1153rsmith - Posted - 11/03/2009:  05:21:27

Hey everyone,

I'm not completely happy with the sound of my 250 but don't really know what I don't like about it. I think I am going to start by changing out the Grover Bridge and maybe the strings.

I know everyone's ear is different, but what bridges have you found that work well on the 250? I thought about trying a scorpion or a Snuffy Smith. I have a Snuffy on my Fender and it seemed to really wake it up.

The best I can say is, the 250 doesn't seem to have the power and the tone I'm looking for. Any suggestions??

Randy
Gibson RB-250, Fender FB-59

Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?

youdye - Posted - 11/03/2009:  05:25:43

I know the Snuffy II REALLY makes my RK-R80 pop! There is so much difference, I can put a standard maple and ebony bridge on it and I really have to pick different to get it to pop. When I put the snuffy on there it doesn't take as much pick strength to get it to sound the same.

4+1=Hootnanny!
O=='={::}

LarryD1 - Posted - 11/03/2009:  05:54:41

You might want to look at your tailpiece.

I have a 2003 RB250.

Not long ago, A fellow with a great sounding Gibson, advised me to take the little tilt screw out of my presto tailpiece and raise the tailpiece well up above the tension hoop. He said my banjo would "open up".

Sure enough it is louder and I'm liking the tone that I'm getting. He also advised to tweak it up or down until I got the sound that suited me. He had his tailpiece as high as it would go.

Do a site search on "presto tailpiece screw", and you will get various opinions.

I do like the Snuffy Smith Bridges.

Edited by - LarryD1 on 11/03/2009 05:57:36

1153rsmith - Posted - 11/03/2009:  06:01:45

quote:

---

Originally posted by LarryD1

You might want to look at your tailpiece.

I have a 2003 RB250.

Not long ago, A fellow with a great sounding Gibson, advised me to take the little tilt screw out of my presto tailpiece and raise the tailpiece well up above the tension hoop. He said my banjo would "open up".

Sure enough it is louder and I'm liking the tone that I'm getting. He also advised to tweak it up or down until I got the sound that suited me. He had his tailpiece as high as it would go.

Do a site search on "presto tailpiece screw", and you will get various opinions.

I do like the Snuffy Smith Bridges.

---

xnavyguy - Posted - 11/03/2009:  06:08:29

Randy,
Recently, when I was at our local Guitar Center, setting up their new banjos, I ran into a new RB-250 that, no matter what I did to the set up, it would not open up. It was one of the most "constipated" banjos I have ever played. The only thing I could not confirm, but I did suspect is that, after it was built, the rim had swelled, due to humidity, and was constricting the movement of the tonering. I think it needed to be taken apart and the tone ring re-fitted. Again, this is all conjecture.

Jerry

"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance."

1153rsmith - Posted - 11/03/2009:  06:12:26

quote:

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Originally posted by xnavyguy


It was one of the most "constipated" banjos I have ever played.

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Edited by - 1153rsmith on 11/03/2009 06:12:51

LarryD1 - Posted - 11/03/2009:  06:24:16

The tailpiece will float above the tension hoop.

By removing the little tilt screw, you have unlimited upward adjustment without the screw coming in contact with the tension hoop or metal band on the head.

My is set about an 1/8 on an inch above the tension hoop. Some like it higher.

Forrest - Posted - 11/03/2009:  06:30:56

Randy,

You probably need someone to go through your '250 from top to bottom and make sure everything is fitting properly and set properly My guess is a good setup will transform this banjo into a killer instrument.

"Run, Forrest, Run!"

KerryB - Posted - 11/03/2009:  06:34:34

I have an rb-250 and I have always thought it sounded great. I did add a new bridge (Snuffy's with Crowe spacing) and it sounds great. You might check and make sure the body and neck are tight together. Strings can also make a difference--my 250 really liked the GHS Crowe strings.

asmcsgac - Posted - 11/03/2009:  06:51:44

I agree with Forrest. Complete setup would bring out its full potential.

TMarshall1 - Posted - 11/03/2009:  08:29:20

Randy - I am echoing what everyone has already said. The four things you can do yourself (with little effort and cost) are:
SS-II bridge
LOSE that little Presto screw
Check head tension
and
Try a medium set of strings

Then take it for a setup if all else fails.

