banjohead22 - Posted - 11/19/2009:  00:43:50

Anyone have any experience with the renaissance head? likes or dislikes ? im going to try one on my banjo (RK 85) to see how it sounds. sometimes it seems my banjer is abit loud for my tastes and has alot of sustain and loud ringing which i want to tone down a hair. so we'll see how a new head does.

company_man - Posted - 11/19/2009:  01:02:21

I fitted a ren head, compensated bridge and Nashville tailpiece to my Ozark 2109G. It's hardly a Griffin as a result but it's a marked improvement as an old-time instrument.

country frank - Posted - 11/19/2009:  02:05:23

I have used renaissance heads on both my flathead and archtops and found them to be a great alternative to the standard frosted top remos. They cut out some of the 'bark' on cheap instruments and IMO round off the tone a little.

jpiperson2002 - Posted - 11/19/2009:  03:21:11

The renaissance head is about midway in sound between a frosted and fyberskin head, not as bright as a frosted or as muted as a fyberskin. I really like the sound of the renaissance heads on my Goodtime and Enoch Tradesman open back banjos. Good full sound and I didn't need to strain to bring out the high notes like I was doing with a fyberskin head.

Not sure how it would sound on a resonator though you can get a broad range of sounds out of any head by varying head tightness and type of bridge. Just swapping out bridges may give you the sound you're looking for. Collecting bridges to test can turn into an expensive hobby of its own but switching from a light bright sounding bridge to a more mellow sounding bridge does allow you to substantially change the sound of the instrument in under a minute.

A new head is less expensive than most new designer bridges but it takes an hour to make the switch and restring maybe 2 hours if you haven't done it before. I can't hear the tone in my banjo head when I change and retighten them so personally I need to use drumdial to gauge the tightness and get it tight enough. I tend to not tighten my heads enough without the drumdial to use as a reference and with a loose head the G strings start to resonate too long in synch with the head tone.

Edited by - jpiperson2002 on 11/19/2009 03:30:19

vernob - Posted - 11/19/2009:  03:34:27

I am also a fan of Ren heads. I probably prefer natural skin heads, but they don't work as well here in humid Florida. One day it works, another day it doesn't. The Ren head is a good compromise and it's consistent. I prefer them to Fiberskyn. Have you tried a Yellowstone? They are somewhat similar to the Ren, but you have to mount it on a hoop yourself. A bit tricky.

asandwho - Posted - 11/19/2009:  04:38:32

I really like the Renaissance heads. I actually put it on my tenor (with resonator) as well as my open back. I'm not a sound junky, but I do think they both sound better.

erstokke - Posted - 11/19/2009:  04:39:04

A lot of people here prefer Renaissance on open-back banjos. But your question is about using a Ren on a Mastertone bluegrass banjo.

I have not tried a Ren on my RK-R80. But I guess it will become plunkier. On the other side - it may sound like you are playing on a cardboard box. Try it and post a sound sample!

If you want to alter the sound on your RK, you may also try different bridges.

Anyway, the sound of your RK is what most people call great bluegrass sound. Loud, fair amount of sustain, ringing - I love it! Be careful not to turn your great banjo into the sound of a $100 banjo.

grm405 - Posted - 11/19/2009:  06:02:08

While it is not a traditional bluegrass banjo, I play it as such. I have an OME Juggernaut with the spun brass tone ring, now called the Silverspun ring. I have a Renaissance head on it and it works really well, much better than the original Weatherking which came with the banjo. The spun ring is very bright and clear. The Renaissance tones it down just a bit and adds fullness. It is my favorite banjo and sound.

I also had the Renaissance on a Gold Star. I liked it, but changed it back to the Weatherking after about a year. The banjo really didn't need toning down, I just needed to set it up right and learn right-hand technique.

Gerry

R Buck - Posted - 11/19/2009:  06:20:29

I use them or skin on all of my banjos. I love them. They sound great tight or looser. You can tweak them for more range on sound from the banjo.

Tim-mater - Posted - 11/19/2009:  06:26:12

I like Rens on flat heads. I change heads a lot - no big deal, just like to tinker ya know... I generally have a Ren on one banjo or another at any given time. I found that I need to crank 'em down a little tight and use a mute under the head in the TP area in order to get a nice pop out of them. They don't really "sound tight" like a Weather King would if they were tuned to B - so I geuss it's ok.

The point = setting up a Ren takes a different approach than a frosted head, that's for sure.

banjobilly32 - Posted - 11/19/2009:  07:08:59

I've got the ren head on my Granada and it sounds great to me. I liked it so much I ordered one for a Slingerland tenor. That banjo really speaks now! They tend to take a while to stretch and seat in. Once they do they seem to hold up well. The translucent shade seems to resist soiling too.

farmer bob - Posted - 11/19/2009:  08:10:01

I love them on my openbacks though I prefer the amber shaded version sold by Stewart Mc as "Elite" it sounds the same but matches well with the woody look of my openbacks... Bob.

bigcraig - Posted - 11/19/2009:  09:50:42

I have one on my Sullivan Greenbrier. I find it is very sensitive to head tension, and picking hand position. But when you get it right it makes a very sweet sound.

fergaloh - Posted - 11/19/2009:  10:26:39

I used one on a tenor. Very rich and warm sounding and loud enough. It's probably great for old time music but i don't play that style so......... I found it stretches alot and it hard to keep at a good tension for my needs. I found the overall tone to be warmer and richer then your normal smooth or frosted. But for session playing it didn't produce cut or treble i needed so i didn't stick with it. If your looking for a darker, softer, warmer sound its really great, but it'll never cut through quite as much as a frosted head or anything near a smooth head. I found the richness of tone extremely pleasing and wish i could get away with using one all the time.

banjohead22 - Posted - 11/19/2009:  11:48:49

Thanks for all the comments.
I am going to try some different bridges as well before i try the new head. it seems like i really want the bass tones to pop out more like they once did on my banjer. some where i lost that great lower range and i miss it. im still new to setting up my banjo in different ways so this will be a good experiment and learning experience.
I order a snuffy smith bridge and a compensated bridge to try as well as the new head.
I also ordered the drum dial and torque wrench since ive never changed out a head.
ill try to post a sound bite w/ the ren head. any other suggestions on bridges that sound good?

