How tight is too tight

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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 TX2AK on 6/19/2012 11:54:24 PM

Does anyone have a good rule of thumb for not over tightening? This is my first hide head (self mounted), and I seem to have lucked into decent tension/thread length ratio. Looking at old posts, there's a lot of "about right" sort of stuff out there, which is fine unless you're not sure what it means. It sounds great - far better than previous heads, but I tighten it every day or two after a week and some change. I can depress it plenty, I think, but the nickel straight edge isn't working. Nickel won't slide under when I know it's looser than it needs to be (able to deflect 1/8" or more). My bridge is a home made 11/16", and I wonder if the angle is too steep. Is there a good, safe rule of thumb for deflection? Sounds fine, but I want to be able to fine tune and get to know it, but am hesitant to bust it in the process. I used John's method of tensioning.

2 Comments
	Bufo Bill says: 6/27/2012 11:40:25 AM I have been wondering about this myself, so if anyone can help us out I would be grateful. I haven't tried the Steve Davis Straight Edge method but wondered if the bridge was supposed to be in place or not?Will do some reading up, but can anyone help in the mean time?
	Prescott says: 7/3/2012 7:01:04 PM I tighten a head to the point that it starts to kill the rich resonance of my fourth string, especially in double C. Then I loosen it just a fuzz. I love that mission bell sound in the 4th string. I think that in absolute terms this tension spot varies with head material, bridge, diameter of head, string material and weight, and of course the hand of the player. In the end, the judgment comes down to the ear.
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