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tlowe311 - Posted - 04/22/2016: 07:28:36
I cannot found anything online for this Banjo Head. As you can see in the image I uploaded this banjo head has Bearded Hillbilly holding a banjo and says it from Fifth String (Made in the USA). I recently purchased a 83 Gold Star G12W Archtop Blonde Maple SN-830006 and it came with what looks to be pretty new banjo head I have never heard of. I normally use 5-Star heads on all my Gold Star banjos and would like to know more about this banjo head from Fifth String.
Any help would be great.
Thanks,
Travis
deestexas - Posted - 04/22/2016: 08:02:05
That icon was used by the Fifth String Music Store in Berkeley, CA. It closed in 2005.
Old Hickory - Posted - 04/22/2016: 08:33:15
Look at the flesh hoop. If it's a U-shaped metal channel filled with epoxy, then it was made by Remo. If, instead, there's a metal bar inside the outer metal channel held in place by the top of the channel being bent over it, then it was made by Ludwig -- same maker as the Five-Star.
A picture at this Stew-Mac page shows the difference.
tlowe311 - Posted - 04/22/2016: 10:45:32
Thanks Everyone for the information on this head. I wanted to make sure it was worthy to be mounted on my vintage Gold Star Archtop. I just got the banjo yesterday, so I have all weekend to finally get acquainted with it.
Travis
banjonz - Posted - 04/22/2016: 13:20:51
I suspect that the image is merely a stamp put on to heads sold by that company. I knew of them back in the 90's. I didn't know they had closed.
mikehalloran - Posted - 04/22/2016: 18:41:54
The San Francisco store closed in the 1990s; Berkeley closed in 2013. The Sacramento location is under different ownership and still open.
thefifthstring.com
Old Hickory - Posted - 04/22/2016: 20:22:35
It needs to be medium or low crown to work with an arch top.
If you've determined it's a Ludwig head, then it's medium and will work.
If it's a Remo, it could be anything. Go back to the Stew-Mac link I posted above to see an illustration that shows you the crown heights of low, medium and high crown heads.
tlowe311 - Posted - 04/25/2016: 08:32:57
Thanks Old Hickory. I appears to be a ludwig medium crown, looking at channel and comparing to your stew mac links you sent me.
I changed out the strings and bridge this weekend and tighted up the head a bit, Its sounds awesome. Thank GOD for old vintage Gold Star Banjos, they never stop impressing me.
Thanks again for everyones input.
Travis
