RK 87 Tone Ring Fit Issue

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Recording King pickers

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One who picks a Recording King......Duh!

256 Members, Created 1/28/2011 -

Administrators: TOMCAT (owner)

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From Rich C on 4/12/2012 9:11:31 PM

This is just some food for thought to my fellow RK Pickers. I have an RK 87 that I purchased 1 year ago new, was not set up. So being the mechanical kind of guy I am, I got the bug to check this banjo out, I decided to scatter it. I only found 1 thing wrong, the tone ring was impossible to take off. I was wanting a Tony Pass Thin Skirt Rim any how, so I contacted Mr.Schaeffer told him the problem, sent him the pot assy. He said that it was really stuck on and was a challenge to get off, I also ask him to turn it if possible, he said he would if it wasn't too out of round. Long story short I now have 2 rims, my banjo sounds incredible so much more open. I will put the other rim back in next winter when I have time to do so, just to hear my banjo the way it was supposed to sound stock.T.P. shop was quick and Mr. Schaeffer was very nice to deal with.

Rich C:

12 Comments
	PJRedWing says: 4/13/2012 6:52:31 AM Glad to hear that you're happy with it. Now I'm getting the itch to tinker with mine.
	Rich C says: 4/13/2012 1:19:05 PM Just Do It ! : ) it is an art, not rocket science, or it would say NASA on the head : ) Really Just pay attention taking it apart, video it if you feel better about it. There are many good internet sources to look at. The tone is great, very open sound; obviously, the tone ring was choking it. For a nonprofessional setup it sounds pretty good. RC:
	TOMCAT says: 4/19/2012 5:35:53 AM I had the same ordeal when I first took my RK 60 apart. Ended uo I had to heat the ring in a frying pan to loosen it enough to get it off. Lot of humidity changes on a boat from China to here. ha!
	PJRedWing says: 4/19/2012 9:55:03 AM Rich, Did you end up going with the thin skirt rim or the Schaeffer birch?
	3 finger ninja says: 4/19/2012 7:42:18 PM my rk35 sounds great so im scared to mess with that lol
	Rich C says: 4/20/2012 9:36:03 PM PJ I went with the thin skirt. Hey 5finger I got to pick on a New RK 36 last weekend it sounded incredible, sometimes you have to go with If it works dont fix it :)
	teletodd says: 4/21/2012 9:18:36 AM Where did you get your rk87? There were some on eBay about a year ago for a deal, being tauted a discontinued. I wondered if they were seconds or had issues.
	PJRedWing says: 4/21/2012 10:17:33 AM My axe sounds pretty good as is, but you know what they say about the grass on the other side of the fence.
	Rich C says: 4/21/2012 9:16:49 PM Teletod,yes it was from ebay, did get a deal, and yes they are discontinued, got that confirmed by RK
	desert rose says: 5/9/2012 9:16:02 AM You will find a tight fit tonering on ALL banjos. Especially three ply rims. Gibsons are the worst, especially with the Cooperman rims. The RK ring and a Tony Pass rim are another match made in heaven. Real tone monsters.
	Rich C says: 5/10/2012 5:42:05 AM Hey Scott, The tone ring on my instrument was beyond a tight fit, it was a challenge for a pro to remove, and yes the Pass rim is awsome. Anyhow this is also to all my fellow RK Pickers. After installing my Pass rim and making adjustments I was capable of, and getting results that were quite good, I still didn’t thinks everything was right. So I did some looking for luthiers, in the review section here on BHO and was impressed by the credentials/pedigree of Chris Cioffi. So I made a call to him, explained to him what I had experienced and next thing you know, while on the trip back from seeing the Punch Brothers in Knoxville Tn. I stopped by met him, and left my Jo. I am excited to see what all he can glean from it, he had many good things to say about the RK components and that he has had much success in taking them from good to excellent. I will let everyone know what the outcome is when it’s all said and done. And I want to add, what a personable person he is,(and a very sweet wife) on top of an expansive knowledge of the banjo. Stay tuned (no pun intended) Rich C:
	Rich C says: 6/13/2012 2:42:07 PM See my Comments in Luthier Reviews section Under Chris Cioffi, he did an incredible job on my RK it isn’t the same banjo I took down there. I am willing to put my cell # on here if anyone would want to contact me personally, I am that pleased. 937-657-2219 Rich C:
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