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My New (To Me) Yates RS Mahogany

From bAJNo on 3/6/2011 12:53:44 AM

 Hi all,

Just thought I'd post about the used RS Mahogany that I just received. First off, I love the look of it. The distressed look is fantastic and it also means I wont be spending my time polishing hardware instead of picking. I also love the graded look to the speed neck. 

When I first played it I liked it - it was certainly a step up - but i wasn't entirely sure what all the orgasmic reviews were about. Being used I knew it had been sitting around unplayed for a while and the set-up was a bit off. So, new strings, head tension to a smidge above 90 on the DD, co-rods neutral, checked tailpiece etc. Sounded good but still hmmm... I knew there was a better tone in there somewhere.

I put it down to the fact that action was a bit higher than I was used (it is 1/8 inch at the 12th fret) and also that maybe I hadnt heard that many pre-war banjos live to compare the sound to.

Today I realised that it needed a bit more neck relief. So I loosened the truss-rod and set it about right (.015 inches at the 7th fret). Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would affect the tone. For some reason the banjo has just opened up like you wouldn't believe. It just roars and that 4th string...sheesh. The tone is just so sweet and I simply cannot put it down.

I was a bit unsure about a mahogany banjo but in Australia the chances of getting a used Yates are so slim that I couldn't pass this one up. Well, this mahogany is certainly bright enough for me. Played tight to the bridge it screams. Move your hand and it becomes chocolate.

I'm going to stop blathering on now because this is about the longest Ive gone without playing it and Im getting the itch.

1 Comments
	banjotef says: 3/6/2011 5:58:54 AM Good stuff!! Keep pickin', then pick some more!
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