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banjohope - Posted - 08/12/2009: 14:16:15
Would heavy banjos be things of the past, or significantly have lower market share?. Some people claim that wooden tone rings are as good as those heavey weight metal tone rings, and if this is true then what would be the future of heavey tone rings. If wood tone rings are as loud and clear as metal rings, then who wants those heavy, ugly , expensive ,and back breaking metal rings. Even CH players may be attracted to them( although I don't know if you can get plunky sound out of resonator banjos). If you compare the price of wood vs. metal tone rings, such as Burlile tone rings which can cost upto $15000, and wood rings which can cost around $100, then the economics of banjo buying and selling may change. Although some people may believe that if a banjo is not heavy then it is not a real banjo, probably a tradition. To develop , or create a metal tone ring, it takes a lot of money , time , skill investments, but to make a wooden tone rings, probably any shedtree carpenter can make it as cheap as $100. I mean if this thing is true, then there is going to be a serious economic cup de etat. Any opinion?
Earls 5 - Posted - 08/12/2009: 14:22:03
not a likely result, the wood rings just aint what everyone is looking for. Some will always prefer the metal rings tone above the wooden rings tone.
Job 33:4 - Zech 4:6
" the truth shall stand when the world is on fire"
xnavyguy - Posted - 08/12/2009: 14:22:32
Heavy tone ring banjos have a particular "pop" and note attack that, probably could never be achieved using any other method. I'm not a particular fan of heavy banjos because I have several light weight banjos that are entirely adequate for my needs, both in a performance and in jam situations, but nothing can really "cut" through a wall of guitars like a good flat head metal tone ring banjo. IMHO, of course.
Jerry
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we''re here we should dance."
beegee - Posted - 08/12/2009: 14:24:35
quote:
Originally posted by michael mana
...back breaking metal rings
I have been playing banjo for 45 years and have never heard of one case of anyone's back being broken by a banjo. __________________________ "It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing." - Seneca
Bradskey - Posted - 08/12/2009: 14:28:11
I think wooden tone rings can work really well for some people. Whether they are "as good as" metal doesn't really apply since that is subjective. But it is simply untrue that they perform exactly the same as metal. Close in some cases, but never quite the same.
bulland - Posted - 08/12/2009: 14:30:46
IMHO I don't believe that any of the "modern" banjos (while excellent) have improved upon the sound of the early pre-war Mastertone Gibson banjos. Amplification set aside, the core sound of the banjo resides in the tone ring and the wooden hoop. So I guess I don't agree with your theory anymore than I would agree that the modern microwave meals can beat Grandma's slow roasted Sunday dinner......
bulland
Seeders - Posted - 08/12/2009: 14:33:56
My opinion is the metal tone ring will never die. There is always going to be the die-hard metal heads. I love the sound of both and agree that a good wooden tone ring can rival a good metal ring and vis versa. But it really depends on the ear. For instance John Hartford had all his early Deering customs made with a Grenadillo tone rings. Until later in his life a chiropractor tweeked his neck in a way that he said changed his hearing which allowed him to hear a higher registry than he never had heard before. He immediately had Greg Deering make him a banjo with a metal tone ring and a 24 fret neck changing his sound in a big way. He also danced with his banjo so weight was a big issue as he got older. So I believe it's all in the ear (and back/shoulder strength!) of the beholder. Us banjo players love to have an infinite amount of options at our finger tips, so the more options the better.
As far as price goes, as long as someones willing to pay 15000 for a tone ring someone will keep making them.
