Paul S - Posted - 11/08/2011:  10:17:33

Hi,

If anyone out there has a galax plus please chime in. I own a regular Reiter Galax  and was wondering if adding a bacon ring to the Whyte Ladye to make it a galax plus would be worth the expense. I've been told that the bacon ring adds more volume and sustain.

Thanks, Paul

scooter46 - Posted - 11/08/2011:  10:32:28

I would have the cholesterol checked before adding bacon to anything. sorry couldn't resist the made me do it. You'll get some good information here lots of reiter players that love em, or contact Bart. Larry

pastorharry - Posted - 11/08/2011:  12:23:40

Paul, John Balch is the one to talk to. He has a Reiter galax plus, and it is one of the strongest banjos I've played. He basically fit a bacon tone ring over the WL ring...plus his own setup with skin head, presto tailpiece and Sosbee bridge. The main problem is finding a bacon ring, I'm not sure that stew-mac still supplies them. Anyway-check with John, and also there is a Bart Reiter banjo owners group on the hangout. Aloha, PH  banjohangout.org/group/bartreiterbanjos  

jbalch - Posted - 11/08/2011:  16:48:04

I have a 2006 Galax-plus (aka Bacophone-plus). It is my favorite banjo.  I also have a 1994 custom a-scale Grand Concert with the same tone ring combination.

I don't think the Bacon ring adds significant volume.  But it does increase the sustain in a specific way.  The Bacon ring adds a hint of warm sustain to the finish of the note.   Not too much metallic ringing sustain (like a tubaphone). The tone is a bit like an H.C. Dobson style banjo. 

I think the Stew-Mac Bacon ring can be installed over the WL ring replacing the WL skirt.  As far as I know no modification is required.

I linked a few videos and a sound sample below.

VIDEO: Cluck Old Hen (click to view)

VIDEO: John Balch ~ Soldiers' Joy (click to view)

VIDEO: John Balch ~ Walter Hill (click to view)

Year of Jubolo on Reiter Bacophone-plus

mikehalloran - Posted - 11/08/2011:  18:01:27

The Stew-Mac Bacon ring hasn't been in the catalog for a long time. Neither has the Little Wonder.

pastorharry - Posted - 11/08/2011:  18:13:21

Bill Rickard advertises a Dobson tone ring on his site, but unfortunately no pictures. Would that one be similar to the bacon?

jbalch - Posted - 11/08/2011:  18:14:42

Mike:  I know you are right about that. 

I'm not sure if they can still supply them to builders like Bart & Mike Ramsey who continue to offer Bacon style banjos.  or...maybe those guys stockpiled a few from when they were available.

BTW:  I saved the attached photo from the Stew mac website when the ring was still listed. It has dimensions.

pastorharry - Posted - 11/08/2011:  18:20:07

John, those sound samples are great!!

banjobart - Posted - 11/08/2011:  18:31:03

John is right again, as always! The SM Bacon #817 tone rings are available, as always, to OEM manufacturers but the price has gone up a lot. The proper name for the described BR banjo would be a "Bacophone-plus" not a "Galax-plus" as the Galax already has a scalloped WL ring under the spinning (or skirt). The Bacon and WL spinnings are interchangable as suggested.



John-I have your request saved for a Bacophone-plus dupe and hope to make it this batch. I am swamped with family estate biz the last year and way behind on orders. Thanks!

Edited by - banjobart on 11/08/2011 18:34:08

jbalch - Posted - 11/08/2011:  18:45:37

Bart:  thanks for the reply ...I look forward to that banjo whenever it is done.

Harry:  Thanks!

Pine Cone - Posted - 11/08/2011:  18:47:26

quote:

---

Originally posted by pastorharry

Bill Rickard advertises a Dobson tone ring on his site, but unfortunately no pictures. Would that one be similar to the bacon?

---

A Rickard Dobson tone ring looks like this...

Similar to a Bacon, but the Dobson just curves down while the Bacon curves down like the Dobson and then curves back up slightly.  The two I am using sit directly on the wooden rim, but I don't see any reason why they couldn't sit on top of a Whyte Laydie style tonering.

I recently picked up an older Reiter A-scale here on the Hangout and am contemplating putting a Rickard Dobson ring on top of the brass hoop currently on the banjo

Edited by - Pine Cone on 11/08/2011 18:51:45

Ho C Ying - Posted - 11/08/2011:  19:09:59

John, is your Galax-Plus the same as BHO member blanham's Bacophone Plus?

 

Edited by - Ho C Ying on 11/08/2011 19:11:21

blanham - Posted - 11/08/2011:  19:47:08

Hope you don't mind if I butt in line here, Ho C Ying.  My banjo is a few years younger than John's, but I think it's the same, except his is fancier with a wood rim cap.

Bacon and Scalloped Tone Rings

Ho C Ying - Posted - 11/08/2011:  22:23:24

Hi, Bob. Thank you for your reply! 

jbalch - Posted - 11/09/2011:  04:31:45

See Bart's and Bob's replies above ..Bart refers to these banjos as Bacophone-plus.  So that is the correct description.

Some time ago, I called mine a Galax-plus ...but I they are essentially the same. Some (Like Bob's) might have a painted rim edge rather than the now-standard walnut cap. I like the walnut rim cap - but it is really just cosmetic (IMHO).

my banjo has these features:

Mahogany neck (scooped),

maple rim - stained to match - with walnut rim cap,

whyte laydie tone ring installed under a Bacon ring

My set up is:

calfskin head,

Gary Sosebee Select bridge

Grover patent presto tailpiece (punched).

Edited by - jbalch on 11/09/2011 04:38:07

Reiter Bacophone-plus

Ho C Ying - Posted - 11/09/2011:  04:49:35

John, thanks for your reply, too. 

I hope I can buy one.