Banjo Den - Posted - 02/23/2016:  20:14:38

I'm a new member to Banjo Hangout, which is not good. It seems that I've been sitting down at the computer to explore this site at around 10 pm and suddenly it's 2 am. Unfortunately, I have to get up at 5 am to get to work on time.

I started playing tenor in '69 and studied under a guy in NYC named Dan McCall, a damn fine tenor banjoist and an outstanding music historian. I stopped playing in the late 70's, but picked up a B&D Silver Bell about 15 years 

ago but stopped again soon after I bought it.  I was informed by the seller that the banjo was a B&D Silver Bell # 1, however a tenor banjo player friend claims it's a # 2. How does one tell the difference ? Any clues ?

On another matter- I noticed that the head was cracked. Can anyone tell me what size replacement head I'll need ?

 Any assistance on the aforementioned questions provided will be greatly appreciated. 

Dennis McMahon, Carmel, NY

AKA " Banjo Den"

BJD - Posted - 02/23/2016:  20:54:41

Silver Bell #2 is silver plated, the #1 is nickel plated.  I use an 11-1/16-inch Remo Renaisance Diplomat, medium collar head on mine.  Others might use the 11-inch, but I found it a little tight.  I just got mine back from luthier Josh Tharp with a new plectrum neck.  I'm lovin' it!  

Banjo Den - Posted - 02/23/2016:  21:59:44

Thank you Sir. I'll go out shopping tomorrow, and annoy my wife tomorrow night with my poor playing. It's harder to play now at age  64 than it was at 17, but I wont give up. 

Thanks again for your kindness....

Banjo Den - Posted - 02/23/2016:  22:02:13

BTW, BJD enjoy your 'new' plectrum. B&D's have a great sound and I'm certain yours will sound great too.

Dennis McMahon

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 02/24/2016:  02:28:19

Den - 11" Medium Crown is the correct and best suited size for your banjo.

These days I do personally use only REMO Renaissance head for Silver Bell´s - do however have in mind that this type of head gets a drastic increase in performance when tightened somewhat more than usual.

If wanted I can tell you more about the best possible tightening method/procedure for this type of head.

Polle

turbocoupe2-3 - Posted - 02/24/2016:  06:35:28

Dennis,

Also, an easy way to tell the difference is that a Silver Bell #2 has a carved heel where a #1 doesn't....  Like this: buddysbanjos.com/for-sale/bd-s...-2-tenor/

It will also say Silver Bell 2 on the dowel stick vs. a 1

BTW, I'm in the same boat....started playing (Silver Bell #1 plectrum) again recently after a 30+ year hiatus...and I'll be 59 this year....so I feel your pain ! lol

Edited by - turbocoupe2-3 on 02/24/2016 06:36:49

drinkybanjo - Posted - 02/24/2016:  06:51:22

Polle, I use those heads and would be interested in your tightening feedback.  Please post!

Banjo Den - Posted - 02/24/2016:  19:04:11

Gee, thanks gentlemen. I didn't anticipate so much advice in such a short time.

Getting the information that was supplied to me would have perplexed at least 10 teenagers working in the local music shops, an experience I had once before with another banjo.

Polle, I too am interested in your head tightening technique.

Dan, stick with it this time. Letting another 5 years pass by will only put you further behind- exactly where I am and then it stops being fun. Somehow I don't remember it taking this long to develop callouses.

This makes me wonder why my arteries are getting hard, but not my finger tips ???

Thanks again everyone !

Dennis McMahon

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 02/24/2016:  23:53:26

Guys - I´ve a few days ago installed Renaissance heads on two tenors - a B&D Sultana Silver Bell and a Paramount Style A - I´m now in the progress stabilizing their tensions - normally this takes minimum 3-4 weeks - but with some in-between heat treatments I´ve in the later years managed to bring this down to 1-1½ weeks.

I´ll later today take some pics in my workshop - and afterwards post a description of my method. Do however have in mind that this method and especially the very high tension wanted goes first of all for high-performance 4-string banjos - 5-string players do normally go for a lower tension.

More later

Polle

csacwp - Posted - 02/25/2016:  05:24:01

Polle, historically 5-string players also have gone for a very high tension, and these days we 5-string classic style players do the same, especially with our Silver Bells. Lower tension heads on 5-strings is a modern "old-time" phenomenon.

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 02/25/2016:  11:31:35

quote:

---

Originally posted by csacwp

Polle, historically 5-string players also have gone for a very high tension, and these days we 5-string classic style players do the same, especially with our Silver Bells. Lower tension heads on 5-strings is a modern "old-time" phenomenon.

---

John - I didn´t know - I do often work on and set up banjos for top-notch/professional BG- and especially OTM-players - last week for example a brand new and fantastic Bonefass Mark III - but no one over here seems to be playing the classic 5-string style.

But I´ll keep an eye open for someone to suddenly pop up - I would love learning about the wishes/demands of a player like this - and doing my best fulfilling these.

Guys - due to my severe physical disability I didn´t manage to go to my workshop today - but hopefully I´ll get back within a few days with some illustrated guide lines for my set-up of a Renaissance head.