Bradskey - Posted - 08/12/2009: 14:34:13
Also, we're only talking a difference of 2lbs and some change (the metal tone ring weighs up to around 3 lbs, the wooden ring still weighs some ounces). Some of us are just used to it and don't actually think metal is all that heavy.
dpete210 - Posted - 08/12/2009: 14:35:36
michael mana, while I don't believe metal tone rings will fade away, it may very well be that over time there will be more players who come to want a wooden tone ring as they become more aware of their sound capability and power. It will also offer a healthy alternative for those who either already have or develop back issues. A couple of months ago I acquired a Deering Hartford banjo with the grenadillo tone ring and that banjo is simply a terrific sounding banjo with plenty of punch. I am very pleased with the Hartford and am very glad I have it. This banjo has as much punch as any of my metal tone ring banjos. I traded for it with a fellow on the hangout and knew the Hartford has a reputation as a great sounding banjo, but had no idea it sounded as good as it does. I highly doubt you could get a grenadillo ring for $100 but they sound absolutely terrific to my ears. I plan on putting a wooden tone ring in my Nechville Classic. I've heard a few Nechville's with the wooden ring and they are very sweet.
In my opinion, the wooden ring offers an alternative. Perhaps the thinking that in order for a banjo to be "worthy" it has to be heavy may eventually go the way of the Edsel, but I believe there will always be those who prefer the metal tone ring and who will stick with the current great rings and those to come in the future.
Any day playing music is a GOOD day. 
edit: soonding or sounding. I haven't a clue what a great soonding banjo is, so I hope you don't mind that I corrected the word to "sounding" 
Edited by - dpete210 on 08/12/2009 14:44:31
Hotrodtruck - Posted - 08/12/2009: 14:54:34
If a person wants a wood tone ring they should get one. There is no need to otherwise justify it by denigrating metal tone rings... Some people might even want one of each!
Mike
"I thought I was dancing, until someone stepped on my hand!"
D.W. - Posted - 08/12/2009: 15:07:13
quote:
Originally posted by Seeders
As far as price goes, as long as someones willing to pay 15000 for a tone ring someone will keep making them.
Uhm.. where's the decimal point in that number. With out one I can easily see wood rings getting a whole lot more popular.  Seriously though- I'd love to see youtube links of people playing wood tone ring banjos. The Bishline "Danny Barnes" model has a wood tone ring- I've seen those videos. It definitely doesn't sound like a metal tone ring banjo. Not better nor worse- but it has it's own unique sound. I know Nechville also has their wood tone ring model. But haven't heard anything with it. As for the "pre-war" sound argument... In my humble opinion if it's a really good banjo, a quality banjo, it should be able to be set up to sound however you want it to- pre war, post war, Star Wars, etc. ----------------------------------------------- "A life lived in fear is a life half lived." - Fran, "Strictly Ballroom" (1992)
banjohope - Posted - 08/12/2009: 15:14:11
Correction, I mean $1500.
banjohope - Posted - 08/12/2009: 15:40:09
Well, wooden tone rings are new kid on the block, they are relatively new to the market , and it might take a while before players try them and decide for themselves. In this banjo journey, you never know until you try it, it is a pragamatic , no second hand journey stuff . True, there are some (southerners?), who are addicted to the metal tone ring's " metal taste", and maybe deep traditon, but any player open minded enough to try wood tone rings, may have second thoughts about metal tone rings. It may not eliminate metal tone rings completely, but also they may not be as popular as they are now. Also someone may come with an idea ,similar to "doping" silicon semiconductors, by adding just a little bit metal spray to the wood and making it wood-metal hybrid. You never know until you try it.
xnavyguy - Posted - 08/12/2009: 16:10:25
I may change my mind about what I posted in an earlier post. My next little project will be to build a wooden
tone ring out of some Ipe. I plan to stand the wood grain up vertically just like my bridges. If I can get it to
work, it might be a viable alternative to a metal ring. The only problem with Ipe is that it is so darn heavy,
the finished product might be just as heavy a a cast metal ring. Won't know until I try it.
Jerry
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we''re here we should dance."
NINJO - Posted - 08/12/2009: 16:29:02
I like a heavy banjo. It keeps me grounded while my mind floats.
