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Bluegrass-Gibbs - Posted - 12/04/2010: 11:23:47
Very very happy with my goodtime basic open back ( no tonering option) but would like to maybe think about ways I could improve it - would a different bridge make much effect? also, I'm guessing that a new nut to replace the plastic one would help too? ( plastic seems a little basic - would bone or macarta be better? ) so please excuse the title of this thread and lend me your thoughts - how have you improved your goodtime banjo? - I'm a little reluctant to change much, if I changed the head would it upset the action at all? and do different plastic heads give much difference in tone? oh and what about the tailpiece - whats the difference between a no-knot and the goodtime tailpiece?
thanks for your ideas and thoughts
Becca
Edited by - Bluegrass-Gibbs on 12/04/2010 11:25:32
Chadbanjo - Posted - 12/04/2010: 12:19:53
I'm interested in a few simple upgrades myself. Primarily the bridge. I'm working on my drop thumb and i think a wider string spacing would help. I didn't know the nut was plastic, so perhaps a new nut would improve tone? Any suggestions? Anyone sell nuts and bridges for the goodtime already notched out?
Carving a scoop would be nice to, think i;m gona try that one of these days.
Guy Donis - Posted - 12/04/2010: 12:29:36
I've changed the original goodtime bridge for a Stelling bridge on a Goodtime I've sold to a student, it really improved the sound (power- notes definition)
myspace.com/guydonis
hektic - Posted - 12/04/2010: 13:40:23
I bought my goodtime special used and it already had the deering signature bridge on it
deeringbanjos.com/greg-deering...re-bridge
It really improves tone and volume. I bought a grover compensated bridge not too long ago just to see the difference and the grover was utter garbage compared to the signature bridge.
Its hard to justify spending 45$ for a bridge though. Lately i've been thinking of experimenting with other high quality bridges but i dont really know what to go for.
davehead - Posted - 12/04/2010: 14:03:37
I replaced the guitar tuners with some planetary tuners, renaissance head, no-knot tail piece, Bart clawhammer bridge (5 string 1/16 higher), and OME light strings. I like everything except it sounds kind of dead on the first string around fret 7 and higher...
Some photos on my Hangout page...
Dave
xomcat - Posted - 12/04/2010: 14:17:00
quote:
I replaced the guitar tuners with some planetary tuners
I've been wondering about that. I have a Gumby head and would like to use the same holes.
Weird Snake Joe - Posted - 12/04/2010: 14:41:09
I altered my open back a bit in the time I've had mine. I have an extremely tight fiberskyn head on it. I like it. I have a Sampson V-style 5/8 maple bridge on it...I'm not so crazy about the combo, but the sound is strong. You could sink a mint hunting for bridges. It's a bit of a snipe hunt when you rely on that one component to dramatically enhance and/or alter the tone in of itself...even a bridge you don't find good to you presently may redeem itself as the head ages or strings wear. Bridges are by no means a placebo, but where it concerns the Goodtime, a string change, a neck adjustment, and raising or lowering the tailpiece may be just as effective.
I don't recall reading any negative feedback from anyone who swapped out the nut for something else like bone or fwi. There's supposed to be a modest improvement in clarity.
A simple hoop draws out some added volume, and highlights some sustain. Can't say it makes the Goodtime "better," but it does make it more adaptable for performance. Add the resonator, and it picks up even more (though I prefer the resonator off). Still has nothing on the Special's ring.
The thing's a keeper no matter what I do to it.
XXXris - Posted - 12/04/2010: 14:43:23
you could also try "zeppifying" it (which i think is secret code for renaissance head + no-knot + moon bridge)
zeppmusic.com/deering.htm
Bluegrass-Gibbs - Posted - 12/04/2010: 15:16:48
thanks everyone . . . does anyone know if the basic goodtime comes with a basic deering bridge? The bridge on my deering does have a "goodtime" stamp on it - so is this a lower end bridge to the deering bridge that costs around $25?
hang on - I can answer that question myself:
deeringbanjos.com/bridges
I guess the jump in $20 HAS to make a difference!?
xomcat - Posted - 12/04/2010: 16:08:46
The most significant upgrade to my GT Special is, I had some side fret markers put on. It helps me a lot.
timmo_1949 - Posted - 12/04/2010: 16:08:59
I haven't been wild about the stock bridge. I like the Sosobee bridges and lots of people have liked Moon ones, too.
