I rarely change my strings because I don't play the strumstick often and I live in a fairly dry environment. If I lived on a humid island I would try Elixer polyweb coated banjo strings on my strumstick.
But Shawn, you did NOT show how to insert the strings at the top, and get them started and correctly wrapped around the post. I sat through the whole video, thinking, "Well, maybe he will show us on THIS string". Nope.. I've had mine since the late 80s and have yet to have a pleasurable experience trying to get the sting wound on, at the top. Which is exactly what you needed to show
Fair point. Sorry about that. This video was put together a long time ago and I can't tell you now why I left that out. You're right about getting the strings started being unpleasant. I wish they would have put a guitar-style headstock on there. It would make restringing much easier.
@@ShawnsWorkshop I wrote Bob McNally many, many years ago and recommended a few simple changes (including one which would have stopped the strings from eating into the wood). He never even bothered to reply. I was nominated for Instrumentalist of the year in the 1991 Northwest Area Music Awards for my Strumstick playing (I'm mainly a guitarist/singer). I lost to someone you may have heard of: Artis the Spoonman. Soundgarden wrote "Spoonman" about him. Artis and I had a guitar/spoons duo in Seattle in the mid-70s I plan to make a YT video featuring my Strumstick playing and singing in the near future, on my channel..
@@randyjimmiejamesbowles I'd love to see a professional strumstick video or two if you feel like making them. Like most of us, I started off as a guitar player first. I think because of that, the Strumstick was fun but I never really thought of it as a serious instrument. But it would be great to see someone who can really make the Strumstick get up and jam.
@@ShawnsWorkshop I would need a band to do that; I'm just going to strum an accompaniment to my vocal on a trad folk song. It won't be a big deal. Just an addition to my channel videos, to show my love for playing different guitars/instruments in them. But if it turns out extra good, I'll supply you the link. Again, it will be a very simple, folky performance. :)
I don't think I could recommend any particular set of strings for these. I keep trying different ones. Right now my strumstick has the middle strings from a set of Ernie Ball regular slinky guitar strings on it. So, .013", .017, and .026w I don't notice any difference between these and the standard recommended banjo strings. I've found the strumstick is very tolerant to different sizes of strings. Play around with it and see if you like the results. Though I will say that one time I strung it up with three wound guitar strings and it did not sound very good. But it was worth a try!
Out of curiosity- how old is that Strumstick? Mine came with a wrapping around the strings, while you've got that nifty metal plate at the base of your soundbox.. Is that an aftermarket thing, or was it a part of older models that had the straight and not s-shaped bridge.. I'm really curious. I just got a Strumstick last week and the A string has this HORRIFIC buzz... I'm wondering if that's an aftermarket bridge that addressed a similar issue, or if Strumsticks just used to be made better than they are now?
This Strumstick is a year 2006 model. Originally it came with the wrapped strings, but I discovered that the wrapping quickly wore out and the strings were cutting into the wood. I made the metal tailpiece to protect the instrument from further damage. You can get a better look at it in my other video here: ua-cam.com/video/UtaEs_-RnFg/v-deo.html This is the original bridge that this Strumstick came with. It is straight. I've haven't had any problems with string buzz on my stick in 14 years. But with Strumsticks there is always the risk that they will develop un-fixable neck problems because they don't have a truss rod. McNally Strumstick seems like a pretty nice family business. I'd suggest you write to them and ask if they will send you a straight bridge. It might not fix your buzz problem, but it would be easy enough to try it out and see what happens. strumstick.com/pages/contact-us
You can use a thick piece of leather. Just put it between the wood and the strings. My current strumstick, which I got circa 1991, has done wonderfully with that little piece of leather. It doesn't dampen the sound, and the wood is not cut through.
Thank you for this video, I just bought one and I had no clue how to restring it, thanks!
How often do you need to change the strings? Are there certain strings you'd recommend that would last in humidity? I live on an island.
I rarely change my strings because I don't play the strumstick often and I live in a fairly dry environment. If I lived on a humid island I would try Elixer polyweb coated banjo strings on my strumstick.