The best picker is the one having the most fun.
dpete210 - Posted - 08/12/2009: 17:05:14
Jerry, before I got my hands on my Hartford I may have thought the same as you opined in your earlier post. I never really gave it much thought. But believe me, I have a new opinion on what a wood tone ring can do as a result and I believe you would be quite amazed at the power that comes from this grenadillo ring. All the way up the neck. It is a GREAT banjo.
Dean wrote: "I've played a Hartford, but wasn't sold on it at all."
Dean, keep in mind set up is paramount and key. :) Come and try mine
Any day playing music is a GOOD day.
uncle.fogey - Posted - 08/12/2009: 17:26:36
quote:
Originally posted by xnavyguy
I may change my mind about what I posted in an earlier post. My next little project will be to build a wooden
tone ring out of some Ipe. I plan to stand the wood grain up vertically just like my bridges. If I can get it to
work, it might be a viable alternative to a metal ring. The only problem with Ipe is that it is so darn heavy,
the finished product might be just as heavy a a cast metal ring. Won't know until I try it.
Jerry
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we''re here we should dance."
Jerry, I understand the logic for vertical grain in bridges. I'm gathering that you think that vertical grain would be the way to go with rims, too, despite the fact that most rims have horizontal grain. I have seen posts of your helix rims, which are impressive. I'm not disagreeing with you at all, but believing that you've thought this through, I'm just curious to hear what you feel the benefits are. My tendency would be to go with horizontal, but I have no real compelling logic for that other than tradition and ease of turning.
Bill Rogers - Posted - 08/12/2009: 17:33:04
If you want your banjo to sound like a prewar flathead (or archtop) Mastertone or a Tubaphone or Whyte Laydie or a Silver Bell, no wood tone ring banjo will satisfy you. So we'll never see a transition to wood in general as opposed to metal in general.
Bill
uncle.fogey - Posted - 08/12/2009: 17:46:45
I must say that I had never given the idea of a wooden tone ring any thought at all. I'd have thought it would be like a basic wood rim banjo with no tone ring. After reading about these for the past month on this forum, my mind has changed and my curiosity has gotten the best of me. I'm going to have to try it.
xnavyguy - Posted - 08/12/2009: 18:55:47
Ken,
Since I don't have the ability to "turn" anything on a lathe, the thought of making a vertical grain tone ring doesn't seem any more
daunting than doing anything else. I'm into developing "low impedance" paths for what happens on the banjo strings to easily
change into sound that we can hear with our ears. Conventional acoustic musical instruments are able to take advantage of
the acoustic properties of the materials from which they are made and the shapes they take on. I don't think banjos exactly fit
into the same category since they have so many different elements that can affect how they perform. I'm just trying to have a
bit of fun with all this and do my best to share anything that I learn (or not) from the experience.
Jerry
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we''re here we should dance."
Bryan - Posted - 08/12/2009: 18:59:14
I'm a reader here rather than a big contributor but I have been playing banjo many years so I think I can also shed some light on this fascinating subject. I got Jason Romero to build me a wood tone ring bluegrass banjo several years back purely on chance and the excellent feedback from other BH members. Heres what I found:
Ok a great sounding , beautiful banjo, easy to play and seemingly very loud. The first time I played it at a band practise I asked, with no one else playing, for my banmates to comment on which was louder, the metal toned banjo I also had with me, or this new Romero banjo? Unanimous: the Romero was as loud or louder. Then interestingly enough, when we all played together, they all ageed the metal tone ring banjo was louder, which was what it seemed to me, too, as with the Romero I wasnt hearing myself quite as well over the top of everyone else.
Conclusion: actual volume versus "cut" arent quite the same thing. For solo or a small line up the wood tone ring sounds great, but in a big jam sesion the metal tone ring will probably win. Of couse with a microphone or pickup we are back to an even keel.