To replace the "sidewinder" tuners with planetary, you must drill larger holes (from 1/4" to 3/8"). If you reshape the peghead, you will most likely want to plug the old holes and drill new ones elsewhere.
Tim Smith
savethebanjos.com (several rebuilt GT there)
1four5 - Posted - 12/04/2010: 17:28:28
The nut is not plastic, it's HDPE, which has the bonus of being self lubricating, I actually prefer it over bone. I've done lots and lots of experimenting, and mods to my Goodtime. The biggest difference by far has been fresh strings and finding the proper head tension. Find the sweet spot and your Goodtime will sing like crazy. I've tried four different heads and more bridges than I can count. The original head is back on and is my favorite. I also recently put 5-star planitaries on mine (simply enlarged the existing holes) and it really slims down the appearance of the gumby head. I also added side dots by making shallow circles with a small drill bit, and filling each with a drop of black paint. Other mods include a colored decal, adding the second co-rod, bending the hooks to clear the head band, notching the tailpiece to clear the head band, cutting the flange into 16 seperate pieces to make the transition from open back to resonator quick and easy. Drilling holes in the arm rest for proper height, and refretting with jumbo sized stainless steel guitar frets. This photo was taken before installing the planitaries.
Edited by - 1four5 on 12/04/2010 18:59:37
Ridin Tailboard 2 - Posted - 12/04/2010: 18:44:02
I asked a similar question a while back about my epiphone mb100.
Great advice here led me to change the head from frosted to ren, bridge to buckeye bridge, ny-gut strings, and no-knot tailpiece. I actually like this banjo now. People tell me that it sounds better, more mellow - "old time". I play (three finger) it more than I play my Gold Tone, until I send it to Helix anyway.
Your wise to ask these folks who have tried, failed and tried again and now share their experience. They will save you time and money and at least for me have enhanced my banjo experience.
davehead - Posted - 12/04/2010: 20:20:16
My Goodtime Open Back does not have the Gumpy peg head and the planetary tuners fit fine, I did use the dremenal tool with a 1/16 bit to drill the small hole that the little tit on the planetary have to keep them from spinning in the hole... The tuners I used had a 3/8 inch diameter I believe.
These are the pegs I used... seem to work well and hold the tuning with no problems.
banjo.com/Golden_Gate_P_140_Pl...p/141.htm
Dave
rubicon - Posted - 12/04/2010: 23:36:44
Henry Volk from the henryjbanjoshop.com installed a hickory tone ring on my standard goodtime he also scooped it I put a renniasance head on it and a medium moon bridge with deering light strings it sounds awesome .
JIMBO53 - Posted - 12/05/2010: 05:20:46
I'm always amazed at the "tinkerability" of the Goodtime. Deering took the K.I.S.S. concept to the max by introducing a simple, no frills banjo with a quality rim and neck. No tone ring-no planetary tuners-no truss rod-only 16 hooks-etc, but the neck/rim are what make this most popular started banjo ever. It plays and sounds great,and is very aminable to hot rodding and most of all, is affordable and available at most big box music stores.
vernob - Posted - 12/05/2010: 06:01:30
If you have the GT with the Gumby headstock, that's the first cosmetic thing I'd do. The Ren head is a good choice. A skin head would be good too. The guitar tuners don't look right on a banjo but they work OK. I'd second the No-Knot and a good bridge too. Have fun.
jpiperson2002 - Posted - 12/05/2010: 07:24:34
I've made a number of changes to my Goodtime, they are very easy to work with. I've tried a Fyberskin and Renaissance and goatskin heads and prefer the Renaissance for the somewhat mellower sound than the original head. I tried about a dozen bridges, many of them sound good though personally I prefer a Sampson old growth walnut bridge (here's a post with comparison pictures of the bridges I tried banjohangout.org/archive/138213 )
The no knot tailpieces are often recommended for the Goodtime for their traditional appeal but don't allow for any adjustment of the down pressure or angle on the strings as they meet the bridge. I use a Kershner adjustable tailpiece because it allows you to change the overall sound of the banjo. The nonadjustable tailpiece which comes with the goodtime provides a good bright sound but doesn't give you the flexibility of an adjustable tailpiece
elderly.com/accessories/items/P113.htm
The Goodtime is a great project banjo if you want to develop some basic luthier skills.
