Just One More Turn it was and that was the end of the banjo skin.
Is there a rule of tumb when tightening the banjo skin, I had to go that little to far and snapped it around the edges. Now I can see inside and sounds terrible.
What to do. ???
Do I buy a new one, try and fit it myself, overtighten it and then do the same all over again OR is it better to drop it into somebody who knows what they are doing and get it back playable again.
I'm sure this has happened to other Banjo players here, what did you do to sort it out.
Is it really a skin head? If so, I wouldn't want to do the work myself. It's very frustrating. You have to wet the skin for a fairly long time to put it on and when it's wet, it's slippery. Oh gosh, that's such terrible job. If it's some sort of a synthetic head, it's a pain to change but not really difficult. Take off the resonator if you have one, undo all the brackets, and put a new one on. Be sure to measure correctly to buy the correct head size. You also need to specify it it's high or low crown. Most are high.
When I tighten a head, I turn it to where it's snug-not too tight- and just let it sit for awhile. A couple of days. Then very carefully apply just a little pressure to the lugs.
If it is a skin head and you want to try to change it yourself, go to the banjo-l homepage and click on General Information and then on the two articles about mounting skin heads.
Its the plastic REMO type. Common on most Banjos I've ever played or seen. Looks Like I may have to remove the resonator and about 24 screw heads. I'll buy one tomorrow give it a go, see what happens. Probably never be the same again.
Thanks Steve.
I replaced my banjo's head about a week ago. It took only about 3 hours including the taking everything apart, removing the neck, strings, brackets, cleaning the stuff and putting the stuff back together. It was fun too. I recommend it to anyone.
Jackeen, don't fret too much about getting your banjo to sound good again. The heads are made to be replaced for a reason. And if yours broke, it may have had splits in it already that were keeping the tone from living up to the banjo's potential. A new head will take a little while to settle in, and no end of tinkering to get the tension right for the tone you want, but chances are by the end, you'll be happier with the new head.
FWIW, I think the fiberskyn heads, plastic but made to look like real skin, seem to produce a richer tone. Maybe they just *look* like they should sound better, or maybe the coating is thicker and so doesn't give such a thin tone. Dunno. But save yourself the aggravation of a cheap head and buy a better head.
I usualy take my banjo to a local music store and they can tighten the head in about 15 minutes and put a new one on in about 25 or 30. I've never put a new head on myself, but since its so easy to have it done by someone who knows what their doing I usualy that route. But, to each their own, haha. If it was me, I'd just pay a little extra and have a professional do it.
Just One More Turn
Just One More Turn
Just One More Turn it was and that was the end of the banjo skin.
Is there a rule of tumb when tightening the banjo skin, I had to go that little to far and snapped it around the edges. Now I can see inside and sounds terrible.
What to do. ???
Do I buy a new one, try and fit it myself, overtighten it and then do the same all over again OR is it better to drop it into somebody who knows what they are doing and get it back playable again.
I'm sure this has happened to other Banjo players here, what did you do to sort it out.
Cheers.
# Posted on January 14th 2004 by Jackeen
Re: Just One More Turn
Is it really a skin head? If so, I wouldn't want to do the work myself. It's very frustrating. You have to wet the skin for a fairly long time to put it on and when it's wet, it's slippery. Oh gosh, that's such terrible job. If it's some sort of a synthetic head, it's a pain to change but not really difficult. Take off the resonator if you have one, undo all the brackets, and put a new one on. Be sure to measure correctly to buy the correct head size. You also need to specify it it's high or low crown. Most are high.
When I tighten a head, I turn it to where it's snug-not too tight- and just let it sit for awhile. A couple of days. Then very carefully apply just a little pressure to the lugs.
Steve
# Posted on January 14th 2004 by SteveKendall
Re: Just One More Turn
If it is a skin head and you want to try to change it yourself, go to the banjo-l homepage and click on General Information and then on the two articles about mounting skin heads.
http://banjo-l.org/
Steve
# Posted on January 14th 2004 by SteveKendall
Re: Just One More Turn
Its the plastic REMO type. Common on most Banjos I've ever played or seen. Looks Like I may have to remove the resonator and about 24 screw heads. I'll buy one tomorrow give it a go, see what happens. Probably never be the same again.
Thanks Steve.
# Posted on January 14th 2004 by Jackeen
Re: Just One More Turn
I replaced my banjo's head about a week ago. It took only about 3 hours including the taking everything apart, removing the neck, strings, brackets, cleaning the stuff and putting the stuff back together. It was fun too. I recommend it to anyone.
Lars.
# Posted on January 14th 2004 by Larshansen
Re: Just One More Turn
Jackeen, don't fret too much about getting your banjo to sound good again. The heads are made to be replaced for a reason. And if yours broke, it may have had splits in it already that were keeping the tone from living up to the banjo's potential. A new head will take a little while to settle in, and no end of tinkering to get the tension right for the tone you want, but chances are by the end, you'll be happier with the new head.
FWIW, I think the fiberskyn heads, plastic but made to look like real skin, seem to produce a richer tone. Maybe they just *look* like they should sound better, or maybe the coating is thicker and so doesn't give such a thin tone. Dunno. But save yourself the aggravation of a cheap head and buy a better head.
# Posted on January 14th 2004 by Will CPT
Re: Just One More Turn
Wouldn't that be a good name for a new tune?
(...with a horrible dischord right on the very last note, of course...)
# Posted on January 14th 2004 by Tish
Re: Just One More Turn
I usualy take my banjo to a local music store and they can tighten the head in about 15 minutes and put a new one on in about 25 or 30. I've never put a new head on myself, but since its so easy to have it done by someone who knows what their doing I usualy that route. But, to each their own, haha. If it was me, I'd just pay a little extra and have a professional do it.
Johnathan
# Posted on January 14th 2004 by Harper_Lad
Re: Just One More Turn
I just got a tenor and I'm considering the elite fake skin.The one on is milky white with no frosting... I hate the look!
Lars.
# Posted on January 14th 2004 by Larshansen
Re: Just One More Turn
FIRST BODHRAN DIG OF THE YEAR!!!!
Why don't you pinch a skin from a bodhranistra - they seem to be quite thick. (Their skins)
# Posted on January 14th 2004 by geoffwright