new banjo problem

Subject: new banjo problem
From: RangerSteve
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 08:48 AM

This should be easy to solve. I bought a new banjo, a Bart Reiter, which is perfect in every way, and darned well should be for the price, but last night I noticed a problem. There are no dots on the binding. This isn't a problem sitting down, when I can angle the banjo so I can see the frets. When I'm standing up, though, I can't see the frets and just have to guess at where they are, and I'm not a good guesser. I asked a luthier if he could put some permanent dots on it, but he said that could void the warranty. Does anyone have any suggestions for marking the banjo?

Someone said use fingernail polish, but I'm single and have no female relatives nearby, and I'm not buying fingernail polish myself.

Thanks, Steve

Subject: RE: new banjo problem
From: Jeri
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 09:12 AM

I'd get something sticky with a peel-off backing. I'd punch holes in it. A leather punch would do nicely in making smaller dots. You're a manly-man and should have a leather punch, right? Then you peel off the backing and stick 'em on. Afterwards, cover them with clear nail polish. Seriously, you should be able to find some sort of plastic stickers you could punch holes in and wouldn't absorb dirt and hand slime like paper computer labels would.

Subject: RE: new banjo problem
From: Jeri
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 09:15 AM

They also make metallic 'Sharpie' pens and typewriter eraser fluid pens. You could make a little dot stencil or use one of those rulers that have holes of different sizes, and just draw them on.

Subject: RE: new banjo problem
From: Allan C.
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 09:21 AM

Go to an office supply shop. Ask for Avery 1/4 inch color coding labels, aka "Hot Dots". These tiny self-adhesive labels that will stay in place for a long, long time. Even if they should wear off, you'll have lots more to use as replacements.

Subject: RE: new banjo problem
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 10:38 AM

I would get in touch with Bart Reiter and ask him if such a minor modification would affect the warranty. The luthier you spoke with may be erring on the side of caution. I wouldn't imagine it would have any more effect on the warranty than installing railroad spikes or a fifth string capo.

Or just send the thing to Bart and have him install some markers.

Bruce

Subject: RE: new banjo problem
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 10:49 AM

I would go with either Jeri or Allan's suggestions. No need to do anything that will permanently affect the value of such a fine banjo.

Of coure, after a while you really don't need to look at the fingerboard. Your fingers do their magical work.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: new banjo problem
From: Art Thieme
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 01:24 PM

I have a Bart Reiter banjo too---and had the same problem. Not worrying that it might negate the warrantee, I heated up the end of a very small phillips-head screwdriver qnd touched it to the binding. That melted a slight indentation in it. I let that cool and then touched a sharpie pen to the barely roughened indentation. It works beautifully. (I did not get this idea from Martha Stewart !)

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: new banjo problem
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 05:28 PM

Does anyone know why Mr. Reiter would do this. I would be lost without the dots.

Subject: RE: new banjo problem
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 06:39 PM

Move to the European Union, and when he tries to rely on his exclusion clause it will be void.

Subject: RE: new banjo problem
From: Joe Richman
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 07:06 PM

I have three banjos: one with dots, one without and one fretless... with a whole other set of problems!!!

Subject: RE: new banjo problem
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 08:17 PM

"I'm single and have no female relatives nearby, and I'm not buying fingernail polish myself."

No problem - it's Mother's Day in a couple of weeks.

Subject: RE: new banjo problem
From: RangerSteve
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 08:31 PM

Thanks everyone. Jeri's second idea, and Alan C's and Art T's ideas look the best. I don't have a leather punch. I'll get one; I didn't know real men had them. I suddenly feel wimpy. McGrath - who buys their Mom fingernail polish for a gift?

Subject: RE: new banjo problem
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 11:17 PM

You can also get fly tying varnish in most colours at any good fishing tackle shop, it's better than nail polish.
eric

Subject: RE: new banjo problem
From: open mike
Date: 08 Mar 04 - 11:33 AM

those sticky dots are like what they use for beginning Suzuki violin students to put on their finger board to tell where to put their fingers. Those Avery labels can be found in any stationery/office equipment or variety store. I also solved a similar porblem with my auto harp which has labels on the chord bars which can only be seen from above when playing it flat on a tqable or your lap infrom=nt of you.
if you hold it up "mother Maybelle" style, you can no longer see them. I used a label maker...one of those punch type wheelie deals where you spin the alphabet template around and squeeze the trigger to stamp the letters into sticky plastic strip which then affixes to whatever you want to label. you could use one of those and just punch out a "period" or "zero" or even no letter at all, just a square shape the size of one character. perhaps there is one of those around the ranger shop to label binoculars, etc.

Subject: RE: new banjo problem
From: ced2
Date: 08 Mar 04 - 11:45 AM

I have a banjo and that in itself is a problem!