I have recently bought an Orpheum No.1 tenor banjo. The skin looks to be in bad shape an needs replacment. The banjo head diameter I measured to be 12 1/4" and I'm finding it hard to source a replacement. Does anybody have any idea where i could get one?? Thank you.
Elderly instruments carries Remo heads in sizes up to 12-1/8.
I've never seen an Orpheum #1 with a 12" head. Are you sure it's not an 11-1/8? (which was their standard size). In that case, any of the Remo heads marked 1102 will fit. (I did a setup on the Orpheum #1 I sold to Will CPT with a Renaissance 1102)
There definitely are large-pot Orpheums out there. I have seen a few but don't have one here to measure. I do have a Lange-made Ditson tenor from ca. early 1920s that has a head that is a whisker over 12" on the average.
Darragh, you probably have done so but on a banjo of this type and age it is always a good idea to measure across the head in several different places since they can go a little out-of-round.
Thanks a mil for the responses. I measured it again and it is in fact 12 1/8" diameter. Does anybody know are there any shops stocking a banjo skin of this size in Ireland or will I have to buy over the Internet? Thanks
Cool, I bet those 12" Orpheums are monsters! I've liked just about every 12" banjo I've ever played.
You might talk to Tom Cussen at Clareen. I don't know if he would carry a 12-1/8" one, but I did buy an 11-1/8" head there last year, which was a bit of a surprise to me that they had them.
Your other choice is to get a material such as Tyvex (found in homes as part of the insulation)or Nomex (if you go to http://www.banjohangout.org there is a discussion of a "new material for heads" there that describes the process, it ain't easy) and put on the head yourself. I am assuming that there is a skin head on now so you will have a skin hoop available. You can also put on a new skin head yourself, check with http://www.4strringbanjos.com for the instructions.
i have the same banjo and when i bought it from bernunzio vintage instruments last year they changed the vellum for a synthetic head. their site is well worth a look for anybody into banjos, or in fact any vintage instrument.
Orpheum No.1 tenor banjo
Orpheum No.1 tenor banjo
I have recently bought an Orpheum No.1 tenor banjo. The skin looks to be in bad shape an needs replacment. The banjo head diameter I measured to be 12 1/4" and I'm finding it hard to source a replacement. Does anybody have any idea where i could get one?? Thank you.
# Posted on July 13th 2008 by Darragh Ó C
Re: Orpheum No.1 tenor banjo
Elderly instruments carries Remo heads in sizes up to 12-1/8.
I've never seen an Orpheum #1 with a 12" head. Are you sure it's not an 11-1/8? (which was their standard size). In that case, any of the Remo heads marked 1102 will fit. (I did a setup on the Orpheum #1 I sold to Will CPT with a Renaissance 1102)
# Posted on July 13th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Orpheum No.1 tenor banjo
http://elderly.com/accessories/banjo_heads.html
# Posted on July 13th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Orpheum No.1 tenor banjo
Oh, and that Orpheum took an 1102M (medium crown height)
# Posted on July 13th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Orpheum No.1 tenor banjo
Reverend,
There definitely are large-pot Orpheums out there. I have seen a few but don't have one here to measure. I do have a Lange-made Ditson tenor from ca. early 1920s that has a head that is a whisker over 12" on the average.
Darragh, you probably have done so but on a banjo of this type and age it is always a good idea to measure across the head in several different places since they can go a little out-of-round.
Paul
# Posted on July 14th 2008 by Paul Groff
Re: Orpheum No.1 tenor banjo
Here we go:
For a pic and description of a nice looking big pot Orfie, go to
www.marcsilbermusic.com
Look under "Inventory", then under "tenor and plectrum", then stock number 1107-55.
Paul
# Posted on July 14th 2008 by Paul Groff
Re: Orpheum No.1 tenor banjo
Thanks a mil for the responses. I measured it again and it is in fact 12 1/8" diameter. Does anybody know are there any shops stocking a banjo skin of this size in Ireland or will I have to buy over the Internet? Thanks
# Posted on July 14th 2008 by Darragh Ó C
Re: Orpheum No.1 tenor banjo
Cool, I bet those 12" Orpheums are monsters! I've liked just about every 12" banjo I've ever played.
You might talk to Tom Cussen at Clareen. I don't know if he would carry a 12-1/8" one, but I did buy an 11-1/8" head there last year, which was a bit of a surprise to me that they had them.
# Posted on July 14th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Orpheum No.1 tenor banjo
Your other choice is to get a material such as Tyvex (found in homes as part of the insulation)or Nomex (if you go to http://www.banjohangout.org there is a discussion of a "new material for heads" there that describes the process, it ain't easy) and put on the head yourself. I am assuming that there is a skin head on now so you will have a skin hoop available. You can also put on a new skin head yourself, check with http://www.4strringbanjos.com for the instructions.
Mike Keyes
http://www.mikekeyes.com
# Posted on July 14th 2008 by mikeyes
Re: Orpheum No.1 tenor banjo
(or http://4stringbanjos.com even)
# Posted on July 14th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Orpheum No.1 tenor banjo
i have the same banjo and when i bought it from bernunzio vintage instruments last year they changed the vellum for a synthetic head. their site is well worth a look for anybody into banjos, or in fact any vintage instrument.
http://www.bernunzio.com
# Posted on July 14th 2008 by saltybrian