Polle

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 02/27/2016:  02:37:26

Guys - I´m in the middle of the 1½ week long process tightening/stabilizing two Renaissance heads as mentioned - once finished I´ll post a description of my method and the results.

For now - here are some pics of the heads and the tools as used by me (triangular ruler, Y-wrench, analog Drum Dial and heating lamp) - I´ll tell about alternative tools as well:

Polle

Omeboy - Posted - 03/07/2016:  18:43:45

Dennis,

Dan McCall was one of my early banjo heroes. His Red Onion album was absolutely off the scale and will always be one of my all time favorites.  What a brilliant tenor banjoist!!!  What was it like to be one of his students?  As a kid (who grew up in Indiana) I would have given anything to have had a great banjo teacher, let alone a authentic genius like Dan.  If he's still with us,I hope he's doing well.  And if you still might be in touch with Dan, please give him my warm regards............................Omeboy

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 03/11/2016:  03:23:27

quote:

---

Originally posted by Polle Flaunoe

Guys - I´m in the middle of the 1½ week long process tightening/stabilizing two Renaissance heads as mentioned - once finished I´ll post a description of my method and the results.

For now - here are some pics of the heads and the tools as used by me (triangular ruler, Y-wrench, analog Drum Dial and heating lamp) - I´ll tell about alternative tools as well:

 

---

Guys - sorry for the delay - both banjos shown are now in the hands of their new owners - and during their set-ups I changed/refined my own head tightening method/technique somewhat - I´m now down to a perfect stabilization of an extremely high tension for a Renaissance head - mind you over only one week.

Early next week I´ll receive yet another Sultana SB - purchased from Germany - a Ren head for it is on its way from UK - by late next week I´ll start rebuilding and setting up this banjo. I´ll then shoot a lot of pics during my installment and tightening of the head - and explain my refined method/technique in details. Do however already be prepared - the use of a Drum Dial will be a must for this - plus I´m going to use metric measures only. LOL!

More later

Polle

mipake - Posted - 03/11/2016:  05:03:32

Polle
I am looking forward to your posts. I have a Sultana which I would like to put a Renn head on. what size head did you order for the one you are working on?
Mike

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 03/11/2016:  09:47:49

quote:

---

Originally posted by mipake

Polle

I am looking forward to your posts. I have a Sultana which I would like to put a Renn head on. what size head did you order for the one you are working on?

---

Mike - do always use an 11" Medium Crown for Silver Bell´s.

Within 1½-2 weeks I´ll put up a new thread about the ultimate set-up method/technique for Renaissance heads on high-performance 4-stringers and possibly also classical 5-stringers as mentioned by John Cohen above.

At the same time I´ll - if possible at all - also demonstrate and tell about my usual rebuilds of vintage banjos like for example Silver Bell´s - with regards to an ultimate modern performance and playability.

However - do have in mind that I´m totally disabled due to severe back problems - changes of plans may occur.

Polle

mipake - Posted - 03/11/2016:  11:10:32

Polle
thanks and I hope your back gets better soon.
Mike

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 03/16/2016:  04:36:38

Guys,

Just arrived - the almost "new" 1930 Sultana tenor from Germany - I´m now waiting for the new head from UK to arrive. Do have a look at her face - 86 years old - and not one wrinkle - LOL!

I´m extremely busy (considering my severe disability) these days - I´m in the progress selling my large mansion - my/our home for exactly 30 years - but hopefully I´ll start rebuilding and setting up this fantastic banjo early next week. It´s my plan to put up some web sites - one regarding my usual installment etc. of a Renaissance head on a high-performance 4-string banjo - and one regarding my usual rebuild of a vintage or newer 4-stringer - with regards first of all to a modern and unsurpassed performance and playability.

More later

Polle

Edited by - Polle Flaunoe on 03/16/2016 04:37:26

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 03/16/2016:  06:25:52

PS!

Two Ren. heads plus for safety a set of replica hooks have just now arrived - if possible I´ll start my works tomorrow.

banjotrader - Posted - 03/25/2016:  11:18:45

Re: ultimate modern high performance and playability set-up... A lot of buzz words there!! Donald Trump really does have the best words...

Or, you could just drum dial it to 94-95, and use Steve Davis' method...  

hangoutstorage.com/banjohangou...72013.pdf

banjohangout.org/archive/220483



This lack of follow through is a recurring theme it seems...



 

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 03/25/2016:  13:39:40

Guys,

The Renaissance head was installed only 7 days ago - and yet the high tension has already stabilized 100% - via the tightening sequence and in-between heat treatments developed by me. And mind you - the high tension will stay this way - no adjustments will be needed for years to come. A fact not shared/experienced by others - regarding Renaissance heads.

I´ve shot a lot of pictures during the process plus made plenty of notes - so a web site regarding this matter can easily be set up.

The same goes for the neck elevation - also this has been performed and documented - the banjo will be assembled and set up tomorrow - inclusive of a photo documentation - after the Easter days it´s ready for a shipment or pick-up.

2½ weeks ago I shipped a similar Sultana SB to England - after only two weeks in my workshop - the example in question will most likely stay here in DK. A client of mine has put in a reservation for it.

The two web sites as mentioned will shortly be created and up-loaded - I´ll however not publish them in general. The posting above clearly shows why.

Sorry for the change of plans

Polle