wuzapicker - Posted - 05/03/2012:  22:44:01

How much larger than the rim diameter should I size a new flesh hoop to mount a modern hide head?

I want to rehabilitate an old Paramount banjo to use a vellum head.  After all, they were designed for vellum.  The head size is 11 1/8"   Better old heads came with 1/8' square brass flesh hoops. Many lesser heads used what appears to be round steel wire, about 14 gage. Reproducing the old hoops should not be difficult.   I have been told that modern vellum is thicker than prewar.  One source even recommends sanding the head thinner after it dries post mounting.  Thus the question regarding flesh hoop sizes.

tbfnyc - Posted - 05/04/2012:  01:01:37

Bob Smakula at Smakula Fretted Instruments is your guy. Not only can he answer your questions but he can make you a 1/8" square brass flesh hoop just as you describe.

smakula.com/BanjoHeads.html

SFI - Posted - 05/04/2012:  05:25:34

Though Paramount banjos were manufactured at a time when calf skin heads were all you could get, if you don't specifically want the calf skin sound, my thought is; why bother? A lot more work, and bigger expense. For about $20 you can get a Remo head that will just slip on and all you have to do is tighten the the brackets.

If you still think a calf skin is the way to go, here are some answers to your questions.

The flesh hoop should just be a little bigger than the rim's diameter. When I don't have a vintage  flesh hoop to use, I'll make one from 1/8" square brass. I roll it in my fretwire bender then bend the hoop by hand to fit close to the rim. I attach the ends of the new flesh hoop with heat shrink tubing. If I had to make several flesh hoops per day, I would set up a metal roller and a silver soldering station and make them more effiiciently. I charge $15 & $4 for postage for a flesh hoop rolled in to a hoop to your approximate size, leaving enough for you to trim and connect the ends with heat shrink tubng. Using any kind of steel flesh hoop will leave rust spots where the calf head wraps around the hoop.

Modern calf skin heads are not thicker than prewar. In my stock of heads for sale I have heads as thin as .008" and as thick as .020", with plenty in between.

Bob Smakula

smakula.com

wuzapicker - Posted - 05/04/2012:  12:35:53

Thanks heaps guys!

Believe it or not, I was rummaging through a box of stuff this morning, and lo, I found three old Paramount sized flesh hoops. All three are wrapped in linen like mummies. I do remember where they came from and they measure correctly. But I don't remember how they came to be in that box. That's how it happens sometimes.

Anyway, since the question was rendered unnecessary, I want to thank Greg and Bob for their kind replies.

Bob's site indicates he has skins of the same quality as the old Rodgers pre-mounts. That is good news indeed!


Michael