I happened on some bargain fishin’ line in my travels today, which I bought because I wanted to try it out as strings for the oil can banjo. Sure you can buy the fancy Nylgut synthetic strings that imitate the colour and feel and sound of old time gut banjo strings, but I was interested to read that some players make their own strings using fishin’ line. I was able to find the appropriate line diameters online no problem and even read some discussions about monofiliment vs fluorocarbon line for banjos.

I have 3 sizes of line, and I’m trying it on the first three strings. I’m leaving the 4th – the wound string – on the instrument. I tried it on the 5th string as well, but I like the steel string for the drone string. I can’t explain why. I just do. I had to make some minor adjustments to my bridge but that was no big deal.

I like the sound….mellower than steel strings with a nice plunkiness. On the can, volume is about the same as with steel strings. Drawbacks? Well, I prestretched the lengths of fishin’ line but still the strings drift flat fairly quickly. I read that is to be expected and it settles down after a couple days. I hope so. I like the idea of using fishin’ line for strings on a home-made instrument.

This is a trial. I’m going to use the fishin’ line for a while and decide what I like best. Maybe one day I’ll even try a set of Nylgut strings and see what they’re like. This is all valuable research just in case I decide to make another banjo down the road. I have enough fishin’ line for a truckload of them. Har.