@@ShawnsWorkshop Thanks for the recommendation =)
But Shawn, you did NOT show how to insert the strings at the top, and get them started and correctly wrapped around the post. I sat through the whole video, thinking, "Well, maybe he will show us on THIS string". Nope.. I've had mine since the late 80s and have yet to have a pleasurable experience trying to get the sting wound on, at the top. Which is exactly what you needed to show
Fair point. Sorry about that. This video was put together a long time ago and I can't tell you now why I left that out.
You're right about getting the strings started being unpleasant. I wish they would have put a guitar-style headstock on there. It would make restringing much easier.
@@ShawnsWorkshop I wrote Bob McNally many, many years ago and recommended a few simple changes (including one which would have stopped the strings from eating into the wood). He never even bothered to reply.
I was nominated for Instrumentalist of the year in the 1991 Northwest Area Music Awards for my Strumstick playing (I'm mainly a guitarist/singer). I lost to someone you may have heard of: Artis the Spoonman. Soundgarden wrote "Spoonman" about him. Artis and I had a guitar/spoons duo in Seattle in the mid-70s
I plan to make a YT video featuring my Strumstick playing and singing in the near future, on my channel..
@@randyjimmiejamesbowles I'd love to see a professional strumstick video or two if you feel like making them. Like most of us, I started off as a guitar player first. I think because of that, the Strumstick was fun but I never really thought of it as a serious instrument. But it would be great to see someone who can really make the Strumstick get up and jam.
@@ShawnsWorkshop I would need a band to do that; I'm just going to strum an accompaniment to my vocal on a trad folk song. It won't be a big deal. Just an addition to my channel videos, to show my love for playing different guitars/instruments in them. But if it turns out extra good, I'll supply you the link. Again, it will be a very simple, folky performance. :)
@@randyjimmiejamesbowles That's cool too. I look forward to seeing it sometime.
Hi from England UK Ive the Standard McNally open GDG What string gauges size would you recommend please ?
I don't think I could recommend any particular set of strings for these. I keep trying different ones.
Right now my strumstick has the middle strings from a set of Ernie Ball regular slinky guitar strings on it. So, .013", .017, and .026w
I don't notice any difference between these and the standard recommended banjo strings.
I've found the strumstick is very tolerant to different sizes of strings. Play around with it and see if you like the results.
Though I will say that one time I strung it up with three wound guitar strings and it did not sound very good. But it was worth a try!
@@ShawnsWorkshop Thanks i appreciate ya getting back to me
@@telly9004 Strumstick recommends 23W, 14 and 19, in ascending order.
@@randyjimmiejamesbowles Cheers Randy Many Thanks
@@telly9004 if you have more questions, just ask (me). I've had Strumsticks since the 80s when they were a brand new thing.
Out of curiosity- how old is that Strumstick? Mine came with a wrapping around the strings, while you've got that nifty metal plate at the base of your soundbox.. Is that an aftermarket thing, or was it a part of older models that had the straight and not s-shaped bridge.. I'm really curious. I just got a Strumstick last week and the A string has this HORRIFIC buzz... I'm wondering if that's an aftermarket bridge that addressed a similar issue, or if Strumsticks just used to be made better than they are now?
This Strumstick is a year 2006 model. Originally it came with the wrapped strings, but I discovered that the wrapping quickly wore out and the strings were cutting into the wood. I made the metal tailpiece to protect the instrument from further damage. You can get a better look at it in my other video here: ua-cam.com/video/UtaEs_-RnFg/v-deo.html
This is the original bridge that this Strumstick came with. It is straight. I've haven't had any problems with string buzz on my stick in 14 years. But with Strumsticks there is always the risk that they will develop un-fixable neck problems because they don't have a truss rod.
McNally Strumstick seems like a pretty nice family business. I'd suggest you write to them and ask if they will send you a straight bridge. It might not fix your buzz problem, but it would be easy enough to try it out and see what happens.
strumstick.com/pages/contact-us
You can use a thick piece of leather. Just put it between the wood and the strings. My current strumstick, which I got circa 1991, has done wonderfully with that little piece of leather. It doesn't dampen the sound, and the wood is not cut through.