Banjo Set Up

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Ode Banjos

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For those who love, own & play Ode Banjos

180 Members, Created 2/6/2011 -

Administrators: kwfolk1 (owner)

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From AreaCode423 on 7/8/2016 10:55:20 AM

Recently purchased a Baldwin Model D banjo. This banjo has two coordinator rods and the adjustment within the heel of the neck. The strings are presently too high above the finger board down on the neck for my preference. My question(s) are: How do you adjust the neck to lower the strings and what is the best set up to get the best sound out of the instrument? This adjustment and/or set up would include the tail piece height, bridge height, and of course adjusting of the coordinator rods. Thanks bunches ......

5 Comments
	darwinyarwin says: 7/8/2016 12:36:27 PM Be careful! The Ode co-rods don't offer much adjustment and are more fragile than some other banjos. Read this BHO thread for about as much information as is available about all the factors in adjusting an Ode: banjohangout.org/archive/271041 There aren't many luthiers who know Odes well,so be careful about who you ask to do adjustments. Take your time and go slowly if you do it yourself. We'll all be here at the Ode group to give you advice as you move forward. If you ask specific questions, chances are somebody here has solved whatever issue you run into. I have two Odes that I adjusted the action on, but they are both dowel stick models. I ended up with most of my height adjustment fixed by adjusting to a lower bridge height. Good luck!
	darwinyarwin says: 7/8/2016 1:09:08 PM Be careful! The Ode co-rods don't offer much adjustment and are more fragile than some other banjos. Read this BHO thread for about as much information as is available about all the factors in adjusting an Ode: banjohangout.org/archive/271041 There aren't many luthiers who know Odes well,so be careful about who you ask to do adjustments. Take your time and go slowly if you do it yourself. We'll all be here at the Ode group to give you advice as you move forward. If you ask specific questions, chances are somebody here has solved whatever issue you run into. I have two Odes that I adjusted the action on, but they are both dowel stick models. I ended up with most of my height adjustment fixed by adjusting to a lower bridge height. Good luck!
	jun3machina says: 7/8/2016 1:49:55 PM Yes, I'd say bridge height is the easiest, pain free adjustment.
	stanger says: 7/8/2016 2:09:03 PM I suggest loosening the co-rod nuts and inserting a shim at the end of the fingerboard. My favorite shim material is all-black mat board; it's harder than most softer stuff, and compresses a bit over time, so if it's slightly too much, the action will raise again a bit over time. I just go to a frame shop and ask if they have any scraps. The co-rods are a weakness in the Ode design. They're made of brass, not steel, and the 'nuts' are actually brass phone plug collars that will easily crack if a pair of pliers or a wrench is used on them. They should be tightened by hand only to prevent damage. Once anything about the coordinator rods breaks, replacement is impossible. The only way to repalce a broken part is to have one custom made at a machine shop. So be very careful! Their older dowel sticks are both sturdier and quite easy to adjust. The standard bridge height on the earlier co-rod equipped banjos is 9/16- the Grover bridge with the bone string inserts. Later Baldwin/Odes had a 5/8 standard bridge. 5/8 will work on both, but the action is very slick with 9/16. Before anything, check everything to see it all is tight. Unlike Gibsons, Ode/Baldwins' action tends to stay put unless something loosens over time. Loosen the string tension when checking. regards, Stanger
	AreaCode423 says: 7/9/2016 10:07:09 AM Thanks for all the great help everyone !! I will definitely take my time on this.... seeing that the banjo is 47 years old. My plan is to place a fiber skin head on it, change the bridge .... then slowly start on further changes. Really like the banjo and like everyone else ........... will never sale it .... : - )
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