schwimbo - Posted - 06/05/2008:  12:39:04

The tension hoops have always been brass. Apparently, there are 2 different statements coming from Saga, but I just called them to check on whose statement is correct (Richard Keldsen's or David Gartland's). It would be nice to have 2 of the main "players" at Saga agree on the information. I'm sure the answer will come out pretty soon. It would be great (as far as I'm concerned) if the GF85 flange was made of brass (since it is is stronger), though many people feel that the sustain produced using a brass flange is not in keeping with the "prewar" Gibson type sound). Many banjo makers are using a pot metal flange to keep things in accordance with prewar Gibson specs. Some makers have even gone to using a pot metal tension hoop because some prewar Gibsons used this instead of brass (the Kenny Ingram model Williams banjo specifically uses a pot metal tension hoop for this reason - and because that is what Kenny wanted).

BlueBanjo28 - Posted - 06/06/2008:  04:49:57

Well both flanges do sound great. I have found that different parts have to be matched to make a good sound. The Hatfield tone ring sounds better with a pot-metal flange while the Gold Star tone ring sounds better with a brass flange.

snakeherd - Posted - 06/06/2008:  09:50:40

So you really won't believe that the flange is pot metal? You're a determined man.

Scott

schwimbo - Posted - 06/06/2008:  14:18:12

I just heard from Saga that David Gartland thought that the question about the flange composition was a question about the tone ring composition (of the GF85). He has (according to Saga) emailed BlueBanjo28 to let him know that the flange is pot metal (this statement now is in agreement with Richard Keldsen's statement). I actually might have wished for the flange to be brass (like in the early 1980s), but at least the "definitive" answer is out now.

BlueBanjo28 - Posted - 06/06/2008:  14:48:55

Yes, Mr. Gartland did e-mail me and let me know that the flange is pot-metal on the new Gold Stars. That is good to hear.
I still think mine is brass or bronze. The reason is, it was bent up about a half inch when I got it new. I took it apart and found that there was no ledge cut on the rim for the flange. I put the flange between two boards and flattened it back out. I think a pot-metal flange would crack. I filed out the inside of the flange to make it less tight and it has a gold color. Also, my tension hoop is brass.
Anyway, we found out that the new flanges are or should be a zinc alloy or pot-metal.

schwimbo - Posted - 06/06/2008:  16:09:39

It does sound like your flange is brass - from the color of the metal underneath the plating. I think that there is copper plating underneath the nickel, so to really know, you would have had to file enough away to get through both layers of plating. I also agree about the tendency for pot metal to crack if bent, so that fact also makes it sound like yours is brass. It sounds like you have a non-typical Goldstar. It would be interesting to know how it wound up with those parts, and also with the problem with the rim that it has. You might ask your dealer, or David Gartland, how your banjo came to be as it is. Maybe they would also take care of the repairs needed (especially if your banjo was sold to you as new with warranty and it turned out to have some defects and non standard parts installed).

Goldstar tension hoops should be made of brass, as yours is.

BlueBanjo28 - Posted - 06/06/2008:  18:13:31

I have it fixed now so that it will play and it sounds really good. If I have older parts it may well be worth keeping.
I did file enough away to get through both layers of plating.
I don't think it would do any good to ask that guy anything else. He seems as if he doesn't know much of anything about his
banjos. Some lower level person may have switched parts anyway. There is no way he could track everything.
When someone buys a good cheap banjo, they have to take it all apart and reasemble it to make sure it is setup right. A beginner should definitely get someone to set it up.
This has been interesting.