Hi! I am wondering people’s thoughts on what type of banjo head is best for the Irish Tenor Banjo (frosted,smooth,clear). Is there one predominantly used or is it just preference?
Also I am having trouble finding banjo heads that fits my banjo because it is a Vega Tubaphone and is not the standard 11”. I am not sure what size it is. I think 10” something. Any advise?
most seem to prefer smooth top Remos though I've seen 5-stars used.
Renaissance with its softer rounder sound suits some banjos better.
It all depends what you want to sound like.
Fyberskins will take all but the plunk out of nearly anything, with the additional disadvantage that they're quite shiny and can allow the bridge to skid about at higher tailpiece settings.
Frosted tops wear quickly at finger contact points and then look a mess if that kind of thing bothers you.
Heads will sound different on different banjos, so you're right, a lot of it is just preference (and a good setup).
I have done about 6-7 banjo setups for people (myself included) over the last year, and I seem to gravitate toward the Remo Renaissance heads recently. But I have found a few situations when they don't sound good at all on particular banjos.
Here is how I would rank the heads from plunky to bright
Fiberskyn
Skin
Renaissance
Clear
Frosted
Smooth white
But the tension and setup can affect the sound as much as the head material.
i disagree rev. i currently am useing a clear head which i find is the brightest sound of them all.Once you are fitted up with a bright sounding head it is easy to wind everything back to get a "darker sound" than it is the other way around ( i think). some people like the worn out look on their head-it lends a degree of authenticity maybe. Personally, my 4th and 5th fingers brush across the head when im playing and the texture of head seriosly affects how comfortable i feel while playing. There is more resistance with some heads as opposed to others. Suck m and see big boy!!
Yeah, my only experience with a clear head was several years ago on an old banjo that was beat up pretty bad. It wouldn't surprise me if they're very bright. Anybody played a kevlar head?
I am affected by the texture of the heads too. The smooth ones are too sticky, and the frosted ones are too noisy. I played real skin on my banjos for several years, and even put a skin on my Ome for a while. But I like a brighter sound than that (although, skin can sound great if you can get it tight enough without ripping it). The Renaissance is smooth, but not glossy, so it isn't sticky under the brushing fingers.
And Matthew, try measuring the head that's on it now (easiest to measure accurately if you take it off, of course). The Tubaphones came in some weird sizes, but it's probably going to take like a 10-11/16" or 10-3/4" head.
Thats interesting Rev. i also find the clear ones sticky which consequently makes me lift off the head slightly so i dont get stuck. My clear head is on a gold tone and to be 100% honest i get loads of compliments ( positive)regarding the tone from all quaters- banjo players or otherwise. Essentially though, the overall sound is a combination of so many factors with these damned banjos that i feel there is no definite answer to any question regarding reproduction of tone. now your really stuffed Matt.
To add to that, i find that in a sesh you need a bright sound that will cut through in order to hear what you are playing ( unless you are one of those inconsiderately loud banjo players) and plunky doesnt really cut the mustard ( unless you are inconsiderately loud).
If your Vega tubaphone has a head that is just under 11" try 10 15/16", which was a very common standard size. I have seen a good few tubies in this size and also several "large pot" tubies in the 11 13/16" head size. But as Reverend noted I have also heard that 10 3/4" and 11 1/2" etc were made. Heads in all these sizes are available from banjo specialists (look at the "links" section of www.banjohangout.org).
If you search the forums on that site you can also find discussion of a new artificial head material being distributed under the name "Yellowstone." I haven't tried it yet but am planning to do so this winter when I have time.
my own banjo's a tubaphone and I find a Remo smooth top head is ok for the sound I like - that characteristic clangy tubaphone sound which isn't to everybody's taste. Setup I use for this sound is low-ish tailpiece, medium head tension and 13/40 strings.
If I wanted a fatter sound I'd use 12/38s with a renaissance head at low tension.
having said that, all banjos are different and setup is really going to determine how your instrument sounds,
if your tubaphone has 28 tension brackets its most likely 10 15/16ths or if it has 30 brackets its probably 11 13/16ths i have both one a style m the other a style x no 9
I've used Remo clear heads for some years and wouldn't change, very loud and bright, good in noisy sessions.
My 1914 Vega Whyte Laydie has a 10/34 inch head.
Irish Tenor Banjo head?
Irish Tenor Banjo head?
Hi! I am wondering people’s thoughts on what type of banjo head is best for the Irish Tenor Banjo (frosted,smooth,clear). Is there one predominantly used or is it just preference?
Also I am having trouble finding banjo heads that fits my banjo because it is a Vega Tubaphone and is not the standard 11”. I am not sure what size it is. I think 10” something. Any advise?
Thanks!
Matthew
# Posted on July 11th 2008 by thistle93
Re: Irish Tenor Banjo head?
most seem to prefer smooth top Remos though I've seen 5-stars used.
Renaissance with its softer rounder sound suits some banjos better.
It all depends what you want to sound like.
Fyberskins will take all but the plunk out of nearly anything, with the additional disadvantage that they're quite shiny and can allow the bridge to skid about at higher tailpiece settings.
