Hi all.
I'm installing my first hide head, and I have a question. One, for now, at least.
I found several nearly identical instruction pages on how to do it, and the process was really super easy, but I'm questioning how high the tension hoop should sit. Right now it's almost up to ideal tension, and the hoop is still sitting halfway down the tone ring. The notch for the strings is still pretty high above the head. Won't this cause problems with the strings? I have to wait until Saturday to install them, I haven't made the final piece yet, a bracket for the dowel stick. Once that's installed, youbetchya I'll string it, I can't wait to get it all assembled and playing.
[URL=http://s212.photobucket.com/user/tippitytwitchit/media/F5997E6F-CB81-4742-90D6-B99C03F67941_zpsak8efdaf.jpg.html][IMG]http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc221/tippitytwitchit/F5997E6F-CB81-4742-90D6-B99C03F67941_zpsak8efdaf.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
8 Comments |
 | Lil Stinkpot says:
12/2/2015 8:35:02 PM
Trying that picture one more time...... I hear that they work funny in the groups. Otherwise, grab the URL and head over manually.
[URL=http://s212.photobucket.com/user/tippitytwitchit/media/F5997E6F-CB81-4742-90D6-B99C03F67941_zpsak8efdaf.jpg.html][IMG]http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc221/tippitytwitchit/F5997E6F-CB81-4742-90D6-B99C03F67941_zpsak8efdaf.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
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 | jbalch says:
12/4/2015 6:51:19 PM
I prefer to mount new hides so that the tension hoop sits at least 1/8" taller than I want it to eventually settle. Most heads will continue to stretch for a period if time. If you dont allow for that, you might eventually end up with the hoop pulling too low and bottoming out with no more room for adjustment.
As long as the strings clear the tension hoop at the neck notch and there is no interference, you will be OK.
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| Lil Stinkpot says:
12/4/2015 7:10:08 PM
Thanks for the information, it is very helpful, it tells me approximately how far the head will shrink down. Each hide is different, of course. This one's goat, by the way, economy grade (so I don't cry if I break my first one). I'll get a MUCH better grade in time.
It is now sitting about 5/16 high, and the notch is about 3/16 off the head. Should I wet it and make it a little lower?
I really am having fun with this, puzzles and all.
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| jbalch says:
12/4/2015 7:26:00 PM
It really depends on how tight you stretched it while it was wet. I try not to over-stretch them in the initial mounting. This prevents placing too much stress on the hide as it dries and shrinks.
If yours was not stretched too tight initially, you can dampen it (on the banjo) and pull the crown height taller as needed. Just sprinkle a little water on the hide and spread around with your fingers. Then cover with a moist cloth and let it sit for several minutes. the hide should soften and stretch very easily. Then you can tighten the nuts to pull the hoop lower.
One warning - be very careful using old brass tension hooks to stretch the hide in this manner. Old brass hooks are brittle and weak. They break easily (lesson learned the hard way - believe me). I usually substitute new hooks for mounting and stretching - then replace them with the old original parts after the crown is fully set.
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| Lil Stinkpot says:
12/4/2015 7:38:04 PM
I don't know how tight was too tight when I put it on. Enough to hold it flat. I'll give it a go, and see what happens. Fortunately, I did not trim off the excess skin yet, in case I end up completely redoing it.
The whole pot assembly is new, all the metal hardware came from StewMac.
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| Lil Stinkpot says:
12/9/2015 6:55:43 PM
Taa daaah! It's all assembled now. It was actually pretty easy, once I got it dialed in.
I have another question. Now that the strings have settled in, I'm puzzling over the tone. The bass notes are very strong, and the trebles are slightly muted, sometimes muddy. I am close to finding the right head tension, it seems to like it where a quarter barely hesitates as it passes under the straight edge by the bridge, but it's still not quite right.
I know that there are many, many variables. The strings are Ernie Ball nylon, medium thickness. I've been thinking that I might want to try narrower strings, maybe even a different brand. I can't use steel, they bend the neck & stick. The head is a little suspect, too. It is an economy grade goatskin, and the thickness varies quite a bit. I've been wondering that by putting the thickest part of the hide, which is the really thick ridge over the spine of the goat, where my fingers will rest, perhaps it might be damping that side of the head? If that's so, what if I rotated the head 90 degrees? That thick ridge, would it be better if it ran parallel to the strings?
i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc...aqbpm.jpg
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 | existential_banjo says:
12/26/2015 7:07:17 AM
I say "Tighten up the hide!" What the heck, it is sort of experimental anyway. I have 2 goat skin heads on different banjos. I was visiting Bob Flesher to work out a problem with my Promenade banjo, and he really cranked down the goat skin head. No rip yet, and the high notes sound better without sacrificing the bass. I also think the nylon strings you have to use will limit the brightness of the instrument no matter what the head material.
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| Lil Stinkpot says:
12/26/2015 9:38:47 AM
I've been playing around with all sorts of different tensions, from waaaaay up at "yikes!" to way down saggy britches low. I recently put in higher tension strings. I detensioned the head the other day for a trip to a low humidity spot, and gave it an experimental pluck. By George, it seems to like it super loose, all the strings started singing. I'm shaking my head, but it looks like I have a slouchy teenage punk for a banjo. It sounds all right.
I'm still not done tinkering, and will be getting a better quality head in time. This one is so uneven I can feel the lumps and ridges, and I'm sure that's not great for sound.
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