budbennett - Posted - 10/09/2009:  06:08:19

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i have a question for someone here who knows how to set up an old tenor banjo. anyone here willing to be emailed about that?

partyofone - Posted - 10/09/2009:  06:38:19

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I can't help, but I'd love to hear the responses. I need to set-up an old tenor too.

If we weren't all crazy, we'd all go insane. -Jimmy Buffett

budbennett - Posted - 10/09/2009:  07:10:31

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well i'll just ask here then.

i have an old 30s made tenor and the action is too high for comfort or accuracy (at times). i have a shim between the neck and rim and that helped the action a little but it's still pretty darn high. will these old necks take a big shim? i'm really kind of scared to put more of a shim in because i'm afraid the dowel or the heel will break. i was wondering if it was any remote sort of good idea to drill a different hole in the rim closer to the head for the screw that holds the dowel in place (to change the neck angle).

am i totally offbase or does anyone have a different idea for me?

budbennett - Posted - 10/09/2009:  07:13:24

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NYCJazz - Posted - 10/09/2009:  07:33:31

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What is the height of your bridge?

I use a 1/2" on my Vega and a 17/32" on my Silver Bell.

Four string instruments don't require the higher bridges usually found on a BG setup.

Sure beats a dowel stick reset!

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Edited by - NYCJazz on 10/09/2009 07:42:11

budbennett - Posted - 10/09/2009:  07:49:32

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it's a 5/8 Farquhar. i guess i'll try a 1/2 inch? not too much difference but i guess it might help.

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 10/09/2009:  08:45:17

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Bud,

Are you talking about the banjo shown in one of your postings. A banjo with maybe 2 dowel sticks - a fixed one attached to/at the rim underside and one prolonging the neck?

I´ve seen many strange banjos in my time - but never a banjo like this.

The neck heel has no rim contact at the bottom - so forget about neck/rim shimming. This makes no sense.

Are you sure, that this is a 30s banjo - somehow it looks more like an early asian postwar banjo with a plastic moulded rim.

Please tell/show us more about this banjo - I/we´ll then try helping you with some advices.

Kindly regards

Polle

budbennett - Posted - 10/09/2009:  10:18:19

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hi polle-
i'm pretty sure it's a 30s tenor, not completely though. i'm almost sure it was made by slingerland or at least in the same factory as theirs. it's got one dowel in it but the flange is one big piece of metal that goes between the rim and the resonator like in that picture. it's got the old presto tailpiece, the grover pat. tuners that look to me to be from the 30s.

here's a few more photos.

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Edited by - budbennett on 10/09/2009 10:19:04

NYCJazz - Posted - 10/09/2009:  11:00:08

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quote:

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Originally posted by budbennett

it's a 5/8 Farquhar. i guess i'll try a 1/2 inch? not too much difference but i guess it might help.

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It's a cheap way to go before a reset.

I have a whole collection of Farquhar bridges.

Good luck!

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Edited by - NYCJazz on 10/09/2009 11:02:25

budbennett - Posted - 10/09/2009:  11:08:31

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i got mine on your recommendation some time back. it's a nice sound, clearer and a little more crisp, i like it.

budbennett - Posted - 10/09/2009:  11:24:56

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polle-
i found a link to an example of the slingerland flange i have (this is on a 5 string and mine is a tenor but the rim, dowel and flange are the same. actually everything is the same pretty much of that banjo and my tenor):

finemusicalinstruments.com/item189093.ctlg

from that and the tailpiece and tuners i think mine is 30s maybe not though, i'm certainly no expert.

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Edited by - budbennett on 10/09/2009 11:25:57

rudykizuty - Posted - 10/09/2009:  16:12:02

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quote:

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Originally posted by budbennett

it's a 5/8 Farquhar. i guess i'll try a 1/2 inch? not too much difference but i guess it might help.

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I think there's a huge difference. But I've been called picky all my life too!!!

By the way, what is that inscribed in the peghead?

Anthony Herner
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You have to practice even to be lousy -- Jack Benny

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Edited by - rudykizuty on 10/10/2009 06:37:33

banjobilly32 - Posted - 10/09/2009:  17:02:46

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I wouldn't be afraid to move the tail end of the dowel stick maybe 1/4" to 1/2" toward the stretcher band, and reattaching. I've seen that trick used on some old open back 5-strings with good results. Tenors sure play easier with correct action.
The little hole you make shouldn't detract from the value of the instrument. I have a couple of those Slingerlands, and once set up they play real nice.

budbennett - Posted - 10/09/2009:  17:34:28

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anthony- it says Florence on the peghead.

i looked in all of my cases and found a really old 1/2 inch tenor bridge in one of them and put it on. whaddya know, it did make a difference. i will keep that on there for a while and see how that does for me. it's still a little high but definitely better.