Banjolin

[skippy]

I like Manjo better... much more macho...

Anywho I have a Manjo, older I would assume, and I just got the head replaced and the strings brought up to tension. It Sounds great... I can see why the villagers with pitch forks went after Banjolin players after they finished with Frankenstein.

That being said, I used regular medium gauge strings and I think the tenion was so much cause hte gap where the neck bolts onto the bot slowly gets bigger... I took it all apart and tried tightening the two wood screws that hold it on... but the same thing happens... the tension starts to seperate the the neck from the pot. So, I've gotten myself some lighter strings for one, and have it all apart again. It seems to allow me to tighten it, but eventually just slowly comes apart. Any luthier tricks I could try to keep that from happening? What about putting in a dab of wood glue in the hole to let it hold that screw tight? Wood filler perhaps? Any ideas would be welcome, I'd love to use this thing.. it makes Banjo players cringe...

Thanks!

Manjoskippy

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Tom C]

Is there a tension clamp on the rod on the inside of the pot?

[skippy]

Maybe... there is a weird peice that I am am not sure what that is for... it screws into the inside of the pot right under the neck...

[KanMando]

Skippy,

I think the medium gauge strings may be part of the problem.

Give these a try:
mandolin-banjo strings (http://elderly.com/accessories/items/GMBS.htm)

They're lighter than light gauge strings. I have them on my mando-banjo now and I prefer the sound of the steel strings over the bronze mandolin strings I used to use.

Bob