DaveOmega - Posted - 11/19/2009:  12:05:54

quote:

---

Originally posted by banjohead22

any other suggestions on bridges that sound good?

---

Kurt Kemp - Posted - 01/06/2010:  06:29:48

I just installed one of these on my old Gibson. Up to this point the problem I had with this banjo was that even though it sounded good it did not "feel" solid. I did not like the 2nd string tone very much on it either. I decided to just try one of these heads. First thing I noticed was that the note separation was alot better. I was hearing notes that I used to just roll thru without hearing much. Second thing I noticed was that the bridge I was using before did not sound so hot with this head. I went thru all my bridges. The lighter bridges did not sound good at all. The Z-Elite was not good either, but better. The factory floor bridge was pretty good but the bridge that I absolutely hated before, the compensated snuffy smith, brought this thing to life. I can't hardly put the thing down now. It's real solid and vibrates in my hands. I love it. Try it. 17.00 you can't go wrong.

-Kurt

vernob - Posted - 02/11/2010:  12:29:36

S'funny how particular a banjo can be. A certain combination will just set them off. The wrong one will make them a wallhanger.

eMike - Posted - 02/28/2010:  03:09:42

Get a good selectiom of bridges to experriment with. A cheap fix and it can turn a bad set-up into one you really like. I tried a Jos B Rogers, Jr head on my TB-1 conversion tonight with a thinned-down Scorpion and it really came alive. Prior to that I had a Renn on it with the same bridge and it was just OK.

Edited by - eMike on 02/28/2010 03:11:15

frianm - Posted - 02/28/2010:  03:46:36

I came home after a vacation to find my Stelling Whitestar had a blown head. I had a Renaissance in my home and decided to mount it. I was thrilled with the result. I no longer have the banjo but still remember its sweetness with that head. I use them on other instruments and like them. If you do not mind tinkering they are an easy and modestly priced way of changing tone, as well as appearance.

Edited by - frianm on 02/28/2010 03:47:00

Helix - Posted - 02/28/2010:  05:25:26

People in the industry are always trying to meet the customer's needs.

The white heads came along with all kinds of snap to help honkin' bronze. And they work, and it's like artillery, outside gigs on a stage, the need to project in all kinds of different halls.

But now different rims have entered the equation, or re-entered, and the choices are broader now.

I use Ren heads for bluegrass, when it's my turn, I punch through guitar clinics at jams. I feel the Ren lets me play all the styles I use. A fiberskyn is more of a filter, deliberately plays bass.

RG - Posted - 02/28/2010:  10:48:52

I'm not a big fan of Ren heads on open back banjos (which I pretty much play 99% of the time) and use thin calf & goat skin heads on them, but I do have a 1970's era Japanese Taka "masterclone" with a Ren head that I use to play 2 & 3 finger OT banjo and I really like the sound I get with the flathead tone ring...also use a Kershner tailpiece on that particular banjo and a normal generic Grover 3 foot bridge which I sand down to thin it out a bit. I actually like the Ren better than the thin calfskin head I had installed on that banjo...anyway, try it out, heads are relatively cheap, might just be the sound you are looking for...

Edited by - RG on 02/28/2010 10:51:49

Feo - Posted - 02/28/2010:  12:09:10

If I wanted to tone down a banjo I would try things like using Nylgut strings , stuffing , different bridges , looser head tension , etc .... Ive not had luck with a ren head and openback banjo .... the ren head made the banjo way too soft sounding and INCREASED the sustain , not lowered it ....gave the banjo a cheap hollow sound too...only thing worse was a fiberskyn head . Of course, evey banjo is different and every player's tastes is different ....so trying a ren head out doesn't cost much and the sonic damage is easily reversable , lol .

Hedge Hog - Posted - 02/28/2010:  12:09:17

My OME Juniper Bluegrass Banjo has a Ren. head on it. It truly sounds great, I've heard that OME's are very bright, I wouldn't really know though, the head was worn when I got it used so before even playing it the original head was replaced. The Ren. head is about perfect to my ear. I must admit that I play alone at home so there's little to compare it to. One thing for SURE, the banjo looks GREAT with this head on it. The Juniper is a fairly plain banjo with a flat finish and understated but beautifully accomplished inlays, with the stock white head the banjo was plain and a little boring, with the Ren. head it's beautful, at last to my eye and ear.....

Edited by - Hedge Hog on 03/03/2010 08:29:26

dirt.squirrel - Posted - 03/01/2010:  01:24:05

I tend to play a more melodic style clawhammer on my openback and I find the Ren head really has the sound I'm looking for. I've tried frosted and fiberskyn, but I like that sound right in the middle, at least on my current openback.

Emiel - Posted - 03/01/2010:  01:51:58

The Renaissance head won't "tone down" the banjo, nor will it become quieter. It will sound a bit "rounder", hard to describe. I don't think it'll make the banjo plunkier either. It's suited for any kind of banjo that takes a round head...

Edited by - Emiel on 03/01/2010 01:52:25

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 03/02/2010:  08:37:56

I have one on my prewar (no tone ring) style 11. I like it. You can hear me playing a few licks on that banjo at around 3:00 in this video clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch#playne...=UgObQTP0JSI .