darylcrisp - Posted - 04/02/2012:  08:57:09

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okay, just received my Reiter Special(all maple with a brass tone ring/ Elite head), action at the 12th is 3/32"(at the wound 4th). No knot tailpiece. Bridge measures to be 5/8". What simple things would one change to hear a sound difference? (such as bridge/strings) and some recommendations.

being a beginner, i'm not sure of what i want to hear. Its a very nice bell like quality already-not thin.

Bridges:  (1)what is the normal thought progression(thicker/thinner does what?) 

                (2) Height change-does it only change action or add to sound/projection?

Heads: what are typical changes you hear with a head change(as in what does a frosted top do/ what does a skin head do)

strings: (1) this has 10-10 GHS on it. throw out some brands you like and why.

               (2) what happens when you go to 11-11 size(sound/feel)

stuffing: where do you place things(between the dowel stick and pot?) when you stuff it-and what is good to do that with?

and finally:  what is considered a good starting setup(string set, action height, etc) for a beginner

oh, this has a scoop also if that matters

I think it sounds nice as is, i just want to get a handle on what to play around with to see what happens.

 

thanks-i know,lots of questions but this is all new to me. thank you for your learned thoughts/opinions

d

  

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Edited by - darylcrisp on 04/03/2012 00:58:59

XXXris - Posted - 04/02/2012:  10:32:18

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You are a true banjo player = gets new banjo, immediately begins switching things around.

The easiest things to do now, are to play with bridges, and strings. Look over at the "american made banjo" site, and they have several sets of strings in different lightness/heaviness for you to try, and see which you like best. I think Bart Veerman's "mystery wood" bridges are nice on this sort of instrument.

Whatever you do, be sure you enjoy playing the banjo, and don't get overly obsessed with taking it apart (I know that is a tall order).

Also, just play with one variable at a time. If you switch everything at once, you won't know what makes a difference!

Chris

mikey5string - Posted - 04/02/2012:  11:01:01

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I use an 11/16th sosebee cotton mill bridge and a remo frosted head. I am really pleased with the tone. It is plunky, responsive and clear. I have used renaissance, fiberskin heads and a bunch of bridges before settling on this configuration.

pastorharry - Posted - 04/02/2012:  16:25:34

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Leave it alone and play,play,play! Tinkering will not make you a better banjo player.

RWJones1970 - Posted - 04/02/2012:  18:19:03

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You have said,  that you like the sound of your Reiter as it is , that "the banjo has a very nice bell like quality". It sounds like it is already properly set up. Don't fix it if it isn't broken and start playing it !

Tonecaster - Posted - 04/02/2012:  18:32:31

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Just play it. When you get better you'll know more of what you're looking for.

darylcrisp - Posted - 04/03/2012:  01:09:29

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i suppose i should have worded my questions different. i'm not at all ready or willing to change anything-just asking all this to learn-to have an idea of what does what and what makes things happen in the banjo world. I rarely if ever have changed anything with my acoustic guitars other than a change in the setup and string choices.

I do want to try nylgut strings at some point and will simply cut a new nut and bridge for those strings so i can change both out with proper slots.

d

BlueRanchRider - Posted - 04/03/2012:  06:56:43

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quote:

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Originally posted by darylcrisp

i suppose i should have worded my questions different. i'm not at all ready or willing to change anything-just asking all this to learn-to have an idea of what does what and what makes things happen in the banjo world. I rarely if ever have changed anything with my acoustic guitars other than a change in the setup and string choices.

I do want to try nylgut strings at some point and will simply cut a new nut and bridge for those strings so i can change both out with proper slots.

d

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My advice is to read. Buy a book by Roger Seminoff - How to setup the best sounding Banjo and whether you think he's right or wrong you'll learn why the banjo sounds the way it does, what parts are adjustable and what they change. With this knowledge you can tinker till it bores you, or till your bank account runs dry.

Riley Stokes - Posted - 04/03/2012:  07:27:16

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I'm an 8-month beginner, and even though I've had little experience with the sounds of various openback types, I decided I would plow right ahead and get what appeared to be a high-quality banjo with a middle-of-the road tone -- not too plunky, not too metallic or projective. The "standard" among openbacks seemed to be a simple design with heavyweight wood rim and a simple brass tone ring. When a 20-year-old (but like new) Bart Reiter Special popped up on Craigslist, I pounced.

My '92 Special is as you describe yours, with two differences: there's no frailing scoop and the tailpiece is a Waverly, not a No-Knot. I noticed that the No-Knot is now spec'ed for this model, so I emailed Bart and asked why he changed. Customers wanted the No-Knot, he said. The tone is better and there's less string breakage. So I bought and installed a No-Knot, but I missed what seemed an extra snap afforded by the heavier tailpiece, so I soon went back. I adjust the Waverly with very little down pressure (a range of adjustment is possible). I'll admit I find the tonal differences subtle -- you could probably fool me in a blind sound test. But I've stuck with the Waverly and the (non-original?) Hatfield bridge it came with, and for indoor playing I use a cotton dishtowel under the dowel stick, right under the rim/neck joint. Sometime in the future I may go back to tinkering, but I hope not. I've played guitar forever and I suspect what is true of guitars is also true of banjos: nothing makes a good instrument sound better than a great player. I doubt I'll make it to the "great" category but I'll enjoy trying.

Riley

Riley