Question about calf skin head tension for bluegrass

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For all things related to the use of SKIN BANJO HEADS. Calf, goat, possum, hairy, shaved, stained, pre-mounted. You name it.

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From jbalch on 4/18/2017 6:29:28 PM

This question was posted as a comment to an old blog by Jeff Stovall: http://www.banjohangout.org/my/jeff%20stovall I copied it here for greater vsibility:

"I'm glad to see this group - I didn't know it existed until today. Does anybody have a recommendation on head tension for an 11" calf skin head to be used for Bluegrass. I've read all of the stories about over-tensioning skin heads and bending flanges, so I was wondering if head tension for calf skin is similar to a Weather King for similar tone, or does it need to be tighter?"

2 Comments
	jeff stovall says: 4/24/2017 7:38:15 AM I thought I would update on my original question, and maybe some of you using calf skin heads (Stern Tanning Co.) in particular will comment. I have found that a Weather King head sounds the best around G# which corresponds to a drum dial reading of 89.5-90 on my drum dial. I think the calf skin head sounds best at the same tap-tune note (G#), but the drum dial reading for G# with the calf skin head is 91.5-93. I think the calf skin head is more forgiving than the plastic head - i.e. it sounds good at a wider range of head tensions than a plastic head. I would like to hear anyone's comments and thoughts. Again, this is for Bluegrass with a flat head tone ring.
	revellfa says: 5/6/2017 6:15:31 PM Agreed. I've always thought hide heads sounded better at a higher head tension. If you take a regular plastic head up to 93 it sounds choked, by comparison a hide head sounds best at 92 or so IMHO. On my dad's 32 Gibson arch top I really like the shiny Five Star head at about an 87, much fuller tone there.
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