Frosted tops wear quickly at finger contact points and then look a mess if that kind of thing bothers you.
# Posted on July 11th 2008 by millionyears_bc
Re: Irish Tenor Banjo head?
Hey Matthew,
Heads will sound different on different banjos, so you're right, a lot of it is just preference (and a good setup).
I have done about 6-7 banjo setups for people (myself included) over the last year, and I seem to gravitate toward the Remo Renaissance heads recently. But I have found a few situations when they don't sound good at all on particular banjos.
Here is how I would rank the heads from plunky to bright
Fiberskyn
Skin
Renaissance
Clear
Frosted
Smooth white
But the tension and setup can affect the sound as much as the head material.
Elderly instruments carries Remo heads in all the strange sizes. http://www.elderly.com/accessories/banjo_heads.html
# Posted on July 11th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Irish Tenor Banjo head?
i disagree rev. i currently am useing a clear head which i find is the brightest sound of them all.Once you are fitted up with a bright sounding head it is easy to wind everything back to get a "darker sound" than it is the other way around ( i think). some people like the worn out look on their head-it lends a degree of authenticity maybe. Personally, my 4th and 5th fingers brush across the head when im playing and the texture of head seriosly affects how comfortable i feel while playing. There is more resistance with some heads as opposed to others. Suck m and see big boy!!
# Posted on July 11th 2008 by Newty
Re: Irish Tenor Banjo head?
Yeah, my only experience with a clear head was several years ago on an old banjo that was beat up pretty bad. It wouldn't surprise me if they're very bright. Anybody played a kevlar head?
I am affected by the texture of the heads too. The smooth ones are too sticky, and the frosted ones are too noisy. I played real skin on my banjos for several years, and even put a skin on my Ome for a while. But I like a brighter sound than that (although, skin can sound great if you can get it tight enough without ripping it). The Renaissance is smooth, but not glossy, so it isn't sticky under the brushing fingers.
And Matthew, try measuring the head that's on it now (easiest to measure accurately if you take it off, of course). The Tubaphones came in some weird sizes, but it's probably going to take like a 10-11/16" or 10-3/4" head.
# Posted on July 11th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Irish Tenor Banjo head?
Thats interesting Rev. i also find the clear ones sticky which consequently makes me lift off the head slightly so i dont get stuck. My clear head is on a gold tone and to be 100% honest i get loads of compliments ( positive)regarding the tone from all quaters- banjo players or otherwise. Essentially though, the overall sound is a combination of so many factors with these damned banjos that i feel there is no definite answer to any question regarding reproduction of tone. now your really stuffed Matt.
# Posted on July 11th 2008 by Newty
Re: Irish Tenor Banjo head?
To add to that, i find that in a sesh you need a bright sound that will cut through in order to hear what you are playing ( unless you are one of those inconsiderately loud banjo players) and plunky doesnt really cut the mustard ( unless you are inconsiderately loud).
# Posted on July 11th 2008 by Newty
Re: Irish Tenor Banjo head?
kevlar head?
Are banjo players so unpopular now they need that kind of protection?
# Posted on July 11th 2008 by grego
Re: Irish Tenor Banjo head?
Yes they feckin are. Bullet proof heads are the recomendation. You dont want a car park alticationwith a skin head ! !
# Posted on July 11th 2008 by Newty
Re: Irish Tenor Banjo head?
Cant believe that got through.
# Posted on July 11th 2008 by Newty
Re: Irish Tenor Banjo head?
Matthew,
If your Vega tubaphone has a head that is just under 11" try 10 15/16", which was a very common standard size. I have seen a good few tubies in this size and also several "large pot" tubies in the 11 13/16" head size. But as Reverend noted I have also heard that 10 3/4" and 11 1/2" etc were made. Heads in all these sizes are available from banjo specialists (look at the "links" section of www.banjohangout.org).
If you search the forums on that site you can also find discussion of a new artificial head material being distributed under the name "Yellowstone." I haven't tried it yet but am planning to do so this winter when I have time.
Paul
# Posted on July 11th 2008 by Paul Groff
Re: Irish Tenor Banjo head?
my own banjo's a tubaphone and I find a Remo smooth top head is ok for the sound I like - that characteristic clangy tubaphone sound which isn't to everybody's taste. Setup I use for this sound is low-ish tailpiece, medium head tension and 13/40 strings.
If I wanted a fatter sound I'd use 12/38s with a renaissance head at low tension.
having said that, all banjos are different and setup is really going to determine how your instrument sounds,
# Posted on July 12th 2008 by millionyears_bc
Re: Irish Tenor Banjo head?
if your tubaphone has 28 tension brackets its most likely 10 15/16ths or if it has 30 brackets its probably 11 13/16ths i have both one a style m the other a style x no 9
# Posted on July 12th 2008 by myparasgon
Re: Irish Tenor Banjo head?
I've used Remo clear heads for some years and wouldn't change, very loud and bright, good in noisy sessions.
My 1914 Vega Whyte Laydie has a 10/34 inch head.
Dave H
# Posted on July 13th 2008 by Dave Hanson
Re: Irish Tenor Banjo head?
I prefer i clear to smooth myself
# Posted on July 21st 2008 by byheck