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Help: Banjo Head - to change or not
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Subject: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Allan C. Date: 16 Dec 00 - 11:14 AM This is a question I am relaying for David C.: I am quite happy with the sound I currently get from my banjo. I guess I have always been happy with it, but as the years have passed, the sound has improved. Of course, some of that has had to do with adjustments I have made to the bridge, head tension, etc.. The problem is that I have noticed that the head is wearing thin where my anchor fingers touch. My quandry is whether I should replace the head and risk losing the sound I have finally obtained; or whether to leave it alone and hope that the head won't break through at an inopportune moment - as if there were an opportune moment! Actually, this brings me to another question. The current head is made of Mylar. I have heard that there is a new synthetic one avaiable that is said to produce the sound of the old calfskins. Does anyone out there have experience with this? David C. |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Rick Fielding Date: 16 Dec 00 - 11:29 AM Yup. The plastic Calfskin heads are easy to find and sound good. You should be able to re-create the sound you want. But it takes a few days and a few head tightenings to get it right. Rick |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Allan C. Date: 16 Dec 00 - 11:34 AM Rick, are you saying, "Yup" to changing the head? And are those the ones that are basically made of Tyvec? David C. |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Bill in Alabama Date: 16 Dec 00 - 11:52 AM Allan C. If you like the sound, and if it took you awhile to get this sound, I don't believe that I would change the head now. Of course, I always perform with a spare banjo on hand, just in cast something strange and unfixable occurs while I'm onstage. It may be that your fingers have worn through the coating on the mylar, but that there are many, many good hours left on the head itself. If you're after a particular clunky sort of sound typical of the old-style skin heads, the fiberskin head might be for you; if, however, you like for a banjo to *cut*, to have a sharp sound, you may be sorry if you change. I would advise you wait until you find an opportunity to play a banjo with one of the fiberskin heads, to see if you really want to do that. To me, they seem to be too thick, and I don't care for the muffled sound. I have found, by the way, that for durability and strength, you can't beat the Five-Star head. I played for twelve years, fifty feature shows a year, without doing any serious damage or causing undue wear on my Five-Star head, and I'm still using it. |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Allan C. Date: 16 Dec 00 - 12:21 PM David C. tells me that it is, indeed, a Five-Star head. It is the same one that was on his Gibson RB-4 when he bought it, new, in '92(+-). And yes, he is giving some thought to purchasing a second banjo for a number of reasons. It is an expensive option, but a viable one. |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Rick Fielding Date: 16 Dec 00 - 02:40 PM Well certain players (Earl Scruggs for example) loved the skin head sound, so he went to a fibreskin, and seemed happy. I know what you mean about not wanting to mess with the sound you've got (I'm like that too) so extra instruments can be useful. However i know a lot of banjoists who've changed heads enough that they can pretty well customize the the results. Rick |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Susan of DT Date: 16 Dec 00 - 03:05 PM (from dick greenhaus) Allan- The fibreskin heads are mylar, with a tyvek overlay for appearance. They sound fine, and last well, except that you can wear off the tyvek after a few years, leaving you with a transparent spot on the head. |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Little Neophyte Date: 16 Dec 00 - 03:17 PM When I look at Chris Coole's banjo head it sure looks like it could have been changed a long time ago. Chris likes the sound his banjo produces so he does not mess with it. Kind of like a baker who knows his oven will not buy a new one until he has to. I personally use a set of designer fibroskin heads that come in a variety of seasonal colors. I change my head according to what I am wearing that evening. Little Neo |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: kimmers Date: 16 Dec 00 - 04:31 PM Every time I see the title of this thread, I do a double take. "Banjo Head" sounds as if it would make a wonderful childish insult. "You Banjo Head! Come back here with my guitar!" |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Mooh Date: 16 Dec 00 - 04:39 PM Little Neo. Then what goes with a clear head? (Not clear-headed) Mooh. |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Bill in Alabama Date: 16 Dec 00 - 05:35 PM Yeah, tell us, Miss Bonnie--what do you wear with the see-through banjo head? |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Little Neophyte Date: 16 Dec 00 - 06:34 PM Nothing |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Mooh Date: 16 Dec 00 - 10:02 PM Lil' Neo, wanna join my band? Mooh. |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: catspaw49 Date: 16 Dec 00 - 10:44 PM Surely BonAmi, the clear head goes with nothing AND white socks!!! Lovely combination. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Guy Wolff Date: 17 Dec 00 - 04:09 PM Bonnie, I think you could do a show with Martha S on the corect look for a square dance band at the right party down in Grenich or the Hamptons.I can help set this up>>>Bails of Staw I think are nessasary and alot of Tope (How do you spell Tope?) colored back drops.. Red Bandana's for shore..Is the band all naked or just the front banjoist??? Spaw any help here.. Love Guy |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Little Neophyte Date: 17 Dec 00 - 04:47 PM If I am going to be on Martha Stewart's show then rhinestones on my white ankle socks for sure! Is the red bandana for sensored commericals? If the rest of the band is naked, fine by me. We could get a discount at the tanning salon. Bon |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 17 Dec 00 - 05:36 PM Taupe |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Guy Wolff Date: 17 Dec 00 - 09:54 PM Thanks DaveO I would never have guessed..Bonnie I dont know about the Rinestones mabe pearles would be more understated.Now for a name. The Laytex old timey ???? Anyway I like the visual of the whole thing.. |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Little Neophyte Date: 17 Dec 00 - 10:02 PM Guy, how about old-timey tunes on a White Laytex Ladie :) |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Guy Wolff Date: 17 Dec 00 - 10:26 PM Works for me<><><> Any others??? Spaw???? |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Bill D Date: 17 Dec 00 - 10:48 PM ...makes tunes played on the 'G' string take on a whole new perspective...and OH, that frailing and drop-thumb! I'll buy tickets.... |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: katlaughing Date: 17 Dec 00 - 11:29 PM To that old tune "Red Roses for a Blue Lady"
We've got some old-timey tunes on a White Laytex Ladie Oh well, it sorta scanned...in my head, at least! **BG** |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Sean Belt Date: 18 Dec 00 - 04:02 PM It's so nice to be away from you all for awhile, come back and see that the sense of humor is still here as well as the feeling of community. And some good discussion on musical subjects as well. I just love this place. Bread & roses, - Sean |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Guy Wolff Date: 18 Dec 00 - 09:56 PM Yay Kat.. You've got a winner. I'm glad I stopped back to look at this thread. |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: katlaughing Date: 18 Dec 00 - 10:30 PM Thanks, Guy! Add-ons welcome!!
