Prewar Skin heads

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Hide Heads

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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 BigRed_Gibson_Fan on 5/11/2012 7:51:59 PM

I just recently put an old skin head on a granada copy the I had built around a prewar style 1 rim and I really love the tone. My question is does anyone know of any way to get ahold of some of these old skin heads? the dirtier the better. Lol.

6 Comments
	jbalch says: 5/12/2012 8:32:15 AM Old hide heads in reliable condition are harder-and-harder to find. They can be salvaged from tenor banjos. But tenors came in a range of rim sizes ... many may not fit your Gibson. Most Bacon & Day tenors were 11" and the heads transfer to Gibson or other modern rims very well.
BigRed_Gibson_Fan says: 5/12/2012 9:20:35 AM Yeah I've found that out. I really love the tone I get from the one I've got and I would love to have a couple to put up just incase I ever need another one.
	jbalch says: 5/12/2012 10:09:37 AM FYI: The new hides I have ordered from Jeff Stern at Stern Tanning are VERY CLOSE to the old Rogers quality. Jeff uses equipment he bought from the old United Tanning Co. in Chicago. He processes skins in the same manner as the vintage heads used by Slingerland, Ludwig & others.
BigRed_Gibson_Fan says: 5/12/2012 6:50:07 PM Yeah I've heard his hides are very nice I just have no idea how to mount and do all the work it takes to get them on a hoop properly. He doesnt sell premounted heads does he?
	jbalch says: 5/12/2012 7:03:21 PM He does not sell premounted banjo heads. Mounting them yourself is not that tough. I recommend trying. But you might want to practice with a cheaper hide first.
TX2AK says: 6/8/2012 11:31:34 AM John is right, it's actually easier to mount you own than I thought. I tried some premounts from Bill Miller's daughter, but they didn't fit correctly. Did my own, and it's pretty easy. Takes time, but not too bad. I got my hide from Jeff Menzies, and really like it. Customer service was top notch - though he moves to Jamaica in a few weeks, don't know if he'll still be selling hides. John and R Lunceford gave some tips, and I read the instructions Dan Levenson did for Stew Mac (I think).
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