Final conclusion? Get both of course
Bryan
banjohope - Posted - 08/12/2009: 19:09:01
Good discussion, keep commenting, because this wood tone ring stuff, may change the " future history" of the banjo.
dpete210 - Posted - 08/12/2009: 19:39:02
Bryan what wood did you have Jason Romero use for the ring in your banjo? Welcome to the B hangout!
Any day playing music is a GOOD day.
Bryan - Posted - 08/12/2009: 19:52:17
DPete: The Romero banjo has a Katalox, Bubinga combination tone ring on a Santos Mahogany rim. This was entirely on Jason's reccomendation, based on what I was asking him for' IE a wood tone ring resonator banjo for bluegrass. If you go to his website you can see a photo of it under Bluegrass Banjos" . it is number 0547
Jason Romero is certainly a leader on wood tone ring banjos though probably better known amongst the Old Time and Frailing community
cheers
Bryan
dpete210 - Posted - 08/12/2009: 20:06:42
Bryan, thanks, for the info! That is one pretty banjo! Great looking armrest! I've only heard of grenadillo and cocobolo wood rings, so was unaware of the katalox and bubinga possibilities.
Any day playing music is a GOOD day.
Bill Rogers - Posted - 08/12/2009: 21:25:53
And Jason is a bluegrass banjo player, so he knows exactly what a bluegrass banjo needs.
Bill
goldtopia - Posted - 08/12/2009: 23:35:53
The wood tone rings on the up market banjos are pretty good, they don't have the excessive sustain of some of the metal tone rings and are not as heavy. I think in time there will be further developments using different materials for tone rings that may be better or different to both, or be according to choice and they would be light. The Titan banjo made of titanium, although it has a metal tone ring, is an innovation which is light with an amazing sound, but its very expensive. I think there is more to come in the future, maybe with materials that have not been invented yet. Many people are turning away from heavy banjos and for many is one of the first things to consider when buying a banjo. That's why I bought a Fitch Palomino which weighs 8 lbs.
Bill.O
www.bluegrassminstrels.co.uk
rwgamelb - Posted - 08/12/2009: 23:56:09
Hello all, I'm new to the forum, so hope I don't offend anyone.
Great subject and geat comments from all.
I have to say it's dear to my heart as I have a Hartford (woody) which I adore and a Prucha Bat which I also adore. Sometimes I just don't know which I like best - neither I guess. I don't think anyone need worry about metal tone rings disappearing, but the woodies have their place and can be just as loud and ring too IMHO. All banjo sounds are subjective, and having laid out hard earned cash on a banjo usually generates praise for it from the owner... And when it comes down to it, it's only us pickers who really care (and like to wax lyrical about it), most listening audiences just love (or hate - not so many now though) the sound of any banjo.
I do like the weight of the Hartford though...
That's my 5 cents worth... regards to all
Tricky
Melbourne
silvioferretti - Posted - 08/13/2009: 00:19:14
"this wood tone ring stuff, may change the " future history" of the banjo"
Michael, banjos with no metal under the head have always existed, also those with spunover metal-clad rims, or just a little bitty rod and so on. Builders have experimented with all-wood rims for several years now, and some of them build state-of-the art "woodies" that have a lot of volume and tone. If I have to build a 12" pot openback I choose a Tony Pass Woody rim myself, no metal. BUT the sound of a heavy tone ring banjo is a lot different, so players who seek THAT sound will NOT find it in a woody rim, period. Heck, there are subtle but determinant differences in the sounds that low-profile (lighter) and high-profile (heavier) prewar Gibson rings produce, let alone wood as opposed to metal! So there really is no competition, and I don't think the history of the banjo will be changed by something that - in concept - has existed forever, and so far hasn't changed much, if anything at all.
