Skin head longevity?

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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.

380 Members, Created 3/28/2011 -

Administrators: jbalch (owner)

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From putasockinit on 12/12/2019 3:36:14 PM

Hi all, I posted a comment earlier about 'durability for clawhammer', but looking for a clearer answer. How does a skin head like goat fare versus a plastic head in terms of abrasion, splitting, overall life before you have to replace it? I'm getting the sense that skin is the equal of plastic, maybe better, if you don't care about humidity induced tone changes - and I don't.

Thanks!

3 Comments
	jimt says: 12/12/2019 6:53:40 PM I am using a Joseph Rogers calf skin head installed on my banjo in 1926. It has worked well so far and I expect another 93 years of service from it. In my experience, problems arise from "futzing" mostly. Leave your head alone, don't over tighten it, live with the soggy days and you will be fine.
	Uncle Freddy says: 12/13/2019 12:36:54 PM My old Bruno banjo from about 1910 has what appears to be the original calf-skin head on it. Not only is it in great condition, it seems to have become less sensitive to climatic changes over the years. It now isn't really affected much by humidity changes, at least not nearly as much as some of my newer skins. So, I think they actually improve with age, probably to a point, which in over 100 years that one isn't close to yet! But you really don't want to leave your skin-head banjo in the hot sun, or right next to the woodstove; and you can expect it to get slack if it gets really damp (so don't leave it in the rain either!!). Otherwise, they are living things, and they do go through changes, and that's part of the fun!
	35planar says: 3/21/2021 6:00:22 AM My 1898 S.S.Stewart has what I assume is the original head. My '63 Gibson RB-170 has had an even older Rogers Three Star installed for decades, and my '97 Wunderlich has had the same the same goatskin head since new. None show any signs of wearing out, and all sound great. My 2¢. : )
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