crazybilly - Posted - 07/21/2015:  22:55:43

A while ago, I lucked into a 30s era Vega Little Wonder tenor for a song. I don't play tenor, so I was thinking about buying a schmanzy conversion neck.

Then, I remembered the  60s era Silvertone longneck (the one with the bakelite pot) in a pawn shop a few months ago--it's fun to play, but the lack of a tone ring and glorified plastic pot don't do it any favors.

After removing a few strings and tailpieces, I found that the Silvertone neck ALMOST fits the Vega pot, but the fingerboard sticks out just a bit too far, maybe 1/8" or so. To get the heel to firmly contact the pot, I'm going to need to trim back the fingerboard and top of the heel.

I like the idea of this being a reversible process--for all I know, to really make this work, I'm going to have to reset the dowel to get the neck angle right, which is probably more than I want to deal with. But it seems a shame to let 1/8" of wood stop me from such a fun experiment. 

Thoughts? If I make this cut, the Silvertone neck won't ever look perfectly flush with the original pot ever again. On the other hand, that thing could stand to have a shim in it to bring the action down anyway...

xnavyguy - Posted - 07/22/2015:  03:38:11

If I'm understanding you're question right, my approach would be to add 'removable' shim material to the neck heel so that the fret board didn't contact the rim.  Then, once you get the proper neck angle established, you could probably cobble something together to secure the tailpiece end of the dowel so that you wouldn't have to modify the Vega rim at all.

My leaning, if I had the Silvertone with the Bakelite rim, that would be the one I would set up and play.  I've only had one in my hands that was donated to the Wounded Warrior project and I hated to see it go after I set it up for them.  It was an awesome banjo, much better than others would want you to believe.  I'm attaching a recording made with that banjo.  No tricks, no special audio processing or effects....just a raw recording made in my living room.

Blackberry Blossom Played on a Harmony Reso-Tone Bakelite Banjo

OldPappy - Posted - 07/22/2015:  05:29:40

I agree that those old Harmony banjos can be setup to sound really good. Lee Hammons played one.

They aren't loud, but they can have a very nice tone. I am guessing "Silvertone" was probably just the Sears and Roebucks name for the same banjos. 

Buy one of those Saga necks sold on Ebay for about $60 to go on the old Vega pot, and you will have two banjos to play.

Grey Dog - Posted - 07/22/2015:  05:48:38

Best decision I ever made: Just play 'em, and let the masters tinker with them if (and only if) they are unplayable and need tinkering. Sure, I'll loosen/tighten the head with the season and change strings, but nothing major.

OldPappy - Posted - 07/22/2015:  06:13:11

Good for you, but the Vega is a tenor, and he plays a 5 string. So, it requires a different neck to be playable.

crazybilly - Posted - 07/22/2015:  06:19:36

Hmm..needn't think about shimming the lower heel, rather than carving the top.

I'll keep fiddling with it, without going too bonkers, see if I can make something work. In any case, half the fun is jacking with it.

Grey Dog - Posted - 07/22/2015:  06:19:50

Right, but I figured the title "Talk me out of banjo surgery" was an indication of should he do it, or have someone else do it...? Unclear. What is there to be talked out of other than that? Regardless, I hope I contributed to 3% of the questionable topic.   

dpgetman - Posted - 07/22/2015:  07:10:08

Clancy Mullins made a rough neck for me (fret board with frets installed, head stock shaped, heel cut to spec, but in need of final overall shaping and finishing) for relatively cheap.  I've also picked up a few 'shop second' necks around the hangout and the makers were happy to do a heel cut on for me (I don't have a band saw yet to make them myself).  You seem inclined to do a bit of the work yourself as well, I might make a post asking for a similar item.  I second the suggestion of tightening up that Silvertone and winding up with two good banjos, rather than gutting that Silvertone and winding up with one and some parts.

David

crazybilly - Posted - 07/22/2015:  09:00:01

That's not a horrible idea--having two good banjos sounds like a decent plan. Although, I was probably going to get a ukulele neck of some sort to put on the bakelite pot and end up w/ the banjo uke I've been wanting. Doing mediocre luthery work is one of life's great pleasures, right?

Mostly, I knew I needed to be talked down from the ledge--sitting on my couch looking at things last night, well...if it hadn't been 1 am, I probably would have started cutting stuff!!

mike gregory - Posted - 07/22/2015:  09:15:23

quote:

---

Originally posted by crazybilly

 

That's not a horrible idea--having two good banjos sounds like a decent plan. Although, I was probably going to get a ukulele neck of some sort to put on the bakelite pot and end up w/ the banjo uke I've been wanting. Doing mediocre luthery work is one of life's great pleasures, right?



Mostly, I knew I needed to be talked down from the ledge--sitting on my couch looking at things last night, well...if it hadn't been 1 am, I probably would have started cutting stuff!!

---

Please let your parents know I am filing to adopt you.

-Mike "Gepetto" Gregory-

Gepetto makes a Squared Eel

crazybilly - Posted - 07/22/2015:  09:20:06

Hahaha. Done!

crazybilly - Posted - 07/22/2015:  13:08:20

Btw, xnavyguy, that clip of your bakelite banjo sounded great. Any advice on set up tips? The big problem I've been having is overall volume--it's just a quiet instrument (due to the lack of a tone ring,i suppose)

GrandPa Corn - Posted - 07/22/2015:  17:52:40

thx I have been kickin around the idea of  puttin a different neck on my banjo no band saw so I was lookin for a cheap unfinished neck to play with cornier an Kelloggs Cornville USA

giweb - Posted - 07/22/2015:  18:08:27

Hate to see you part out the long neck! Those Harmony / Silvertone banjos respond more than most to the usual banjo tweaks. I think the originals delivered with hide skins . . . much less volume than plastic heads! My Reso-Tones like medium strings, a tight head and also respond to different bridges. There are also NOS resonators available on eBay but you will need to buy or fabricate the center mounting hardware. As mentioned before, there are many more suitable necks available for your conversion. If it is plated silver or gold, watch out for flaking plating! Also, individual covered tuners on long necks lack lube and wear out. See past postings, especially by Mike Halloran. BTW xnavyguys sound clip reminds me of my surprise at the sound of a properly set up Reso-Tone. There is an archived account of Pete Seeger approving of the sound and playability.
One woman . . . many banjos!
giweb