scooter46 - Posted - 04/28/2011:  09:59:04

Hi All, I live in the St. Louis area where we have been having a lot of thunderstorms and tornadoes lately. On one banjo I have a calfskin head, yesterday I went downstairs to get my banjo to go to a lesson. When I took it off the wall it rattled when I looked most of the hooks were loose and the bridge was sunken quite a bit into the head. I haven't had any humidity problems but I haven't played that banjo since last Wed, I hadn't checked the head tension for while but I know it wasn't that loose. I got it all back together but if this is common I don't think I'll have a skinhead on for much longer. Larry

Mumble Peg - Posted - 04/28/2011:  10:23:46

Yeah, it's common. Unless you keep it in an air conditioned humidity controlled room, this will probably happen over and over. Problem is if you tighten it up then the humidity gets dry, it will tighten up and sometimes break.

The old time vaudeville banjoists usually tightened them up before a set and also had a spare banjo backstage in case the first one broke.

Some even went to the trick of putting a small light bulb inside the rim and using it to dry up and tighten the head before and during a performance. 

It looked so good some of them made it a point of showmanship to have a glowing head banjo.

Some players today spray waterproofing on the skin heads to help keep them tight.

Try a Fiberskyn or Renaissance.

kevinwholmes - Posted - 04/28/2011:  10:32:46

I have skin heads on 5 or 6 banjos, live in a humid area in NC, and have had no real issues with the heads sagging, but I have heard a number of people complain about it.  Most of the time I keep mine in the house, which might make a difference.

They do take a little time to settle in once put on, however, with some adjustments as needed.  Is the head new?  Did you put it on?  Sometimes if you don't tighten it enough when new it will sag later and just needs to be retightened.

The difference between a skin banjo head and a plastic one is kind of like the difference between a wooden boat and a plastic (FRP) one.  The natural material usually requires more maintenance, but is usually worth it for the esthetic. 

RatLer - Posted - 04/28/2011:  10:33:55

My Grandpa used to hold his banjo over the wood cookstove to tighten the head.

the-fish - Posted - 04/28/2011:  10:44:11

yup. common.... than it will dry out some, and be too tight... :-)

rgoad - Posted - 04/28/2011:  11:02:19

Would one of those humidifiers that fit in the case help?  Or have one in a closet with your instruments?  I have seen guitar players put them in the case to keep their instruments at the right humidity.

wcstringuy32 - Posted - 04/28/2011:  11:18:21

My tackhead (Prust) banjo came with three different height bridges to adjust for humidity sags and such. Since I play it mainly indoors I haven't had to change the bridge...still glad to have the option.

stevel - Posted - 04/28/2011:  11:19:34

I have skin heads on all my banjos, and have never experienced that much movement due just to changes in humidity (and I live on the ocean up in Maine, so our weather is constantly changing).

Is your head new?  some can take up to a month to fully stretch out.

scooter46 - Posted - 04/28/2011:  13:32:02

The head has been on at least six months, I guess it could be that I hadn't checked the hooks lately. I don't take it out except when I go to my lesson, I'll just keep a eye on it  and I have my Ren. head. Larry

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 04/29/2011:  11:10:19

On occasion I used to take a hair dryer to my avatar, Jackie-O. She is at the point where you don't want to tighten the hooks for fear they will come apart. I suppose I should replace them, but then I wonder what would happen to the tension hoop if I tightened.

Jackie O

J.B. Schall circa 1893