Here are a couple of posts about cosmetic changes made on my Goodtime in case you want to warm up the band saw and power sander ;
banjohangout.org/archive/139442
banjohangout.org/forum/topic.a...ID=181964
And a post about tunneling the 5th string to a tuner in the peg head. I reshaped the Gumby peg head and sanded out the brand markings on this one;
banjohangout.org/archive/161523
My other recommendation to improve the sound would be to get a head tension testing device like a Drumdial and/or a torque wrench for tightening the head brackets. The quality of the sound is very dependent on head tension and an amateur like myself really depends on measuring tools like this to figure out what's going on with the tension after replacing a head. Here's one of many posts on tightening heads which includes a pictures of a torque wrench, the Drumdial isn't shown but it's just a hand held meter which presses against the head to indicate how tight it is at different points:
banjohangout.org/archive/164616
If you want to add some artwork to the head you might consider printing your own temporary/removeable decals:
banjohangout.org/archive/164072#2076530
This would also be a good time to start considering what kind of banjo you want as your 2nd banjo. The Goodtime is a wonderfully light, no frills instrument which is easy to play and to modify. You'll probably want a heavier resonator banjo with a tone ring eventually for more formal occasions, and then maybe a Tranjo as a small travel banjo, and then ...............
JP
Edited by - jpiperson2002 on 12/05/2010 07:25:32
Bluegrass-Gibbs - Posted - 12/05/2010: 09:29:34
excellent ideas and info from everyone, thanks so much! I think I'll start off slowly with a new bridge and possibly a new nut. I think I'll keep the head as it is as I'm just starting to get playwear on it and I feel I'm breaking it in ok.
Edited by - Bluegrass-Gibbs on 12/05/2010 09:35:56
yumagah - Posted - 12/05/2010: 18:13:30
I replaced the tuners with planetaries on my GT Classic about a year ago. It was fairly easy. I enlarged the holes with a drill bit for wood held in a tap wrench and turned by hand. Better to not use a power tool that could chip the wood. The tiny pin on the underside of the planetaries fit into one of the abandoned screw holes from the old tuners. I filled the other screw holes with toothpicks.
You don't have a resonator but replacing the philips-head screws with thumb screws is another easy improvement.
Bluegrass-Gibbs - Posted - 12/20/2010: 12:58:09
Hi again!
I've just got my new deering bridge - it has a rounded edge on the ebony so you don't catch your hand - but I'm still confused as to which way it goes - does the rounded part stop my pinkie from getting cut or the fleshy part of my thumb? - or in otherwords, which way round do I place it on the head?!!
dumb question, I know . . . . 
Klondike Waldo - Posted - 12/20/2010: 13:16:33
quote:
Originally posted by 1four5
The nut is not plastic, it's HDPE, which has the bonus of being self lubricating, snip.
HDPE is high density polyethylene, which is plastic. Not all plastics are created equal, I agree.
John Gribble - Posted - 12/20/2010: 13:52:25
quote:
Originally posted by Bluegrass-Gibbs
Hi again!
I've just got my new deering bridge - it has a rounded edge on the ebony so you don't catch your hand - but I'm still confused as to which way it goes - does the rounded part stop my pinkie from getting cut or the fleshy part of my thumb? - or in otherwords, which way round do I place it on the head?!!
dumb question, I know . . . .
Not dumb at all! I believe the rounded corner goes on the treble (first string) side. Protects your pinkie.
Emiel - Posted - 12/20/2010: 14:07:28
quote:
Originally posted by Bluegrass-Gibbs
Hi again!
I've just got my new deering bridge - it has a rounded edge on the ebony so you don't catch your hand - but I'm still confused as to which way it goes - does the rounded part stop my pinkie from getting cut or the fleshy part of my thumb? - or in otherwords, which way round do I place it on the head?!!
dumb question, I know . . . .
It's easy. The slot for the 4th string is bigger than the slot for the 2nd. This determines the orientation of your bridge...
