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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John Balch Head On My Goodtime

From Rich Polinski on 11/10/2014 6:51:30 PM

I've been `upgrading' my Goodtime openback 5-string. I replaced the guitar tuners with planetary with Ivoroid knobs (I have the traditional-shaped peghead); replaced the tension ring with a heavier, grooved ring from Stew-Mac, and replaced the Deering tailpiece with a Presto. The last change was to replace the stock frosted mylar head with a John Balch pre-mounted Stern Tanning Co. calfskin head.

The head came about a week ago and it was simply beautiful. Smooth and clean and evenly thick. Not only that but it fit perfectly. I knew hide heads stretch and this must be allowed for in a new head but when I first saw the head I thought the crown might be too shallow as the Goodtime has a high crown of 1/2" and the head looked to be about half that. But John knew exactly what he was doing. After putting it on the tension ring was almost exactly 1/4" high which is perfectly good and over the last week of settling in it is now about 3/16" and obviously has many years of stretch remaining. In other words, it was just right. On top of that, the sound is just what I was looking for!

So why am I taking the time and money to do this to a Goodtime? Well, first because a Goodtime was what I could afford when I bought it and I'm not in the market for a second banjo. I spent perhaps $200 or so on the changes but they have made a big difference. What I found is that the Goodtime is very well made and has a solid, traditional foundation, even including its integral wood tone ring and coordinator rod. This was quite common on vintage banjos that we prize today. The changes I made have turned the Goodtime into one of those quality, vintage-type and sounding instruments, at least to me.

Second, I'm not a very skilled player as I don't have the manual dexterity or coordination to play either clawhammer or fingerpicking. I've turned the banjo into a plectrum by removing the fifth string and tuning it Chicago style and I strum. The chords are similar to the guitar I also play. I can play plenty of songs for singing and provide accompaniment with others, even on fiddle tunes. There are limitations but it allows me to actually play the banjo!

Back to the head. The calfskin head by John from Stern Tannery is the most expensive but I can highly recommend both it and John's fantastic service. The sound is worlds away from what I always thought of as the plastic-like sound of the mylar and in addition there is the satisfaction of having the real deal. I don't mind checking and tweeking the tension every now and then, we check the tuning of the strings anyway.

All in all, and especially if you have an expensive banjo as many do, the cost of one of John's heads is incredibly reasonable and I think makes it worth just trying one out. I'm amazingly happy with mine!

Thank you, John.

Rich

2 Comments
	pastorharry says: 11/19/2014 11:45:59 PM Great testimony! Enjoy the banjo.
	bhniko says: 11/25/2014 9:21:40 AM Did the same thing with my Goodtime...except not turning it into a tenor. Great difference. Tried gut strings as well but they did not like me and kept breaking (and not at the stress points). Happy strumin'
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