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jbalch - Posted - 06/18/2012: 06:23:54
I've mounted three (3) such hides. These are normally used in the making of African Djembe drums. I ordered several hides. Most were way too thick. The hides are oversized (there is significant waste). But a few were ideal for banjo. Those that fit have an amazing natural look. The color is 100% natural (not dyed).
One is for sale now in the classifieds: banjohangout.org/classified/29208
Check out the photos of the hides I've mounted so far:
Edited by - jbalch on 06/18/2012 06:41:55
carpenter68 - Posted - 06/18/2012: 06:44:10
They look very cool!!!
Could be something for my planned project...
greets
Ole
brokenstrings - Posted - 06/18/2012: 07:39:45
Very handsome, John. What about the sound?
championofnorthhuron - Posted - 06/18/2012: 07:43:14
Those are beautiful John. I would have been possibly interested in the mounted one in your ad, but need for a 12". Will you be getting more to sell in the future?
jbalch - Posted - 06/18/2012: 07:52:29
Re: the sound - The first one is on my Reiter 12" Internal Resonator banjo. That is a great banjo. But truthfully, it has never sounded this good before. I don't know if they will all sound this good. But if that one is any indication - they will be fantastic. I'll try to record a sample before too long.
The second one sold in the classifieds this morning. The third is sold and shipped to a friend. I'll get feedback on those arfer they are mounted and set-up.
I have one more hide to mount. This one is very different looking than the others. It is a yellow-blonde color - with less overall variatrion. Would look great on a natural maple banjo. More on that one after it is mounted....
aeroweenie - Posted - 06/18/2012: 12:29:52
How is a skin head premounted? I don't understand how it works. Is a premounted head like a plastic head, i.e., just put it on the rim, add the tension hoop, and tighten the hooks?
neighbour - Posted - 06/18/2012: 12:54:57
would you believe i was soaking a skin from a broken old djembe about an hour ago to see how thick it would be when mounting. it s rough looking , as in its got tiny hairs still all over it , and i was wondering could it be scraped more . would it be safe health wise to do this? i m making a mini banjo from a slice off the djembe and thought it would be good to use the skin too if i could clean it up . . .
Edited by - neighbour on 06/18/2012 12:55:53
jbalch - Posted - 06/18/2012: 13:07:01
quote:
Originally posted by aeroweenie
How is a skin head premounted? I don't understand how it works. Is a premounted head like a plastic head, i.e., just put it on the rim, add the tension hoop, and tighten the hooks?
I am pre-mounting skin heads for sale They are stretched, cured, trimmed and treated with waterproofer. They install on your 11" rim banjo essentially just like a modern mylar head. Photos of my process are here:
banjohangout.org/myhangout/pho...umid=6932
Standard goatskin heads are $46 including US shipping.
Tha African heads are $75 (when available). I'm temporarily out of stock on the Afican hides now and will advise when more are available.
jbalch - Posted - 06/18/2012: 13:12:46
quote:
Originally posted by neighbour
would you believe i was soaking a skin from a broken old djembe about an hour ago to see how thick it would be when mounting. it s rough looking , as in its got tiny hairs still all over it , and i was wondering could it be scraped more . would it be safe health wise to do this? i m making a mini banjo from a slice off the djembe and thought it would be good to use the skin too if i could clean it up . . .
I think you could probably scrape the thick hides more - or sand them. But I think it would be a good bit of work and probably change the texture and look.
Luthier Dan Knowles says he has tried running thick goat hides through his thickness sander in the shop. He says it works to thin the skin - but is a LOT of trouble to do.
I'd like to know if you are sucessful.
I've just been trying to find unmounted hides that are thin enough to begin with. I ordered eight (8) hides form a supplier - Three worked fine ... one more will probably work. That rest are just too thick.
DEmery - Posted - 06/18/2012: 13:21:56
John those are fine looking skins. All of the heads you have mounted for me are outstadnging. Each has performed well and after a short period to stretch in; they requrie virtually no adjustment. I think one of the African heads in 12" would be an interesting look on the ebony banjo. When you get set up to stretch 12" skins we can knock that idea around. David E.
jbalch - Posted - 06/18/2012: 14:00:21
Thanks John:
I've read some of that before. It seems like you really don't want to shave, scrape or sand the hides and breathe the residue - especially not without proper ventillation and protection. Statistically the chances of a problem seem very low - but not at all worth the risk.
I have no intention of doing those things. I'll stick to sourcing thinner (pre-shaved) skins from a US supplier.
jb
Edited by - jbalch on 06/18/2012 14:10:30
jcollins - Posted - 06/18/2012: 20:02:41
Wow - these are awesome - do you notice more bass overtones with these heads??
jbalch - Posted - 06/19/2012: 04:22:22
I've mounted three of these so far. The first is on my 12" rim internal resonator Bart Reiter banjo. I don't really like the look of it on that banjo. The Internal resonator has a refined and formal look. The Africa goat heads is a little too rustic looking on that banjo (for my taste).
But the head sounds great on that instrument. In fact, don't think it has ever sounded so good. What surprised me is how well balanced it is. It is not hard to get a good bass tone from a banjo like that. So the low strings sound big and full ( as I would expect). The surprise is how awesome and strong the higher string sound. The banjo "rings like a bell" up high. It seems clearer with more volume and sustain all the way up to the highest note on the 1st string.
I'll try to record a sound sample in coming days and post it here.
sugarinthegourd - Posted - 06/19/2012: 05:26:58
quote:
Originally posted by jbalch
I've mounted three of these so far. The first is on my 12" rim internal resonator Bart Reiter banjo. I don't really like the look of it on that banjo. The Internal resonator has a refined and formal look. The Africa goat heads is a little too rustic looking on that banjo (for my taste).
But the head sounds great on that instrument. In fact, don't think it has ever sounded so good.
Sound, schmound! It's all about the look! You should take that ugly head off that beautiful banjo and sell it to me!
;-)
jbalch - Posted - 06/19/2012: 06:00:36
John:
I have three of these Reiter 12" IR banjos from the 1993 batch. I really like them. The first is #905. (I used it to record ~HOT~ Biscuit Jam).
The others are #906 (a fretless), and my recent purchase #909. The latter pair have always sounded a little better than # 905 - for some reason. Don't get me wrong - I love them all. But # 906 and 909 just have a little something extra. I tried several set up changes: tailpieces, and bridges. #905 was still the runner up.
But when I installed this particular goat head - it all changed. This banjo really does sound better than ever - just like it should. I really don't like the look, but I'm afraid to touch it.
The African goat heads would look ideal on a JB, or another Dobson/ Buckbee style banjo.
Edited by - jbalch on 06/19/2012 06:01:07
jmoathout - Posted - 06/19/2012: 13:06:03
Yesterday, I saw John Balch's advertisement for African goat skin heads and placed an order for his #2, the only remaining in inventory. It arrived today before noon and I mounted it on my Reiter Galax-Plus (WL + Bacon-style donut). I think it looks and sounds great. It's a little less bright than my Reiter Tubaphone with calf skin head (although my hearing is shot and I probably don't hear all the range.) The only distraction I have is that there are a few remaining hairs, some of which are where my thumb hits the head. Perhaps they will wear off - or I could learn to play up the neck. I've attached photos. This makes the 5th head John has made for me (2 calf, 2 goat, 1 African goat) and they all are great.
MOUNTAIN GOAT - Posted - 06/20/2012: 12:06:55
You can take those skins to a tannery or taxidermist and get them shaved to what ever thickness you want.
