Banjoline String Gauges

[libratune]

What are the proper string gauges for a Banjoline? There are 6 strings total. The two treble string sets are doubled plain steel, and the bass-side strings are single and appear to be wound.

Any info on gauges would be appreciated!

[customxke]

I believe the same as a tenor, which is usually .010 .016 .024 .036
Anyone know for certain?

[libratune]

I posted this question on the other forum. John Hall responded that he would (while trying to contain his enthusiasm) take a caliper over to the Rick museum and measure the gauges.

That's the ticket!

[paologregorio]

Jeez, how many of those things are there?

That was pretty nice of John Hall!

I had to do the caliper bit once recently when I had a bunch of loose, new strings lying around on the floor; the perils of buying bulk!

[leftybass]

What are the proper string gauges for a Banjoline? There are 6 strings total. The two treble string sets are doubled plain steel, and the bass-side strings are single and appear to be wound.

Any info on gauges would be appreciated!

Ron, here are some pics I dug up from when I owned a Banjoline, but this wasn't mine....mine was close to this one....

Here is how a set of strings came from Rickenbacker when you needed a set for your Banjoline.....looks as though the sets were possibly made up 'to order'....."Banjoline" is written on the box, but also someone has written the gauges on paper...

Here you go.

[libratune]

John, many thanks. Also appreciated is the tuning info.

Here is John Hall's response to the same inquiry on the RIC forum:

"Looking at the three examples I have, it looks like:

10P
15P
10P/22W
17P/28W

There were some differences but this is the most consistent based upon the gauges we had available from inventory back in that era. Specifically, one instrument seems lighter on the wound strings but they also look like they may not be the original strings either.

Looking at tenor banjo string sets offered by the major manufacturers, I'd say these are within the right range. The ones shown on the RRF are different but also within the range of what you can buy off-the-shelf."

The Smith book states that "one prototype 360F Banjoline exists in the Rickenbacker museum."

That must be the highest ratio of body width (wide) to neck width (tiny) of just about any guitar-shaped instrument!

[leftybass]

I also add that there is no way of knowing where the paper slip with the gauges came from, although I'd think the string set is how it was when it was packed at Rickenbacker.....YMMV again.

[kennyhowes]

What are the proper string gauges for a Banjoline? There are 6 strings total. The two treble string sets are doubled plain steel, and the bass-side strings are single and appear to be wound.

Any info on gauges would be appreciated!

Ron, here are some pics I dug up from when I owned a Banjoline, but this wasn't mine....mine was close to this one....

Here is how a set of strings came from Rickenbacker when you needed a set for your Banjoline.....looks as though the sets were possibly made up 'to order'....."Banjoline" is written on the box, but also someone has written the gauges on paper...

Here you go.

That's pretty cool, to know that they're supposed to be tuned CcGgBD. Although it doesn't make any freakin' sense, does it?!? Mandolin is GGDDAAee, yes? Four-string banjo is DGBd, right?

I've got the banjolines at RIC HQ tuned to a variation of open G, like the banjo. I'm no master at plec banjo, but it seems to make the most sense.

[leftybass]

Well, as far as Tenor Guitars and Tenor Banjos go, there are many different alternate tunings.

A good site for reference is http://www.tenorguitar.com

[libratune]

Hey John, that's a great site! Apart from the valuable technical information, there is depicted an amazing collection of tenor guitars of all makes, including the Banjoline ("tenor guitars" is loosely defined here):

http://www.tenorguitar.com/pyott.html

[leftybass]

Gone but not forgotten.....fitting for this thread....

[kennyhowes]

What's that thing on the left?

Gone but not forgotten.....fitting for this thread....

mt1.jpg

[leftybass]

What's that thing on the left?

1961 Tenor Guitar, based largely on a Combo 950.

I didn't have it at the last MARF, so I guess you didn't see it.....sorry... I had it at MARF II....

Anyhoo, it has a new owner now and lots of good company.....

[kennyhowes]

Neeto!

[danm]

Just dug out my Banjoline demo record... weird little things, but they sound like a Rickenbacker alright.