Bernie P. - Posted - 03/11/2008:  14:35:26

Just wondering what if any changes you have made to your banjo's.So far all I've done is add an armrest and spikes.Yesterday I received some brass fingerpicks along with some other goodies.I have to say I much prefer the sound of these over steel.While I'm happy with how it sounds as is I am considering trying a different bridge and a set of American Made cryo strings.I have the basic open back version but I play mostly Scruggs style.I'd be very interested to hear what others have tried and how the changes worked out compared to the stock parts.

Woolpersteve - Posted - 03/11/2008:  14:39:23

A friend/luthier changed the nut to MOP and replaced the bridge .
But my changes were to make it more bluegrassy -worked. I think you have to have an arm rest .Too much sound is lost laying your hand on head.
Steve

"The Dude abides"

banjo1930 - Posted - 03/11/2008:  14:41:07

I pulled the frets out and strung it up with nylon strings. now I have a fretless banjo!

Edited by - banjo1930 on 03/11/2008 16:13:51

bosborne - Posted - 03/11/2008:  21:25:00

Bernie, I switched the bridge for a Bart Veerman teak bridge, 1/2" high, as I wanted a lower action. I like the change in sound, it's a bit less woody and a bit sharper now. Not a change like night and day, but I do prefer its sound to the initial sound.

Woolpersteve - Posted - 03/11/2008:  21:58:02

I pulled the finger nails out ...wait this is banjo hang out ,not CIA Hang Out...never mind.
Steve

"The Dude abides"

dixie kiwi - Posted - 03/11/2008:  22:22:14

I am quite smitten with my Goodtimes- enjoy the low action and light weight and great wood sound (which i will keep). i just got hold of a Renaissance head, no-knot and moon bridge for mine, as well as an older Huber strap for my Goodtimes openback upgrade. I still need a part for the tailpiece mod. Eventually, I plan to change the gumby peghead shape (Dremel into a flyswatter) and find some cheap planetaries to replace the guitar tuners.

brudford - Posted - 03/13/2008:  08:25:43

http://community.webshots.com/user/chloem61

Bernie at the above link you can see all the modifications I made to mine.

Bernie P. - Posted - 03/13/2008:  11:25:19

Thanks for the repies folks.I'm surprised there are so few considering there's so many reviews here on these.

BrianBanjos - Posted - 03/13/2008:  12:26:02

I've put a Snuffy Smith 1/2" bridge on my Goodtime II. I like GHS lights on this banjo. Even though I bought a Deluxe, I still play the GT II a lot.

Happy Pickin'
Brian Daniels

pluckyfingers - Posted - 03/18/2008:  01:31:21

I wanted more volume so I tried the Bart Veerman Mystery wood bridge 5/8" inch worked well added more crispness to an already bright sound.

TN_Picker - Posted - 03/18/2008:  06:03:10

I love this little banjo, here's what I did to mine.

http://www.savethebanjos.com/Brian%...%20index.htm

“Oh! Come and see the violence inherent in the system! Help, help! I'm being repressed!”

Banjo Rob - Posted - 03/19/2008:  16:47:38

I agree, the Goodtime is a great little banjo. I started out with some simple modifications...scooping the neck (I play clawhammer), putting a Fiberskyn head on it and replacing that tailpiece with a simple No-Knot. I also reshaped and sanded the head to a modified "paddle" shape. After a while, I ripped out the first 5 frets and cut a piece of brass to fit the fingerboard. Then I just strung it up with heavy gauge strings (11,13,17,26,11) for a nice fat sound. I'm very pleased with it, though I'll probably have to reglue the brass sometime soon. I was lazy with it.

If anybody's curious, I've got pics on my BHO page. Turnin' a Goodtime into a Great time!!!

Rob



"Our music is part of a different system. The rules of classical music don't apply."

- R.D. Lunceford