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Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/229237
Tim Zowada - Posted - 02/22/2012: 13:43:22
I just installed my first hide head. I got it pre-mounted from Mr. Miller at banjoseen.com. The installation was easy, no problems.
I am wondering how much variation I can expect to see with weather changes. If I tune it to an A on a low humidity, high barometric pressure day, how low might it go on a soggy day? Or' how many turns of the head wrench do you tend to see as things vary?
It is on an 11" Mastertone style banjo.
Thanks, in advance, for all the help.
beegee - Posted - 02/22/2012: 13:58:57
That's something that you will have learn by experience. Unless somebody who lives nearby has a hide head, there's no way anybody can predict what will happen. Unless you have really radical swings in temp and humidity, it will probably be OK to get close to where it needs to be and just tweak the tension. I would never turn the wrench more than 1/4 turn either way until you see how it's going to react. Just make sure to keep the tension hoop level and even above the tone ring.
jbalch - Posted - 02/22/2012: 16:14:08
I agree with beegee. Make any necessary adjustments in small increments. If you tighten in very humid weather, you probably should back off the tension a bit before conditions return to a dryer normal.
How do you like the sound of that head on your banjo?
... linking to the hide heads group banjohangout.org/group/hideheads
mikehalloran - Posted - 02/22/2012: 16:20:41
Check to see if the head has been treated. If a waterproofing solution (available at boot and camping stores) has been applied, the variation will be less.
R Buck - Posted - 02/22/2012: 18:45:28
I had a skin head on one of my favorite banjos for a decade. I took it off as it seems the head absorbed moisture and seemed to discolor the tension hoop. I replaced it with a RENN head and I cleaned all of the metal parts and they seem to be staying shiny for a change. We'll see but small changes are always called for on a skin head. I still have three banjos with skin heads and they are very stable.
Tim Zowada - Posted - 02/23/2012: 07:46:48
I don't know how it sounds yet. I'm taking advantage of having the banjo apart to do a minor adjustment on the neck.
An interesting thing happened while getting the head damp to aid in stretching. I laid a damp towel on it for a few minutes. The water left an impression of the weave of the towel on the head. After drying, the impression is still there. I then gave the head a good soaking to see if that would do anything. The weave pattern faded a little, but it is still there. Interesting...
For Silicone, I am using KIWI Boot Protector from Wal-Mart. A light coat seems to soak right through the head. It dries in about three hours.
I'm having a great time tinkering with this first hide head, and I haven't even played it yet! I'm now looking for a cheap pot assembly to use as an assembly jig. That way I won't tie up my banjo tinkering with different head ideas.
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