Bluegrass-Gibbs - Posted - 12/20/2010: 14:08:24
thanks John! and Emiel - that's a good tip I will remember 
Edited by - Bluegrass-Gibbs on 12/20/2010 14:20:54
hektic - Posted - 12/20/2010: 14:35:33
Is that the 40$ bridge from the deering site?
just wondering how how drastically the sound improved
Bluegrass-Gibbs - Posted - 12/21/2010: 08:46:30
hi Hektic
yes it is the $40 bridge, I haven't put it on yet - it's a gift for christmas from my other half, so after inspection, it has gone to the elves until xmas day! I will let you know though how it sounds - I have high hopes for an improvement . . .
rubicon - Posted - 12/21/2010: 09:31:31
looks like the stock bridge that came on my goodtime what does it do differentlyt ?
The Rose - Posted - 12/21/2010: 18:07:23
When I ordered my Goodtime I payed an upcharge for a mastercraft canon bridge. I wonder if I made the right move. I think I should have played it with the stock bridge first.
rubicon - Posted - 12/21/2010: 20:11:33
I would say yes the goodtime sounded great right out of the box
rubicon - Posted - 12/21/2010: 20:12:43
I should state that it was set up by a good luthier the owner of the shop prior to my taking it home
Bluegrass-Gibbs - Posted - 12/22/2010: 03:28:22
hi folks - I've got myself confused over £ and $!
the bridge I have bought is the $25 one - except here in the UK it costs £20. The $40 bridge is the deering signature bridge - "hand selected" by greg deering.
the current bridge on the out of the box goodtime has "goodtime" stamped on it and I guess it's this one:
deeringbanjos.com/5/8-goodtime...jo-bridge
the $25 bridge says "deering" and is made of denser higher grade maple, so I'm guessing it's a step up from the $5 out of the box bridge . . . .
Bart McNeil - Posted - 12/22/2010: 05:25:58
Speaking of $40 bridges... I make my own out of popsicle sticks glued together and shaped with sandpaper and a single edged razor blade. Costs maybe one penny and works just fine. I keep telling my wife I'll get a real one, but then again.... What for???
Bart McNeil
August - Posted - 12/22/2010: 07:13:16
My Goodtime sounded great right out of the box too. However over the years I've:
replaced the tuners with planetary ones
replaced the pot with one made by Dan Pennington
installed a brass tone hoop made by Hazen Alward
put on a skin head by Bill Miller
put on a Fielding tailpiece
changed the strings to Nylgut
put on one of Stringbean's bridges
It sound really good now.
After swapping out a few more parts I think I'll have a genuine pre-war Gibson! 8-)
rubicon - Posted - 12/23/2010: 14:02:55
I was curious so I took a picture of my stock goodtime bridge it appears to be like the one you just upgraded too it has no stamping on either side here is a pic what did your original look like any pics ?
quote:
Originally posted by Bluegrass-Gibbs
Hi again!
I've just got my new deering bridge - it has a rounded edge on the ebony so you don't catch your hand - but I'm still confused as to which way it goes - does the rounded part stop my pinkie from getting cut or the fleshy part of my thumb? - or in otherwords, which way round do I place it on the head?!!
dumb question, I know . . . .
Bluegrass-Gibbs - Posted - 12/23/2010: 14:48:51
Hi rubicon
the $5 bridge on the deering site is the one that came on my goodtime - yours does look like the next one up - it has a rounded edge to save catching the fingers. mine has goodtime stamped on it - not sure if the ones sold separately have that or not - here is the $5 bridge from the deering site:
rubicon - Posted - 12/23/2010: 20:38:30
I was just curious because I have the older model goodtime and wondered if they are using a different bridge on the new ones .
Bluegrass-Gibbs - Posted - 12/26/2010: 12:20:08
rubicon - looks like you got lucky!
The new bridge has really improved the sound - there is now a brilliance in the treble and a depth and richness to the bass that wasn't there before, I recommend an upgrade in the goodtime bridge ( $5 ) to the deering bridge ($25 ) I also got an old time arm rest - really simple and looks nice and unfussy.
izzymcm - Posted - 01/29/2011: 08:32:26
I made a few adjustments as well. I put 5 star planetary tuners on my goodtime, the old time wire arm-rest from Stewart Mac, and a no-knot tail piece. he changes that I made look great.
However, I ended up putting the stock goodtime tail piece back on because the no-knot didn't sound as good. I did adjust the Deering tail piece to its maximum height, sounds great now.
