolele string on my vintage La Pacifica and was very happy with them.
http://cgi.ebay.com/AQUILA-BANJO-UK...335?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5adb904337

She's a beauty. Kills you to have to wait, doesn't it? I've had great luck with Koolau Gold strings... all nylon tenors...a little fatter than concert or soprano...and a mellow tone on a banjo uke! My choice, anyway!

Wound nylon's from Guadalupe Custom Strings

http://www.guadalupecustomstrings.com/pricelist

The pictured uke with the rainbow strings is mine. I love them.

Thanks for the suggestions... some good choices. I wasn't aware Aquila made banjo-uke specific strings? Is there ay harm in using normal Aquila strings?

rock_and_roll_camera said:

Thanks for the suggestions... some good choices. I wasn't aware Aquila made banjo-uke specific strings? Is there ay harm in using normal Aquila strings?

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Nope. .....

Ahnko Honu said:

Nope. .....

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Cool, I'll go with those until I order some banjo uke strings. Cheers Ahnko!

musiccityuker said:

She's a beauty. Kills you to have to wait, doesn't it? I've had great luck with Koolau Gold strings... all nylon tenors...a little fatter than concert or soprano...and a mellow tone on a banjo uke! My choice, anyway!

Click to expand...

Yeah, the wait is killing me. I paid for it on Thursday and hoped it'd be posted the same day, but the lady only managed to post it Yeaterday. I knew it wouldn't come today, but I hoped it would! Hopefully come Monday, I'm off work Monday and the waiting in for the postman is gonna drive me nuts. Then when (if) she comes I won't get much time to enjoy her stright away as I'll have to go out and do all the things I should've done while I waited in...

I want it so bad!...