I just recently bought a 1925 Gibson that has a Rogers head fitted. I have never had a skin head. What can I do to keep it in good condition? Any advice will be welcome.
7 Comments |
 | Tom Berghan says:
3/15/2014 4:46:02 PM
You do not need to do anything special. Don't put anything on it. It will be able to get up to G# or A but don't push it higher (I have ripped a couple). Don't leave in the sun or sittin on the coach by the roaring fire in the fire place (as my friend did - and rrrrrrrrrrr-rip!). The ONLY thing to maybe put on it would be a very light spray of silicone leather water proofer - but do NOT put oil on it. Enjoy your wonderful old head. I have seen some heads over 100 years old and still working perfectly.
|
 | Dave1climber says:
3/15/2014 6:01:37 PM
Tom
OK, no oil, perhaps very light spray of silicone leather water proofer. No extremes of temperature or humidity. Thanks for the information, from what you say this head could be the original.
|
 | stringbeaner says:
3/15/2014 11:14:38 PM
Actually, a leather head only needs to be watched during weather changes. Try not to drool on it and don't eat your hamburger over it. Hide heads have been around longer than plastic heads and are really pretty trouble-free. I've been playing banjo since 1957 and only used plastic for about 8to 10 years total! I love the way hide heads sound! Plastic heads have no soul!
|
| Dave1climber says:
3/16/2014 5:54:43 AM
Bill & Tom
If I know that I will be away from this banjo for a while does it make any sense to loosen the head some?
|
| Tom Berghan says:
3/16/2014 7:49:23 AM
If it were me, and I tend to keep my heads pretty tight - if I had a banjo I was going to put in storage for a while and dry winter months were coming then I just might loosen all of the J bolts going around in a circle loosening by one quarter turns - maybe go around twice for a total of 1/2 turn (loose - counter clockwise). I would not make it completely slack unless it was to put up for a couple of years. But as with any head, even tension is probably best so the rim doesn't get stressed too unevenly. I keep a spare or two and I keep them in dry place in a closet or cupboard and wrapped up. I always keep my banjos in their cases with the lids closed. I don't hang them on the wall or leave them lying on the coach, but that's just me!
|
| Tom Berghan says:
3/16/2014 8:28:42 AM
By the way - I think your old Rogers hide head may indeed be original. I watched an interview on YouTube - J. D. interviewed by Jim Mills, and they talked a lot about hide heads and I believe they mentioned that during some period in the 1930s that Gibson was using Rogers brand hide heads. But I am not an expert. That might be a good question for John Balch. He is akin to a museum curator of hide banjo heads!
|
| Dave1climber says:
3/16/2014 3:26:00 PM
Tom
Thanks for the update, and direction towards John Balch.
Dave
|
Post a Comment
|
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.
|