But isn't is great that today's banjo players can find almost anything they want as opposed to relying on the precious few instruments that could be found "on the market" (including pawn shops) 50 years ago or so? As for this: "Even CH players may be attracted to them( although I don't know if you can get plunky sound out of resonator banjos)", I guess you don't know that quite a few old-time players (clawhammer, two-finger, you name it) used resonator banjos with metal tone rings, including Mastertones. Because they liked the sound they got, and / or those banjos were the loudest ones they found, and they needed volume. Exactly like the CH players of today, who may like a very quiet and plunky openback when they play at home, but they look for volume and cutting power on stage.
"If you''re gonna have a vice, try to find one that will keep you outta jail and maybe alive a little longer" - Alvin Youngblood Hart.
Silvio Ferretti http://www.scorpionmusic.com
http://www.redwinemusic.net
Edited by - silvioferretti on 08/13/2009 00:20:26
Kenneth Logsdon - Posted - 08/13/2009: 05:50:52
Well put Silvio.. Fads come and go..
KL
Studebaker Hawk - Posted - 08/13/2009: 06:33:58
Maybe somebody mentioned this earlier and I didn't see it, but what about the NASA aluminum tone ring offered by the Kel Kroydon (American Made Banjo) folks? It's quite a bit lighter than a bronze tone ring but not as light as a tone-ringless (is that a real wood?) wood rim. Has anybody got first-hand experience with these new (and expensive) aluminum wonders? I was just wondering how they stack up against a traditional tone ring and those new, exotic-wood tone rings that seem to be the current flavor of the month. I've got to admit, the older I'm getting, the less I like hefting a heavy, metal-tone-ring resonator banjo. (I hope my Stelling Whitestar isn't reading this!)
--Dean
Ira Gitlin - Posted - 08/13/2009: 08:20:16
quote:
Originally posted by Bradskey
Also, we're only talking a difference of 2lbs and some change (the metal tone ring weighs up to around 3 lbs, the wooden ring still weighs some ounces). Some of us are just used to it and don't actually think metal is all that heavy.
Those 2 lbs. do make a noticeable difference. Strap on a standard Mastertone-style banjo, then compare it with a Style 11 (or -1 or -2), or with a Deering Hartford model, or with a Nechville (metal tone ring but lighter overall construction). There's a big difference in how they feel on your shoulder!
Edited by - Ira Gitlin on 08/13/2009 20:50:23
Bradskey - Posted - 08/13/2009: 08:39:09
quote:
Originally posted by Ira Gitlin
quote:
Originally posted by Bradskey
Also, we're only talking a difference of 2lbs and some change (the metal tone ring weighs up to around 3 lbs, the wooden ring still weighs some ounces). Some of us are just used to it and don't actually think metal is all that heavy.
Those 2 lbs. do make a noticeable difference. Strap a standard Mastertone-style banjo on your, then compare it with a Style 11 (or -1 or -2), or with a Deering Hartford model, or with a Nechville (metal tone ring but lighter overall construction). There's a big difference in how they feel on your shoulder!
I don't dispute that at all, they're heavy! At the same time, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not a working musician -- I play for recreation and generally sitting down, so 2 pounds makes little difference to me, I'm used to the weight. For others it might be different.
1four5 - Posted - 08/13/2009: 10:00:37
I spend 3 to 4 hours a day standing with a banjo. 20 minutes with my 13 pounds banjo triggers back problems and migraines. Dispite several years now of exersizes and weights etc, I can't reverse the hands of time and an old injury. 2 pounds is HUGE. More pounds is even huger. That's why I've put so much effort into my 7 pound banjo. I still say Derring's "Special" tone ring design is the best kept secret in this respect, and hasent been developed anywere near it's comercial potential... and it's a shame that they don't build a professional level banjo around it, instead of just slapping it on an entry level banjo as an add-on.