I did this to both of my Gibsons and it makes a world of difference -

It's a gDGBD (Gosh Darn Good Banjo Day)!
Tony

Proud Member of

The Gibson Chapter

"...if ya got time to breathe, ya got time for music..."
Briscoe Darling - Apr.29,1963

Brian - Posted - 11/03/2009:  08:31:09

Are the sound clips on your homepage you playing this banjo?

What year was your banjo made?

Brian

Edited by - Brian on 11/03/2009 08:31:53

1153rsmith - Posted - 11/03/2009:  08:33:02

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brian

Are the sound clips on your homepage you playing this banjo?

What year was your banjo made?

Brian

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1153rsmith - Posted - 11/03/2009:  08:34:31

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brian

Are the sound clips on your homepage you playing this banjo?

What year was your banjo made?

Brian

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snakeherd - Posted - 11/03/2009:  09:30:21

This has already been mentioned, but check your head tension. Uneven or insufficient tension would be the easiest way to mess up the sound of a good banjo.

Scott

Brian - Posted - 11/03/2009:  13:44:07

I agree with the head tension. My RB3, which is essentially the same banjo as yours, needs a pretty tight head to sound good. You can't easily push down on it and deflect it. Sometimes the banjo will sound off a little and I"ll just put a quarter turn on all the hooks and it'll come back to life.

Has your banjo always sounded the same way or has it changed recently? I don't know how tight they were putting the rings on in 2001 but a looser fitting ring will definitely open up the sound and probably give it a little more growl. This may come at the expense of note separation. You gotta watch mahogany banjos as they're pretty open sounding already. When I adjusted my ring fit yesterday I didn't go too loose because it can really make mahogany banjos too open.

I have a Kat Eyz bridge on mine. It's fairly heavy. I bought a few when I had a Stelling Master Flower in an attempt to mellow it out a bit. It seemed to work. The one I have on my RB3 sounds great! I have an extra one that I sanded the feet down a tad to lower my action. It's a .656 (between 5/8 and 11/16). If you'd like to try it out, I'd be happy to give it to you as a gift from one mahogany banjoist to another! (lol) Send me your address!

Brian

Edited by - Brian on 11/03/2009 13:45:13

Edthebanjo - Posted - 11/03/2009:  15:08:34

Swap the bridges on your fender and RB250, that way you don't have to pay 20 dollars to find out wether the snuffy works or not.

What has 10 legs, 3 teeth, and no hair?
A bluegrass band!

Bobw - Posted - 11/03/2009:  15:30:38

My 2003 rb250 sounded good when I got it.

I changed to a 5star head which I have very tight. I use 10-12-14-22-10 strings and the bridge that came with it.

I took out the screw on the Presto and it sits about 3/4 the height of the bridge at the high end.

Now it sounds awesome. Plenty of punch and volume but never brassy.

Only need to re-tighten the head every six months or so with weather changes.

1153rsmith - Posted - 11/09/2009:  05:32:58

I put a Katz eye bridge on it yesterday and noticed an immediate improvement. It is still not quite what I want, so I'm gonna check the head tension, and maybe some different strings. Right now, I'm using GHS J.D. Crowe lights (PF140). I have tried Di'Addario, and they were pretty good, but I think I may try some Gibson Earl Scruggs strings next.

I'm gonna get it where I want it before I'm done.

Randy
Gibson RB-250, Fender FB-59

Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?

xnavyguy - Posted - 11/09/2009:  06:46:48

Just my opinion here Randy, but I don't think, unless you go with AMB Cryo lights, you won't find any better strings than those GHS J.D. Crowe lights for that particular banjo.

Jerry

"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance."

Ol Lefty - Posted - 11/09/2009:  17:30:44

And, what does it mean when your low-level Gibson RB something Maple rings when a chihuahua barks within 2 feet of it?

"Don't pick it; it'll never heal"--with apologies, that always makes me grin.......... "I'm not crazy, I'm colorful." Struther Martin, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"

Brian - Posted - 11/09/2009:  18:29:35

I agree about the strings, Jerry. A good tight head will make a huge difference!


Brian

big bird - Posted - 11/09/2009:  20:50:08

I would recommend locating a good luthier and letting him/her do a set-up and go from there.

