Tech: 5 STRING Banjo Head How tight

Subject: Tech: 5 STRING Banjo Head How tight
From: olddude
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 06:43 PM

I am a relative newbee to the banjo, Not very good, heck I am not very good with the guitar either but that doesn't stop me either. I just setup a new reno head on the 5 string banjo. How tight should it be. I have mine really tight right now ... well cause the other one was "really tight" any suggestions

thanks

Subject: RE: Tech: 5 STRING Banjo Head How tight
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 07:04 PM

I recall being told that you tighten the head until it splits , then slacken off by half a turn !
In fact you tighten (Alternate nuts Opposite each other) until a flick with a fingernail gives a satisfactory 'ring'
               Good luck any way !

Subject: RE: Tech: 5 STRING Banjo Head How tight
From: Art Thieme
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 07:05 PM

O.D.
"How tight" depends on how much you've imbibed!

(art)

Subject: RE: Tech: 5 STRING Banjo Head How tight
From: GUEST,guest_olddude
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 07:16 PM

thank you
got a nice ring now ... it was just a little too tight I think it is perfect now.   Hope I set the bridge correctly, I suspect I did since it sounds nice

Subject: RE: Tech: 5 STRING Banjo Head How tight
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 08:04 PM

To tell if you've set the bridge right, play a harmonic - ie touch a string very lightly at the octave marker, and pluck it midway between the octave marker and the bridge, releasing the string as you do it - should sound an octave higher than normal. Compare this note with the octave note played normally. If the harmonic is higher than the octave, move the bridge towards the tailpiece slightly. Repeat until you're spot on.
Ray

Subject: RE: Tech: 5 STRING Banjo Head How tight
From: olddude
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 08:20 PM

Banjo Ray
wow thanks, I got right on needed a little move
thanks much

Subject: RE: Tech: 5 STRING Banjo Head How tight
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 10:37 PM

I find that soaking the head first in Jack Daniels ensures a tight banjo head.

The tighter the head, generally the brighter the sound, the looser the head the more mellow.

Experiment.

It's probably not a good idea to make the head super tight to begin with, so as to let it stretch more gradually over a few weeks.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Tech: 5 STRING Banjo Head How tight
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 06:48 AM

My banjo head was tightened until when you flicked it hard with middle finger, with a tuner attached to the pot it registered a G

Subject: RE: Tech: 5 STRING Banjo Head How tight
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 06:51 AM

But that was a renaissance head not a skin one.cheers oombanjo

Subject: RE: Tech: 5 STRING Banjo Head How tight
From: Leadfingers
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 06:53 AM

Charlie - I KNOW American whisy is not a patch on even a cheap Scotch , but even I wouldnt soak a banjo head in J D !

Subject: RE: Tech: 5 STRING Banjo Head How tight
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 06:56 AM

Would you just soak the player, LF?
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Tech: 5 STRING Banjo Head How tight
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 08:10 AM

Leadfingers-

It's true that sipping the Jack Daniels oneself would also affect how the banjo head sounded, and in the morning it might sound very mushy.

Some suggest that a good test of banjo head tightness would be to jump up and down on it. I don't recommend that test, especially if you wear spiked shoes or have been walking in the snow or mud, or in the barnyard!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Tech: 5 STRING Banjo Head How tight
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 08:15 AM

You may as well soak it in Daniels, it's not fit for drinking.

Dave H