Dean
silvioferretti - Posted - 08/13/2009: 10:08:03
Dean, I've never played a banjo with the aluminum AMB ring, but I remember playing (albeit for a shamefully short amount of time) a Lane banjo which had an aluminum tone ring, and it sounded good to me at that time (1982...). However, it did not have the sound of a full-weight flathead ring as cast by the Tank & Silo Co. or their followers... Bob Gaddis is the resident Lane expert on the HO, so I believe he could chime in and tell us about aluminum Lane banjos. Harry Lane is a great builder, always was, so the results of his experiments (some of them dating back to 25 years ago or more) are not to be taken lightly IMO.
"If you''re gonna have a vice, try to find one that will keep you outta jail and maybe alive a little longer" - Alvin Youngblood Hart.
Silvio Ferretti http://www.scorpionmusic.com
http://www.redwinemusic.net
pick1936 - Posted - 08/13/2009: 10:38:24
With Nechville, You can try the wood, and always go back to the bronze, Switch back, and forth in 15 to 20 Min. Just so You do not loose Your Balls.
Wood Is Good.
Nechville. In Higginsville.
Lee Kelso
1four5 - Posted - 08/13/2009: 10:52:57
How much lighter would an aluminum tone ring make a banjo?
I keep bringing up the 7 pound Goodtime "Special" because I get to play mine (extreamly tweeked and modified) up against a Calico every day. So, I've constantly had a very good banjo to try and make the Special measure up to. If the Special is as good as it will ever get at it's weight, I'm happy with it from now on, and am really no longer looking or searching for any better. Weather my ears have favorably adjusted to the Special, or it's actually beating the Calico is subjective, but it definately mics better and has gotten to the point that the Calico might even be for sale after another migraine or two. A few simple tweeks and attention to detail, and a "Special" can be a contender. Note to Deering:Put a "Special" rim and tone ring in a Sierra, make a "Sierra Lite" and make a bunch of us aching back banjo players very very happy.
Dean
oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 08/13/2009: 14:25:00
Heavy weight banjos are definately in MY past. I can't lift much more'n a Lee Woody these days.
If you are interested in what I say on the hangout you should download a free copy of Rocket Science Banjo - the Advanced Method For Beginning to Intermediate Clawhammer Players. Along with the full text in PDF you will also find the four current RSB videos and the "25 EZ Clawhammer Tunes" at:
http://www.rocketsciencebanjo.com
To print the tabs separately from the book you need TEFView a free download from:
http://www.tabledit.com
Banjo Brad is still hosting "How To Mold A Mighty Pinky" and some other material at:
http://www.pricklypearmusic.net
A site chock full of interesting banjo material
Ks_5-picker - Posted - 08/14/2009: 06:05:43
The Nasa ring weighs 18 oz. That's a savings of almost 2 lbs. I've got one in my old Kel Kroydon.I get good feedback on the volume and tone.I've got a buddy with a Yates Stewart model. He can bury me with volume if he wants to,but mine is plenty loud enough for my own band.
When I was 30,weight was not a problem,but I worked in a tire factory for 35 ys. That tends to wear out your back.I had a herniated disc 4 yrs ago,so I look for light weight alternatives in my banjos now. I'm happy with everything I've got from the Aluminum ringed Kel kroydon to the '28 style one,my "heavyweight" '26 ball bearing and my Helix powered "E banjo".I can still stand an hour and hold them without having to visit the chiropractor the next monday.I once had a Pass flathead woody rim in a parts banjo,and was very happy with that one too.
I think the heavy rings are fine for those that can handle them.
Rod
Here''s some music you might enjoy.
http://cdbaby.com/cd/roddurst
Edited by - Ks_5-picker on 08/14/2009 06:06:35
Studebaker Hawk - Posted - 08/14/2009: 17:47:19
quote:
Originally posted by Ks_5-picker
The Nasa ring weighs 18 oz. That's a savings of almost 2 lbs. I've got one in my old Kel Kroydon.I get good feedback on the volume and tone.I've got a buddy with a Yates Stewart model. He can bury me with volume if he wants to,but mine is plenty loud enough for my own band.
