JOhn Balch goat skin head

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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 Oldpiper on 7/6/2012 3:01:26 PM

I've mounted several skin heads in the past, but today I put on one of John's goat skin heads on my Lo Gordon Foothills fretless and couldn't be happier. It slid right on with zero problems - no waterproofing, no wetting - just put it on. The sound is beyond plunky which is what I was looking for. The best head I've heard.

Fred

7 Comments
	DEmery says: 7/6/2012 6:15:25 PM Fred I am glad the Lo Gordon sounds good with one of John's heads. I have several and they all sound great. David E.
	tridentum says: 7/11/2012 4:13:30 PM Awesome. I'd like to try one. Thanks for sharing.
	stringbeaner says: 7/13/2012 9:57:33 AM Wull, Shux! I must'ave mounted 50 or more heads in the 50-plus years I've been playin' but I never saw a need to stain 'em up! Izzat just for looks or what?? I've used Tomcat, o'possum, calfskin (best in my view), tried one out of goose once on a banjo-uke once without much success, horse hide, goat (on my Stromberg now) and maybe a few others but l think l'll stick with white cowhide.
	Oldpiper says: 7/13/2012 11:21:18 AM Just for looks which is very nice and makes the banjo unique.
	jbalch says: 7/14/2012 6:34:05 AM Thanks Fred - I appreciate your feedback. Stained heads are VERY popular. Just look at the threads on this forum. Personally, I prefer the ones that are lightly stained (coffee or tea) as to look naturally aged. Some of the more contrived looks don't really appeal to me that much.
	Bufo Bill says: 7/21/2012 1:02:48 PM Got my own J Balch head yesterday. Firstly, it was so easy to install and so very convenient, just like changing a Mylar head. Secondly, it was sounding so good just now, and cosmetic or not the coffee staining really suits vintage banjos. Finally, I know now that I prefer the sound of goatskin to Calfskin, on my banjo at least. All the best from Bill.
	BigRedWarEagle says: 4/7/2016 4:14:54 PM I got a banjo this week that had a Balch goatskin head already installed on it. The tension hoop seems to sit pretty high...is that something that "just is" or will I end up needing to crank it down later on, eventually getting it close to flush with the head? It's currently quite tight (very very little bridge sag).
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