CUDavidO - Posted - 11/18/2009:  12:22:56

Thanks in advance for all your thoughts.

I recently broke down my Gibson Blackjack to have some of the parts re-plated (it looks fantastic btw, thank you Ron Satterfield at Nashville Plating) and put it all back together again. I had it professionally set up and it now doesn't have the sustain or clarity up the neck that my ESS has.

Question is, how much can a set up change the tone, sustain and clarity?

Please understand, I don't want the BJ to sound like my ESS, but I do want it to perform as well as the ESS. Is that something a different set up can do? Loosen the head? Adjust the tailpiece? Different bridge?

What do you guys think?

Prof - Posted - 11/18/2009:  12:45:04

My understanding is that setup is (almost) everything.

steve davis - Posted - 11/18/2009:  12:58:07

Now that it's been taken apart and put back together it will need some
time to get its tone right.
If it doesn't have good clarity I would suspect a head that is too loose,
A loose head doesn't cut well with other instruments.

Edited by - steve davis on 11/18/2009 13:00:42

Lonesome Will - Posted - 11/18/2009:  13:01:05

I agree with Steve. Play it a lot and then have it set up properly. I would like to see it. How about posting some pics?

rjanecek - Posted - 11/18/2009:  13:04:37

its everything

steve davis - Posted - 11/18/2009:  13:08:12

That's a fairly young banjo to need replating,Was the plating flaking off or something?

Stutts - Posted - 11/18/2009:  13:23:38

For a newish $5k banjo that needed some parts replated, I would have been giving Gibson a call!

snakeherd - Posted - 11/18/2009:  13:34:27

David has already been through the 'why replate' thing on an earlier thread that he started. I expect that now he's had it done by Ron that it's better than original.

For setup, I'd check the head tension first. You probably know not to tighten your co-rods much more than finger tight, right? Otherwise you pull your rim out of round.

Edited by - snakeherd on 11/18/2009 13:36:40

CUDavidO - Posted - 11/18/2009:  13:36:23

Hi All:

The BJ was second hand (one of the earlier models) and had seen many, many miles of travel and a fair amount of beer and sweat. I tried to get her back to original and Nashville Plating did a good job of that.

I spent some money for a proper set up, but maybe some additional adjustments need to be made. The notes up the neck lack clarity and sustain. Trouble is, I compare the BJ to my ESS and right now the ESS sounds soo much better to my ear.

steve davis - Posted - 11/18/2009:  16:55:45

What brand of head and bridge is on the Crowe,David?

banjer5 - Posted - 11/18/2009:  19:50:50

Your bridge and/or head + tension can have a major effect on sound. I would suggest tightening the head a bit then trying it. When it starts sounding better then tighten only slightly 1/8 of a turn or so. If that isn't successful try a different bridge and keep tinkering with it until you are satisfied. In case you can't find a suitable combination try to find a good setup artist. FWIW some banjos just sound better than others for no good reason.

bowfinger - Posted - 11/18/2009:  20:20:37

I guess you have not made it clear if it sounded as good or better than the ESS before you took it apart.

MYLO - Posted - 11/19/2009:  01:04:28

A good setup is very important. It should improve the tone a great deal.

Edited by - MYLO on 11/19/2009 01:05:52

Forrest - Posted - 11/19/2009:  06:34:29

I agree with everyone that said that setup is everything. The difference between an average sounding and great sounding banjo may be as simple as the correct head tension, bridge or tailpiece adjustment or as complex as the fit of the tone ring to rim or neck heel to pot. The good thing is that the simple things really are easy to try yourself and don't require a PhD in banjo setup to achieve.

steve davis - Posted - 11/19/2009:  06:42:40

Was the banjo set up by a true banjo person or a guitar expert.

Kenneth Logsdon - Posted - 11/19/2009:  09:12:34

Gotta sneaking idea that something is too tight.. when your speaking of loosing up the neck, generally is a sign of a tight settup, which you may not care for... Give it some time, just in case..

CUDavidO - Posted - 11/19/2009:  15:21:43

Hi Everybody:

Thanks for the feedback. Here are answers to some of your questions.

Yes, the BJ was set up by a true banjo person with 35 years in the business.

Yes, the BJ did sound as good as the ESS before the project. It was different, but good. It had a woody, dry sound in comparison to the ESS.

It's a Remo head and a Snuffy Smith bridge.

I'll try to get some pictures posted soon.

Thanks!

steve davis - Posted - 11/19/2009:  15:54:50

I think there will be a settling in period as with a brand new banjo.
Also,because of the replating, there is a snugger fit of the ring to the rim which may change the tone.A refit of the rim may help if overly tight.