When I was 30,weight was not a problem,but I worked in a tire factory for 35 ys. That tends to wear out your back.I had a herniated disc 4 yrs ago,so I look for light weight alternatives in my banjos now. I'm happy with everything I've got from the Aluminum ringed Kel kroydon to the '28 style one,my "heavyweight" '26 ball bearing and my Helix powered "E banjo".I can still stand an hour and hold them without having to visit the chiropractor the next monday.I once had a Pass flathead woody rim in a parts banjo,and was very happy with that one too.
I think the heavy rings are fine for those that can handle them.
Rod
Thanks for your insight on the NASA aluminum ring, Rod. That was pretty much the info I was looking for. Again, thanks! --Dean
stanger - Posted - 08/14/2009: 19:20:23
quote:
Originally posted by xnavyguy
I may change my mind about what I posted in an earlier post. My next little project will be to build a wooden
tone ring out of some Ipe. I plan to stand the wood grain up vertically just like my bridges. If I can get it to
work, it might be a viable alternative to a metal ring. The only problem with Ipe is that it is so darn heavy,
the finished product might be just as heavy a a cast metal ring. Won't know until I try it.
Jerry
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we''re here we should dance."
Hi, Jerry... Don't want to hijack the thread, but Ipe is a dog to work with. I built a big bench out of the stuff, and it's hell to glue and stay glued. I didn't find the tap tone superior in any way, but it's good for decking. A good wood I would experiment with is very hard rock maple- no one has made a ring of it that I know of, but I think it could approach metal in it's brightness. It sure glues a lot better than Ipé, and smells better, too. regards, Stanger The pen is mightier than the pigs.
Edited by - stanger on 08/14/2009 19:33:48
xnavyguy - Posted - 08/14/2009: 19:30:56
Hey Mike,
Thanks for the heads up on the Ipe. I've never worked with the stuff so I don't have any clue about what it is like. Another BHO member jvander, brought me a batch of it when he came over to show me the Helix (tm) rim that he built. I was taken by the heavy weight and density. The only reason I mentioned that I would try the Ipe is because I think I have enough to make a decent tone ring out of it. It is probably way too dense to work, but you never know. If I had my choice, I would probably use Spruce because it transmits sound so well.
Jerry
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we''re here we should dance."
stanger - Posted - 08/15/2009: 21:39:34
(last off topic hijack)
Hi, Jerry...
Another thing to watch is Ipé likes to split. Be very careful drilling holes, and be sure to drill slow- it likes to eat up drill bits, too. The sawdust can be bright green, so be prepared for this surprise. The weight thing is precisely why I used it- the bench needed to be as heavy as possible.
Spruce might make a very excellent tone ring!
I admire you and Helix for thinking outside the box. I know I often make too many equations that are based on 'it's supposed to be that way'. At one time, everything we now take for granted was a radical innovation. It's highly likely to me that the best wood for tone rings hasn't been fully explored, as wood is much different from metal.
One thing I think is the necessity of a fat-boy rim. A big part of a bluegrass banjo's tone comes from mass. With a heavy flathead bronze tone ring, the mass is really concentrated right where the head is. But it may be possible that that equation could be turned on it's head and still get similar results. Go for it, whatever you use!
regards,
Stanger
quote:
Originally posted by xnavyguy
Hey Mike,
Thanks for the heads up on the Ipe. I've never worked with the stuff so I don't have any clue about what it is like. Another BHO member jvander, brought me a batch of it when he came over to show me the Helix (tm) rim that he built. I was taken by the heavy weight and density. The only reason I mentioned that I would try the Ipe is because I think I have enough to make a decent tone ring out of it. It is probably way too dense to work, but you never know. If I had my choice, I would probably use Spruce because it transmits sound so well.
Jerry
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we''re here we should dance."
The pen is mightier than the pigs.
Edited by - stanger on 08/15/2009 21:42:02
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