J-Walk - Posted - 07/24/2013:  19:28:54

Lesson learned: Trying to install an 11" head on a banjo that has a 10 15/16" rim seems like it will work. Until it doesn't.

I was trying to replace the skin head on my Bonefass banjo with a Renaissance head, in anticipation of taking it to from the dry desert to the Pacific Northwest. 

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 07/24/2013:  21:05:57

J-Walk:

If you're headed up this way anytime soon don't worry...
we're having dry warm ('80's) weather presently and probably will have
for another month or so. No humidity.

Also, I've had skins on my banjos for years up here with no problem.
I believe if you go to the Brooks Banjos website (Luthier Brooks Masten)
he has some advice on installing skin heads so they are trouble-free up
here.

J-Walk - Posted - 07/24/2013:  21:24:21

Actually, Brooks gave me the skin head that's currently on this banjo. It's been trouble-free for about two years, and I'm pretty sure it will be fine.  I'm headed to the Centralia Campout, and I'd hate to have a banjo mishap and spoil all the fun.

I've had two different skin heads on this Bonefass, and they sound very different, and I've always been curious to hear how this banjo would sound with a non-skin head.  I ordered a Fiberskin from Elderly and will have plenty of time to try it out -- and revert to the skin if I'm not happy with. 

BDCA - Posted - 07/25/2013:  08:37:41

I worked on an Orpheum that had a "professional" setup at Sandy's in Cambridge, MA. They installed an 11" on a 11 2/16 rim with predictable results and charged the owner over $100 for the privilege.

Cya!

Bob

Edited by - BDCA on 07/25/2013 08:38:17

R. Blakeslee Gilpin - Posted - 07/25/2013:  10:01:14

J-Walk - since I sold you that banjo, I can relay the advice that I received from Johannes when I had the same desire...I ended up using the info to perform the same task on a 10 15/16 Dobson instead (but also with an 11" Renaissance). Remove the metal hoop - something that can be a bit painstaking but often goes pretty smoothly. Once this is off, the head will go on easily. Johannes said that if you switch from skin to synthetic you should do this regardless of whether you actually have the correct size head...

J-Walk - Posted - 07/25/2013:  13:01:41

Blake, I don't understand. Are you referring to the metal hoop on the plastic head? If so, I don't understand how it could even be mounted. I think I'm misunderstanding something!

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 07/25/2013:  14:12:22

Isn't this called a Bris?

R. Blakeslee Gilpin - Posted - 07/26/2013:  11:20:30

Woodchuck! Touché!

j-walk - I am referring to the square metal hoop on any plastic head - like the metal rod on a skin head, it's used to mount the plastic head (with glue) after that it serves no purpose apparently. You need needle nose pliers to remove it, being careful not to rip the plastic if course. Johannes explained (and I've observed in person) that the hooks on many vintage instruments cannot clear that metal hoop otherwise.

J-Walk - Posted - 07/26/2013:  16:36:46

I'm still missing something. If you remove that metal hoop, there is nothing for the tension hoop to work with. Right?

But it's a moot point. My new head from Elderly should arrive on Monday or Tuesday.

R. Blakeslee Gilpin - Posted - 07/26/2013:  17:30:01

J-Walk - I've done it on an actual Dobson - the plastic lip exists without the metal. The metal is too bulky (regardless of the headsize) for the hooks to work as they're supposed to on some banjos. Johannes said you should always remove it...

J-Walk - Posted - 07/26/2013:  20:42:24

the plastic lip exists without the metal

Ah! That's what did it for me. I'll  try it next time. Sorry for being so obtuse.