Big Bird

PaulKirby - Posted - 11/09/2009:  22:24:36

I have had an on/off relationship with my 250. It was sounding constipated, so I took it apart and saw the the ring was super-tight to the rim. This is not always well-advised, but I went slowly (slowly!) with light sandpaper until the ring fit about like a glove, and the change in sound was remarkable.

http://www.kateyzbb.com/
http://www.americanmadebanjo.com/

Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.
--Martha Graham

1153rsmith - Posted - 11/10/2009:  04:17:47

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ol Lefty

And, what does it mean when your low-level Gibson RB something Maple rings when a chihuahua barks within 2 feet of it?

"Don't pick it; it'll never heal"--with apologies, that always makes me grin.......... "I'm not crazy, I'm colorful." Struther Martin, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"

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1153rsmith - Posted - 11/10/2009:  04:19:11

quote:

---

Originally posted by PaulKirby

I have had an on/off relationship with my 250. It was sounding constipated, so I took it apart and saw the the ring was super-tight to the rim. This is not always well-advised, but I went slowly (slowly!) with light sandpaper until the ring fit about like a glove, and the change in sound was remarkable.

---

Brian - Posted - 11/10/2009:  05:15:12

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

Brian

PaulKirby - Posted - 11/11/2009:  12:59:37

You know, it's really not that hard, taking apart a banjo. You will eventually take it apart. If you love the banjo, there's a good chance that you are a born tinkerer also. It's part of the gene cluster.

http://www.kateyzbb.com/
http://www.americanmadebanjo.com/

Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.
--Martha Graham

Brian - Posted - 11/11/2009:  18:38:39

What year is your Gibson?

Brian

Brian - Posted - 11/12/2009:  04:48:00

If you have a newer-ish Gibson, there are some interesting comments in this thread: http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/152609

I totally agree (like, totally?! LOL) with PaulKirby. It's really not that hard to take a banjo apart. It's just nuts and bolts. There's plenty of help available here and the rewards are HUGE, both in getting to know how to mess with your instrument and the potential sound improvements!


Brian

Brian - Posted - 11/12/2009:  04:53:48

I don't mean to keep blabbing but... What you think your banjo sounds like and what it really sounds like are probably two different things. To get a pretty good feeling of your banjo's sound, play it directly in front of a very hard surface such as a window or solid wall. Of course recording yourself is really good too. Point being it's amazing how much different it sounds from the playing position as a opposed to the listening position. (sound that's coming out of the flange)

Brian

snakeherd - Posted - 11/12/2009:  09:24:35

When I'm playing my banjo, I really only care what it sounds like to me. If there were any audience (not likely) they would probably say that it sounds 'like a banjo'.
I could see someone caring a lot more about the projected sound if they were performing in front of a very banjo-educated audience, or if they were recording.

Scott

Edited by - snakeherd on 11/12/2009 09:25:09

1153rsmith - Posted - 11/13/2009:  08:27:21

quote:

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Originally posted by Brian

What year is your Gibson?

Brian

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1153rsmith - Posted - 11/13/2009:  08:37:00

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brian

If you have a newer-ish Gibson, there are some interesting comments in this thread: http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/152609

I totally agree (like, totally?! LOL) with PaulKirby. It's really not that hard to take a banjo apart. It's just nuts and bolts. There's plenty of help available here and the rewards are HUGE, both in getting to know how to mess with your instrument and the potential sound improvements!


Brian

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1153rsmith - Posted - 11/13/2009:  17:39:06

Ok guys, I did a little tinkering. I took the resonator off and tightened the head a little, and the sound seemed to get worse to me, so I took it back off and loosened the head some. I think the sound is getting more like I like it.

I have also done a first ever.... I have put a song of mine in my music files. It is Jesse James. Take a listen and let me know what you think about the sound. My playing is not so good, so listen mainly for the sound of my 250.

I have never put a song out that I have done before, so be easy...

Randy
Gibson RB-250, Fender FB-59

Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?

Brian - Posted - 11/13/2009:  17:52:08

It's hard to tell with the sound quality but I think your banjo sounds good! I also thought your playing was very nice. Especially for a person who's only played for a couple of years. Nice timing.

Brian

Brian - Posted - 11/13/2009:  17:52:23

It's hard to tell with the sound quality but I think your banjo sounds good! I also thought your playing was very nice. Especially for a person who's only played for a couple of years. Nice timing.

Brian