mattn - Posted - 11/18/2008:  14:15:03

While talking with Mike Hansen about various modifications to his Reiter WL, I got to wondering: I see plenty of WL, TP, and Little Wonder tone rings out there on Stew-Mac, Janet Davis, etc and I know Bill Rickard is making WL, TP, LW, and Dobsons for many of the banjo makers out there. But I don't think I've ever seen anybody advertise a repro Bacon tone ring. Yet there are new banjos coming out with Bacon tone rings, so where are they coming from?

Speaking of Bacons, there is a sweet one for sale at Bernunzio's right now that just got cut from $2500 to $1750... tempting, but I'm holding out for a new Greg Galbreath banjo!

Matt

NYCJazz - Posted - 11/18/2008:  14:49:23

Here's some:

http://www.billcampbanjos.com/PROD04.HTM






Friends don''t let friends convert jazz banjos.

mrphysics55 - Posted - 11/18/2008:  16:08:51

Hey there Matt,

How's that Mogi Banjer treatin' you?



MrP



Do you need a Fiddle Player to Practice With 24/7? Go To http://www.fiddletunes.net

pgroff - Posted - 11/18/2008:  16:59:30

mattn,

Assuming you are talking about the "dish" or "donut" Bacon tone ring, Stewart MacDonald sells (or has sold) repros of them in 11" head size. These don't seem to be listed in recent catalogues but I was able to buy a couple from them last spring -- I phoned them up and the person who helped me located some unsold stock.

Paul

Edited by - pgroff on 11/18/2008 17:30:08

Will1717 - Posted - 11/18/2008:  18:27:19

Looks like a new project!

Bill Rickard

www.banjo-workshop.com

RG - Posted - 11/18/2008:  18:57:32

Bill - if you're volunteering, how about an Orpheum archtop tonering as well? Pleaseeeeee...

RG

"I''m too drunk to taste this chicken..." The Late, Great Colonel Sanders

Will1717 - Posted - 11/18/2008:  19:30:25

RG:

Great! Another project! Can you send me some photos of what an Orpheum archtop tone ring looks like? Any dimensions?

Bill Rickard

www.banjo-workshop.com

RG - Posted - 11/18/2008:  21:00:03

Bill - a little weirder than I thought, have never seen one taken apart, basically a ring supported by brackets covered by a outside skirt on about a 5/8" thick rim...love the sound of the Orpheums, especially 12" and larger pots...so here you go...need to find one to take apart & measure!









And if you're looking for more projects (wink, wink) how about a repro of the Cole neck adjuster...this really works great for dowel stick banjos...



As if you weren't busy enough...!!!!!

I'll shut up now...

RG

"I''m too drunk to taste this chicken..." The Late, Great Colonel Sanders

Edited by - RG on 11/19/2008 00:41:48

Will1717 - Posted - 11/18/2008:  21:06:41

RG

Thanks! Is there any chance that you could get a photo of pieces that the tube sits on? Does the tube have any holes + is it solid or hollow?
Interesting concept.

Bill Rickard

www.banjo-workshop.com

RG - Posted - 11/19/2008:  00:30:14

Bill - the four pieces laying flat in bottom center of the first photo are the "brackets" that hold the top tube, which is solid no hole, hollow brass with 2 "anchor" studs at the 12 & 6 o'clock position...these "studs" fit into holes in the rim. You'll also see the holes in the top of the rim (which is beveled to fit the angle of the brackets) where the "pegs" from the brackets fit into...and then the skirt merely holds the brackets in place when the head is tightened creating an archtop type tone ring with a cool sound chamber. I think that Tom Paley played an Orpheum on some of the NLCR's early releases. It is a really great banjo sound! Cut away side view would look something like this (please excuse my poor drafting...)...



To not entirely derail the topic, I own a Bacon FF s/n 419 internal resonator with a Vega made neck which I purchased from Bernunzio's a couple of years ago; so if you would like measurements of that I could get them for you...it's a 10 3/4 rim...BHO member carlb is a Bacon expert, maybe he'll jump in on this...

Your banjo parts a great service to the banjo community, thanks for all that you do!!!

RG

"I''m too drunk to taste this chicken..." The Late, Great Colonel Sanders

Edited by - RG on 11/19/2008 00:43:23

mike hansen - Posted - 11/19/2008:  07:07:16

Matt you should buy that Bacon FF Professional from Burnunzio.

That way you'd have something to give me for Christmas!!!


www.myspace.com/kazoorecords

mallery - Posted - 11/19/2008:  08:40:05

You can buy a bacon tone ring from Stewart MacDonald. It isn't on the website but you can order them by phone. They're about 100 bucks and are nickel-plated brass. The Bacon donut is interchangeable with the sleeve on the Stew-Mac Whyte Laydie tone ring, but I don't think you can buy the donut separately from the 1/4" rod that fits inside it.

Edited by - mallery on 11/19/2008 08:41:40

diarmaid - Posted - 11/19/2008:  14:50:03

Hi Bill, if youre making an paramount style tonering i would suggest to make the supports a bit higher to give it more volume, like on an epiphone recording tonering (another worthwhile project!) heres a picture







heres a couple of pictures of the early version





it would be nice to see some different looking flanges available too if you have time!

www.banjomafia.com check it out!