Banjo mechanical question

Off-topic
1

The peg for the high G string on the cheap, old, and neglected banjo I have will no longer stay put so that the string is in tune. That is it is loose and turns back freely when the string is taut enough to be the high G and goes down to E or so.

Is this something easy to fix or do I have to take it to a shop or get an actual name brand instrument?

Also while we’re at it, when stringing a banjo should the string be pulled fully through the peg before turning the peg or should some slack be left to wrap around the peg?

Thanks,
Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ

2

Ha! Here’s a page that helps quite a bit.

Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ

3

I like to let the peg take up the slack, it looks neater and if by some odd twist of cruel fate you need the excess string it’s right there.

I’ve never strung my banjo like that on the tailpiece, Vega strings come with a loop.

But yes, that page is great for your peg answer.

4

When I try to string my…wow…I never thought I would say this…anywaysm here I go… I was trying to tune my G-string but everytime I get a good sound and let go of the white spinny-tuning thing it slacks back…

5

When you tune your G-string with inappropriate thoughts in your head, you add to the tension, causing it to slack back. You’re doomed.

Klaas Bil

6

well yeah…that’s my problem…but how do I FIX it?

Man, I better not be doomed…I just got this banjo two days ago…and I’ll go crazy if I have to wait for another one.

So, in the meantime I’ve been practising switching from the G chord to the D7 chord to C chord and so on…

7

I don’t play banjo but I do play guitar and mandolin. The tuners on these instruments are easily replacable. The local music store ought to have them for not too much money.

8

I didn’t know there were so many banjo players on this site.