... is there anyway to make a 19 fret banjo more 'plunky'. Mine seems to be quite bright, it sounds alright but I rather like the sound of a plunky banjo.
This is probably completely outside the point, but you might try to experiment with different picks. a bluegrass mandolinist gave me one of his picks to try and it changed the entire sound of my instrument.
I personally dislike plunky sounding banjos, but things things that will change the sound of the banjo include:
Head type
Head tension
Banjo construction
Tone ring type
String material
String gauge
Tailpiece
Pick material
Pick gauge
The single easiest thing to make it sound plunkier is to loosen the head, but it may not produce the sound that you're looking for exactly, and experimenting with different heads and strings may help you achieve your goal.
I generally think of the Fiberskyn heads as being pretty plunky sounding, especially if they're not too tight. Real skin give a nice combination of plunk and ring. The smoother plastic heads are more likely to ring more, and frosted (inner or outer) provide the most ring, and not much plunk.
Reverend is pretty much on the money in everything he said. Remember, the type of banjo you have may be more inclined to produce a bright sound, but the easiest, quickest and cheapest way to change the sound is to loosen the head or change it to a new head altogether. Depending on the type of banjo you have may govern your choice on this - modern banjos have standard head sizes so you can choose from a handfull of brands. Older vintage instruments, like paramounts, have unusual head sizes, so you only have one or two brands to choose from. Can't go too wrong with Remo weatherking heads. Best to get a luthier/maker to do it for you if you've never done it before. Fairly easy to do but no point taking the risk of damaging your banjo. Best of luck.
What kind of banjo do you have? Certain makes are just bright and each maker imbues a special sound to their banjos. Of course that sound may be terrible, but it is possible to optimize your sound.
Plunkiness is a quality that is a little hard to describe, but I am assuming you want it to sound like a frailing banjo. You can try to loosen your head, but that may make the rest of the sound deteriorate. Most banjos will have a decent sound at one of three points: loose, medium, and tight. In between the sound of the banjo is compromised most of the time.
If you look at clawhammer banjos, they often have larger (than 11") diameter heads or will have a brass ring for a tone ring or even wood. Roger Landes loves the plunky sound and he has a banjo with a 12" head. I have an 11 and a half inch Langstile IV that defines "plunk."
The suggestions from Reverend and Worzel Gummidge are also quite good but you have to remember that you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Your banjo will sound like your banjo no matter what you do to it. You can change some of the qualities by adding a thick head loosely tightened on but you may be working against the grain.
For example, if you have a Paramount A (which is a bright maple banjo), you can change some of these parameters, but you will end up with a banjo that just sounds thin and weak. You don't get the full value from the Lange system. If you have a Vega Model N or even a LIttle Wonder, you can get that plunky quality, especially if you use a skin head. In fact, as Reverend says, skin heads have a great sound that everyone can appreciate as long as the humidity is good. Too humid and it sounds like you stuffed a sock in. (In fact, that might give you the sound you want, I heard a Paragon recently that had that done because the musician did not like the very loud complex sound of the Paragon. It still sounded good which is why they are one of the most sought after banjos.)
It took me over a year to get my banjo sounding the way I wanted it to.
I changed the head, used a different pick, and tested about 5 different string guages, but eventually I got it.
Stick with it and try a few things, you'll eventually get it.
Plunkiness of a 19 fret tenor banjo
Plunkiness of a 19 fret tenor banjo
... is there anyway to make a 19 fret banjo more 'plunky'. Mine seems to be quite bright, it sounds alright but I rather like the sound of a plunky banjo.
Would a looser head help at all?
# Posted on May 5th 2008 by camwebby
Re: Plunkiness of a 19 fret tenor banjo
This is probably completely outside the point, but you might try to experiment with different picks. a bluegrass mandolinist gave me one of his picks to try and it changed the entire sound of my instrument.
# Posted on May 5th 2008 by Mandogal
Re: Plunkiness of a 19 fret tenor banjo
I personally dislike plunky sounding banjos, but things things that will change the sound of the banjo include:
Head type
Head tension
Banjo construction
Tone ring type
String material
String gauge
Tailpiece
Pick material
Pick gauge
The single easiest thing to make it sound plunkier is to loosen the head, but it may not produce the sound that you're looking for exactly, and experimenting with different heads and strings may help you achieve your goal.
I generally think of the Fiberskyn heads as being pretty plunky sounding, especially if they're not too tight. Real skin give a nice combination of plunk and ring. The smoother plastic heads are more likely to ring more, and frosted (inner or outer) provide the most ring, and not much plunk.
If I were you, I would try some experimentation.
# Posted on May 5th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Plunkiness of a 19 fret tenor banjo
Reverend is pretty much on the money in everything he said. Remember, the type of banjo you have may be more inclined to produce a bright sound, but the easiest, quickest and cheapest way to change the sound is to loosen the head or change it to a new head altogether. Depending on the type of banjo you have may govern your choice on this - modern banjos have standard head sizes so you can choose from a handfull of brands. Older vintage instruments, like paramounts, have unusual head sizes, so you only have one or two brands to choose from. Can't go too wrong with Remo weatherking heads. Best to get a luthier/maker to do it for you if you've never done it before. Fairly easy to do but no point taking the risk of damaging your banjo. Best of luck.
# Posted on May 5th 2008 by WorzelGummidge
Re: Plunkiness of a 19 fret tenor banjo
camwebby,
What kind of banjo do you have? Certain makes are just bright and each maker imbues a special sound to their banjos. Of course that sound may be terrible, but it is possible to optimize your sound.
Plunkiness is a quality that is a little hard to describe, but I am assuming you want it to sound like a frailing banjo. You can try to loosen your head, but that may make the rest of the sound deteriorate. Most banjos will have a decent sound at one of three points: loose, medium, and tight. In between the sound of the banjo is compromised most of the time.
If you look at clawhammer banjos, they often have larger (than 11") diameter heads or will have a brass ring for a tone ring or even wood. Roger Landes loves the plunky sound and he has a banjo with a 12" head. I have an 11 and a half inch Langstile IV that defines "plunk."
The suggestions from Reverend and Worzel Gummidge are also quite good but you have to remember that you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Your banjo will sound like your banjo no matter what you do to it. You can change some of the qualities by adding a thick head loosely tightened on but you may be working against the grain.
For example, if you have a Paramount A (which is a bright maple banjo), you can change some of these parameters, but you will end up with a banjo that just sounds thin and weak. You don't get the full value from the Lange system. If you have a Vega Model N or even a LIttle Wonder, you can get that plunky quality, especially if you use a skin head. In fact, as Reverend says, skin heads have a great sound that everyone can appreciate as long as the humidity is good. Too humid and it sounds like you stuffed a sock in. (In fact, that might give you the sound you want, I heard a Paragon recently that had that done because the musician did not like the very loud complex sound of the Paragon. It still sounded good which is why they are one of the most sought after banjos.)
Mike Keyes
http://www.mikekeyes.com
# Posted on May 5th 2008 by mikeyes
Re: Plunkiness of a 19 fret tenor banjo
It took me over a year to get my banjo sounding the way I wanted it to.
I changed the head, used a different pick, and tested about 5 different string guages, but eventually I got it.
Stick with it and try a few things, you'll eventually get it.
# Posted on May 6th 2008 by CleverName
Re: Plunkiness of a 19 fret tenor banjo
i got it - bridge movement
# Posted on May 8th 2008 by camwebby