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: GUEST,David Deacon Date: 18 Dec 00 - 11:59 PM I play three banjos with some regularity. I have a fyberskin on my Fairbanks Cole that I play with nylon strings. It is great, and a lot prettier than the frosted white one that I replaced with it. I usually play a Vega Style F tenor, in Irish tuning and have an ugly plastic head on it, but it works and I like the sound. I use a skin head on my Orpheum #2 tenor but never have liked the sound until I put standard strings on it and bang out chords. Different banjos and styles sound better with different materials. As for replacing, I wouldn't bother if you like the sound. You might want to get an extra just to be prepared. I came home a few years ago to find that a head had busted while I was away. It looked impressive and I was sort of sad I missed the excitement. :S |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Allan C. Date: 19 Dec 00 - 12:12 AM David C. tells me that there is a Fiberskyn II out there now and wonders if anyone has tried it yet. All the hype, of course, makes it seem better than sliced bread. Thanks to the input here I believe David has decided to try to get a few more miles off the current head. But he is especially interested in Bonnie/Neo's ideas for future application. |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Extra Stout Date: 19 Dec 00 - 02:30 AM Hi, Allen. I've been beating the bejeebers out of my mylar drumheads for thirty-some years with sticks. I don't think you're going to do more than cosmetic damage to your banjo head with your fingers. By the way, "banjo head" sounds more like a compliment than an insult. |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: GUEST Date: 19 Dec 00 - 05:56 PM If not Mooh's band then how about mine? |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Little Neophyte Date: 19 Dec 00 - 06:45 PM Guest, ever since this thread started I've been completely booked up with guest appearances on all kinds of Mudcatter's bands. Send me a Personal Message and I'll put you down on the waiting list. Little Neo |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: longarm Date: 20 Dec 00 - 03:13 AM Allen, I shoudn't worry to much about getting stuck on stage with a split skin as in my experience if a hole does appear it just sits there rather than the whole thing disintegrate. I've known banjo players who have played for some time like this!! |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: GUEST,jack Date: 20 Dec 00 - 10:18 AM leave well enough alone!If the banjo sounds good,there is no reason(other than you don't like the looks) to replace the head |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Little Neophyte Date: 20 Dec 00 - 01:34 PM I hear the New York designers are bringing back that weathered banjo head look for the upcoming spring season. Little Neo |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: InOBU Date: 20 Dec 00 - 05:58 PM Last night I came back from a sessun with a bad case of Banjo Head. My wife noticed it right away and made me some Momma Bear Ucliptus Tea, but it didn't completely cure me... I had to sit in a quiet room listing to recordings of Matt Mulloy. At last the blank look, open mouth, tremmers and hair standing on end, went away and I was cured of Banjo Head... Larry |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: dick greenhaus Date: 20 Dec 00 - 06:24 PM Puts me to mind of the early 50's--I was trying to find a heavier-weight banjo head (for an old-timey sound), and didn't feel like going through the trouble of putting on a new calfskin head (plastic hadn't appeared as yet). Someone suggested that I apply a layer of Con-Tak, a self-sticking vinyl film used for shelf lining, to the back. Tried it, and it worked pretty well. THen I had a flash of something--genius or indigestion or something--and removed it from the inside of the head and applied some to the outside . I achieved some mild notoriety with this, as the Con-Tak I used was printed to look like a brick wall. |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Allan C. Date: 20 Dec 00 - 06:27 PM ...and you became known as Brick Head? |
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Subject: RE: Help: Banjo Head - to change or not From: Allan C. Date: 20 Dec 00 - 07:04 PM Sorry. Couldn't help myself. |
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