The fifth string on my banjo detunes itself!

[ptr]

Hi, I have a second hand Fender FB-54 which I have just started to learn to play. It was a bit beat up when I bought it but I got it quite cheap - anyway, I've cleaned it up and re-strung it etc. and it looks fine and plays pretty well, but the 5th string wont stay in tune - I can literally see the peg unwinding a little when I try to tune it up.

I have tightened the screw on the edge of the peg and that holds it temporarily but as soon as I make any subsequent tuning adjustment on that string the peg just slackens off as soon as I take my hand off it.

Can anyone offer any advice?
Thanks.

[Danny]

Hi Ptr

Welcome to UK Folkies.

Sorry to hear you're having troubles with your new banjo. It sounds to me that your Fender has a type of fifth string peg called a 'friction peg' so called 'cos it relies on friction to hold the string in tune, the same way as a violin tuner. Their really old fashioned and the vast majority of banjo players don't use 'em any more. What I think you're gonna need to do is have a geared peg put on their, your local guitar shop should be able to do it for you for not much cash, failing that it's probably a set up problem, which again they should be able to sort out.

Feel free to get back to me if you need help / more information.

Also check out this download

www.mediafire.com/?x9tw2jjbw1y

It's 3 banjo tuition books and a guitar one in a zip file. They're open source so you're not breaking any laws by downloading 'em off of the internet.

Stay safe & Happy Christmas

Danny