ponty - Posted - 09/07/2011:  15:20:25

Well it came today! Opened the box, and there it was. A bill Miller Vellum processed pre-mounted calf skin head.

I wasn't sure what to expect really! Firstly I noted that the head was crinkled rather than a taut  plastic head. The colour was 

whitish grey, not unlike a Fiberskyn. The surface was quite rough. The thickness I had asked for was medium. Feeling the skin, I could tell the thickness was not at all

uniform, and in one spot, there was a 3x2 cm inclusion which is very thin. Still, banjo was ready, and new head was fitted. 

The end result was a nice tight head with a real banjo' look! The sound was excellent. In fact much better, way better, and altogether better that the Renaissance it replaced.

There are no overtones, no metallic sounds, and echo. Overall, the volume is less, but the tone improved. I am sold!

All I have to do now is see how it copes with this awful sub-tropical humidity. If it doesn't cope, I will spray it with leather spray.

jbalch - Posted - 09/07/2011:  15:21:40

Good luck...and hope you enjoy it!

Oldpiper - Posted - 09/07/2011:  15:34:09

I think I've installed five of Bill's heads. Always sprayed them with Tandy's leather spray and never have had a problem in Florida.

jims38134 - Posted - 09/07/2011:  16:32:52

another skin convert

gansen - Posted - 09/07/2011:  17:37:31

I saw somewhere a clip on light to help with humitity with skin heads. I'm guessing though most of us have a/c and heat and kinda control the humitity at least in the house. I know this don't help when playing out. I've heard of boduran (that irish drum thing)jplayers spilling a little beer on the leather head to "condition" it.

Tinfoot - Posted - 09/07/2011:  17:49:49

Oh, leather spray eh? I live in SW Florida... and shied away from skin heads due to the humidity factor. Now, I do have A/C et al, but I still keep the front door open pretty much all day. Does a skin head with leather spray still suffer overly much from humidity, or does it become negligible?

C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 09/07/2011:  18:58:49

I live in Sydney.

The humidity here is high all summer long and the skin head on my gourd banjo goes so limp that the strings touch the neck.

I am therefore interested in all the comments about leather spay.

That is all news to me.

I'm going to find out about Tandy's Leather Spray, so thanks everyone.

Oldpiper - Posted - 09/07/2011:  19:04:04

 The Tandy stuff I use is called "Water Protector". I usually put two coats on and it seems to work fine.

C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 09/07/2011:  20:05:54

Thanks Oldpiper. I'll try and find some.