azflyman - Posted - 09/13/2011:  13:34:12

Greetings all,

I recently received one of the fine W. D. Miller pre-mounted heads. The head  is a beautiful brown.  I got it on and have been tightening it in small increments, approximately 1/2 to 1 turn at a time every couple hours.  The head was a bugger to get over the tone ring enough to even start the tension nuts on the rods.  Now it seems like I am about 3/8" from it being down to where it needs to be and the head seems awful tight. The nuts are actually starting to squeak a little when I tighten them.   I don't want to break the head but it is unplayable as is.  I treated the head with shoe waterproofing and let it dry overnight as suggested here on the hangout.  So what now?  Its killing me to not be able to play my Gold Tone WL-250+, especially with this head which is simply gorgeous.  So what do I do now?

Thanks in advance

az

rexhunt - Posted - 09/13/2011:  14:54:41

Are you saying the tension hoop is not down far enough for the strings to clear?  Sounds like you have a low crown where you need a high crown.  I don't know about pre-mounted skin heads but I thought folks used to dampen them a bit before installing.  You should contact Mr. Miller and see what he says.

Rex

azflyman - Posted - 09/13/2011:  15:19:30

The hoop is definately not down far enough for the strings to clear. I may try to wet it a bit, I know you soak the non pre-mounted heads but these are all trimmed. I dont think there was a crown option when I ordered it, not sure I can wet it with the waterproofing on it. Guess I will get with Mr. Miller and see what he suggests. I just thought there could be some sage advise here.

az

pastorharry - Posted - 09/13/2011:  15:38:42

too bad you waterproofed it before it was seated correctly....but still try to get it real wet ,(on the banjo), and just leave it for awhile before trying to crank it down tighter,maybe wet it a few days in a row....then try again. Good luck, PH

andyboyman - Posted - 09/13/2011:  15:40:04

My experience with calf skins is mostly unmounted ones that I have mounted on a flesh hoop, but the principle should be the same. You should be able to dampen it slightly with a sponge to give it enough stretch to fit and get the tension hoop down over it. The key is to do it slowly.

Jason Wilkerson - Posted - 09/13/2011:  18:16:30

I sealed my Bill Miller premount before installing it, and it worked just fine.  Just wet it with a sponge or a cloth and it will slowly give.  The instructions tell you to not wet it so much that it "drips."  I don't think there's any way to seal it other than before installing it, as you did, unless you want waterproofer on your banjo.  Just dampen the skin and keep tightening.

azflyman - Posted - 09/13/2011:  21:39:11

Got it damp with a moist cloth and immediately it gave enough to get it down another 1/8". It seems to be working fine at little at a time. I make a round to all the tension nuts about 1/4 turn each time about once an hour. Should be playing by sometime Thursday :-/ Patience...

azflyman - Posted - 09/13/2011:  22:09:39

Does it get more purty than this?

WL-250+

Will1717 - Posted - 09/14/2011:  00:51:17

AZ:

My suggestion is to keep dampening the head until you get it where you want it. Once there play it for a week or more and remove it and respray it with the waterproofing. Once it's in place it should hold that shape and be quite easy to remove and respray.

Bill

C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 09/14/2011:  03:36:59

quote:

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Originally posted by azflyman

Does it get more purty than this?

---

Probably not!

It sure looks good to me.

Let's hear it asap.

raybob - Posted - 09/14/2011:  07:36:54

You're on the right track.  I agree with Bill R, just keep working on it.  I do the dampening and tightening routine then I stop just a little before I reach the point where I want the tension hoop when I'm all done.  Then I let this set for a day or so to dry and to let the head take the shape of the top of the rim/ring.  Then I take it off and waterproof it.  When that dries I put it back on the banjo and tighten it, and when the tension hoop gets to where I want it the head tension should be just about right,  Sounds like it's working out for you even though you sprayed it first.  Good luck, I really like Bill Miller's heads too.

Robxx - Posted - 09/14/2011:  10:17:21

I just fitted one of Bill Millers premounted heads  having waterproofed it first. It was a little bit high but the hooks and nuts just about went together. over the course of an evening I tightened it down 1/4 turn on the nuts until it sat right. Then next day (Saturday) I was able to put the neck back on and restring tune up etc, and play it..... Wonderful.. Thank you Mr Miller.   I will be fitting them to my other banjo,s.

rubicon - Posted - 09/14/2011:  23:19:06

So then is this normal then for a premount to take that much effort for it to fit ? or would you say it varies from one particular banjo to another?

Edited by - rubicon on 09/14/2011 23:20:10

Robxx - Posted - 09/15/2011:  23:27:29

I didn't consider it to be a lot of effort to fit. It takes a little longer than fitting a plastic head, and not quite as long as an unmounted skin. I prefer skin heads and will use these premounted ones again, and recommend them for quality and sound, but I am just old fashioned.
I don't think it varies from one banjo to another, but rather one premount to another. No doubt it varies from one persons fitting fitting skills to another, and it requires a little more care than it would for a plastic head. I am sure bluegrass players would not agree with me, but then they prefer the sharper brighter tone of Mylar heads, which is very understandable.

billmill22 - Posted - 09/16/2011:  07:52:25

Hi everyone, I just wanted to say it's been my experience that the Brown pre=mount calf skins will need to be dampened more in the final stage of mounting then the other types of skin I offer. It's my guess it's the vegetable coloring used. Other then needing more wetting and stretching it will sound very good and it sure makes a fine looking banjo! I may need to make a new installation guide to send out with them.

Bill Miller

Edited by - billmill22 on 09/16/2011 07:53:25

charlied - Posted - 09/16/2011:  09:36:11

I would bet it is easier for a skin head to stretch a little more than it is to get one to shrink.   All that time spent waiting...when you could be playing. 

I got a pre-mount once  that I could never tighten-up enough. Nothing like having a loose skin head when you want it tight.  I think that is when an adjustable tailpiece or a taller bridge might come in handy.

Lately, I can rely on  my A/C unit to keep my banjo head tight.

Good Luck and happy playing.

charlie