Mike Dexter - Posted - 03/14/2012:  16:41:35

How many of you Plectrum players use calf skin heads out there?--for that 'vintage' sound. (Example: Eddie Peabody style.) Or your favourite head?

tdennis - Posted - 03/14/2012:  16:49:19

I use skin heads on most of my instruments,..not for the "vintage" sound, but for the Best sound. 

jbalch - Posted - 03/14/2012:  17:14:18

I installed a nice calfskin head for a local plectrum player.  It went on his 1927 B&D Silver Bell #1.  Sounded Great - he LOVED it. 

But it became too difficult for him to keep his soft-pedal mute adjusted due the variations in the head tension (with humidity).  After playing during a summer rainstorm and the head sinking too much to use his mute, he went back to Renaissance.

I have calfskin heads on my B&D tenors....LOVE the tone.  I don't use a mute so I can tolerate small changes due to weather.

Calfskin head guru Bill Miller is a plectrum player.  Here is his website: banjoseen.us/

I'm linking this to the hide heads group: banjohangout.org/group/hideheads

Edited by - jbalch on 03/14/2012 17:18:05

Mike Dexter - Posted - 03/20/2012:  10:05:06

Many thanks for the info.

Mike

Bart McNeil - Posted - 03/20/2012:  14:55:11

I have hide on all my banjos except two: my wife's Goodtime and my plectrum, and I will most likely change my plectrum to hide in the near future... I would describe the tone of hide as mellow, in comparison with plastic.

I don't mind futzing with my skin heads as weather changes.

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 03/21/2012:  08:45:17

Guys,

It´s my impression, that dear Bill Miller is very and maybe fatally ill for the time being. So don´t expect a response in case of a request for/to him.

Polle

NYCJazz - Posted - 03/21/2012:  12:46:57

I only have the experience with a skin head on one banjo (Kingston). I loved the sound, but got frustrated at the humidity issue.

Also, the head was put on unevenly & warped the rim.

Robxx - Posted - 03/21/2012:  15:31:01

I have a skin head on my Vegaphone, On advice from Bill Miller I sprayed it with leather waterproofer both sides, and have never had a problem with humidity, plus the tone is just great.
On hearing the Bill Miller is ill, I have ordered a new calfskin from Stewmac instead for my Style M big pot.

Rob

sugarinthegourd - Posted - 03/21/2012:  21:06:16

I hope this William D Miller from Bristol PA isn't our William D. "Bill" Miller.

phillyburbs.com/obituaries/cou...10a5.html

But I'm afraid it might be. Does anyone know, or has anyone here been in touch with Bill in the past 2 months?