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)

Two Heads Are Better Than One

From Rich Polinski on 1/27/2015 10:09:12 AM

I wrote in my first post about  the wonderful pre-mounted Stern Tanning calfskin head I got from John Balch for my Goodtime open back five-string that I have set up as a plectrum in DGBE. I mentioned that I was taking the trouble to add that head along with a heavier tension ring and planetary tuners since I was not and would not likely be in the market for another banjo any time soon. Well...

A month or two after that I saw a great deal on a 1930 Vega Little Wonder 19 fret tenor with resonator from Elderly Instruments. It was in very nice condition and came with their professional setup, vintage hard shell case, etc. for a price I could just afford with only some minor pain. Actually, based on my research it was a good deal and I had really hoped to someday get a vintage tenor just like this one.

The original Waverly tailpiece had cracked at the bend and had been replaced with a new one but the original was included, a nice touch. The head was a brand new Renaissance which leads me to this post.

First let me say that the banjo sounded fantastic just as I received it. It has Grover planetary tuners and the finish was really nice. The bridge was a new Grover. About the worst that can be said is that the binding along the fret board was cracked at the frets as so often seems to happen but was solidly attached and I don't think it detracts.

As good as it looked and sounded, it still had what I find to be the "plastic-like" sound of a Mylar head. I was so pleased with the quality, look, and sound of the first head I got from John that I immediately ordered another for the Vega. It came very fast, less than two weeks, and was just as great as the first. Incredibly smooth, fantastically even in thickness, and it went on the pot perfectly. The sound is fantastic, a definite improvement over the Mylar, even as good as that was. In my opinion this is what an original Rogers head would have been on this banjo.

I decided to take the plunge and replace the bridge with a New Snuffy Smith and this made another noticeable and positive improvement in the sound, and in my opinion it was already pretty great.

I use the quarter and straight edge method to tension the head. I've tried the tapping method with a drum tuner (a free App) and that does work, but is perhaps too accurate, relying too much on the electronics and not enough on the ear. I like the coin method because it's quick, easy, and accurate and frankly gets things where I think they sound right.

I adjusted the tension of the head almost daily for about a week, keeping an eye on the humidity. The crown John put on it was just right and it settled out perfectly. That was a month or so ago and I now find I rarely need to make any adjustments. My house has old-fashioned cast iron hot water radiators and the old original windows with storm windows in the winter, definitely not a sealed, contained environment with dry heat. On the other hand, I take it to my girlfriend's house every weekend which has forced air heat and is hermetically sealed, as I call it on modern homes. I still find little to adjust, usually none.

As far as I'm concerned, and I'm neither an experienced banjo player or expert on banjos, a hide head is the way to go. It has a natural sound that I think enhances all styles of music. We're so used to manufactured, scientific standardization today in every area and are always looking for the next electronic device to get us to some level of perfection that doesn't really exist but are told we must achieve.

I think the naturalness and spontaneity that is also a part of music, even if sometimes imperfect, is necessary. Tuning, head tension, good strings, etc. are important and we should always strive to do our best. I just mean that at some point it all gets to be a bit much and at that point the end result is less than what it could be if a little more character was allowed to come through. Hide heads have their flaws but because of that, in my opinion, give a voice to the music that a plastic head can never achieve.

I want to say thank you to John Balch in particular for a second great hide head and not forget to mention Mike Smith for a traditional yet beautifully crafted bridge. Together they have allowed my vintage Vega to get back to its roots and give me so much pleasure.

2 Comments
	darlo says: 2/5/2015 11:26:51 PM Congratulations on your new banjo it's great when BAS kicks in isn't it did the same myself for a Gibson master tone here's knowing you will get plenty of enjoyment out of it Darlo
	jbalch says: 2/7/2015 8:34:18 PM Thanks again Rich! I hope the heads serve you well.
Post a Comment
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.

Page: 1  2  3  4  Last