Hunter Robertson - Posted - 01/06/2012:  10:08:02

I have two British banjos with vellums mounted so that the cut-off flap is inside. Anybody know how it was done so that they ended up sitting at the right height?

Both have been sewn, as you can see in the pictures. I don't have a photo of the inside of the Viner banjo's vellum as I haven't taken it apart, but you can see that the cut-off isn't there inside the tension hoop.

Hunter

Vellum from British 1867 Dobson-Style Banjo Inside

Vellum from British 1867 Dobson-Style Banjo - Outside

Vellum on Viner Banjo

jbalch - Posted - 01/06/2012:  10:28:16

I linked this to the Hide Heads group...

I'm not sure how that would be done.

Fathand - Posted - 01/06/2012:  10:45:38

It masy have been cut off very low down in the hoop or possibly the person was very careful and mounted it the other way round.

Quartermaster James - Posted - 01/06/2012:  11:13:47

Yeah, there's a video on YouTube of someone mounting a head this way.

It's been linked on the forum before. I'll see if I can find it again.

Addendum:

Here you go: Part 1: youtube.com/watch?v=b9r2VGZf--0  Part 2: youtube.com/watch?v=7NvWPKQJdm0

Edited by - Quartermaster James on 01/06/2012 11:17:51

Hunter Robertson - Posted - 01/06/2012:  15:43:19

Thanks guys. Quartermaster James, good video, thanks for pointing me to it. That'll work for stretching the skin. These British ones vary slightly, as you can't see the cut-off inside when the head is in place and they have that stitching. Maybe they were pulled off after drying, sewn and trimmed.

I'll get around to repairing that Dobson-style banjo one of these days... It's an interesting banjo. Flush frets, 6 strings (5 long, one short) and the "5th" string nut falls at the 6th fret.

Hunter

English Banjo, after Dobson

Quartermaster James - Posted - 01/06/2012:  16:10:32

quote:

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Originally posted by Hunter Robertson

 These British ones vary slightly, as you can't see the cut-off inside when the head is in place and they have that stitching. Maybe they were pulled off after drying, sewn and trimmed.

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This makes me wonder if they were made as pre-mounted heads, either as after-market/replacement heads or as in-house factory parts.

cbcarlisle - Posted - 01/06/2012:  18:48:27

I have seen sewn heads and turned-under heads on American banjos but never one with both. Hmm, belt AND suspenders?

Quartermaster James - Posted - 01/06/2012:  19:18:38

quote:

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Originally posted by cbcarlisle

I have seen sewn heads and turned-under heads on American banjos but never one with both. Hmm, belt AND suspenders?

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Or "belt & braces"

Hunter Robertson - Posted - 01/07/2012:  02:46:34

quote:

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Originally posted by Quartermaster James

This makes me wonder if they were made as pre-mounted heads, either as after-market/replacement heads or as in-house factory parts.

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Could be  -  maybe for speedy changes after a blow-out!

Hunter

Fathand - Posted - 01/07/2012:  07:06:42

Here is a Gibson with a turned under head