plunka5 - Posted - 03/17/2011:  00:36:55

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I just saw this on Warren's website today, and I thought it was pretty interesting since there is such a "mystique" about the creation of a tone ring for a banjo. While Warren doesn't give away any secrets...he does show the basic process, and how HE does it!

yatesbanjos.com/Yates_tone_rings.htm

bearface - Posted - 03/17/2011:  02:00:50

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nice tone ring work.ive heard allot of good things about the yates banjos

Possom - Posted - 03/17/2011:  02:13:38

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I like that new one he's making with the old Gibson hoops from the style 1's and 2's. Lightweight and sound great. I listened to some sound clips of it recently and was pretty impressed with the tone. I know "quickcarl" has one of these and he loves it. Warren turns out a nice 'jo for sure.

Bribak - Posted - 03/17/2011:  05:44:31

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I know the ring in the Ron Stewart model is only available in that model. I wonder what the difference is between it and the V33 ring? Composition? Shape?

Kurt Kemp - Posted - 03/18/2011:  03:05:24

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I was not aware that Warren made anything but the unplated no-hole flathead ring (V33) which is in the ron stewart banjos.

Bribak - Posted - 03/18/2011:  06:21:06

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quote:

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Originally posted by Kurt Kemp

I was not aware that Warren made anything but the unplated no-hole flathead ring (V33) which is in the ron stewart banjos.

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When I ordered my Yates RS, I asked Warren which ring was going to be in it (the V1 or the V33) and he told me neither - that the tone ring in the RS was different and only available in the RS models. Unfortunately, I don't know anything more about it than that. As you can see from his website:

[yatesbanjos.com/RS_Mahogany.htm]

it's listed as no-hole and unplated, but not listed as the V33. I do wonder what the difference might be.

Kurt Kemp - Posted - 03/18/2011:  07:02:56

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Makes me wonder too. Maybe it has something to do with the "fat rim" they mention in the specs.?

asmcsgac - Posted - 03/18/2011:  07:17:38

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In any sound clips you've listened to, can anyone tell much of a difference.?

projectsandhobbies.com/Ron_Ste..._Ring.mp3

projectsandhobbies.com/Studio_...ickle.mp3

projectsandhobbies.com/Ron_Ste..._Ring.mp3

yatesbanjos.com/Dad_Rons_Maple.mp3

yatesbanjos.com/Old_Red_Ron_Mahogany.mp3

yatesbanjos.com/Steve_Payne_Ma...-2011.mp3

Other clips are out there.

NDJohn - Posted - 03/18/2011:  07:26:39

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The V-33s are stamped as such on the foot. The RS rings have no identifying stamps, according to Warren. I have a V-33 in the workshop, as well as an unmarked ring that was sold to its current owner as a Yates, presumably a RS. The inner bevel is slightly different on the two rings, though the weight and tap tones are extremely close by comparison.

John

Kurt Kemp - Posted - 03/18/2011:  07:36:38

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I can tell the difference between mahogany and maple but thats about it. The rings sound the same to me. My current banjo with a V33 in it sounds like the maple one. The difference must be minuscule in the 2 rings.

bigmr_clean - Posted - 04/03/2011:  14:39:27

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I hear a difference in all of the clips. The clip with the Old rim in it has quite the punch. I own a V33 and red maple rim which is in my 91 RB250. It sounds similar to the last 3 banjos in the sound clips.

bigmr_clean - Posted - 04/03/2011:  14:41:08

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I was at Warrens about a month and a half ago right after he bought that boiler and all. He said it was so loud that he had to turn it off after a few minutes even across the street it was rumbling his yard....lol

chickenpickin - Posted - 04/03/2011:  17:33:29

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quote:

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Originally posted by bigmr_clean

I hear a difference in all of the clips. The clip with the Old rim in it has quite the punch. I own a V33 and red maple rim which is in my 91 RB250. It sounds similar to the last 3 banjos in the sound clips.

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Mike,
I'd love to hear some sound files of the V-33 and red maple rim. I have a TN20 on one of Warrens red maple rims. I almost wished I had kept the V-1 no hole I got from him and tried it on the red maple rim.

Tim

Ks_5-picker - Posted - 04/03/2011:  20:47:38

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I've got a couple friends with the RS Yates. One of them said that RS told them that they would laugh if they knew what was in that tone ring.
Suffice to say,it's different.

bigmr_clean - Posted - 04/04/2011:  06:01:31

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KS 5-picker....Haha that's funny. Well obviously the Ron Stewart tone ring is a little different than the V33....Course the V33 is the FIRST RS tone ring....Warren and Ron and the boys have spent many a nights/mornings fiddling with different metals and such..I can't blame them for keeping it hush hush....Chickenpickin...I will record a few tunes tonight and put it on here for you so you can hear and tell me what you think....I really like the red maple rim....and you don't have to give an arm and a leg for them either.

robbyboone - Posted - 04/04/2011:  12:47:11

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I don't know this for fact, but I have been under the impression that the Ron Stewart rings were solid.....no holes to try and reproduce that Banger sound. As for what they're made of.......I ain't got a clue.

Kurt Kemp - Posted - 04/04/2011:  14:31:09

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yes, they are unplated no-hole rings.

mdenny4 - Posted - 04/04/2011:  14:49:55

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I was up at Warren's a few weeks ago and played his personal banjo with the new ring that HE poured. The ring looked like a newly minted penny. That being said, I couldn't help but say something like "what did you do, melt the coin collection?" He laughed and said, "you would be surprised what's in that thing." Joking aside, whatever they're doing, it sure sounds good.

bigmr_clean - Posted - 04/04/2011:  17:05:31

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Here is the sound clip.

Wandering Boy

bigmr_clean - Posted - 04/04/2011:  17:06:21

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Excuse the terrible picking lol.

chickenpickin - Posted - 04/04/2011:  18:40:11

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Nice pickin'! That combo sounds great too! I've been playing my TN20/red maple along with your sound file and the similarities in tone are definitely there. It just goes to show you how the rim makes a huge difference in the tone. The rings just give it a different flavor. Thanks for posting.
Tim

bigmr_clean - Posted - 04/05/2011:  06:26:03

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Thanks! Oh no doubt man I totally agree the rim is definitely 50 percent of the pot..IMO anyways. I have tennessee 20 ring and tried it for a bit and did hear a little difference in the sound. I didn't leave it in long enough to settle though. You got a sound clip? I'd like to hear yours.