Montanarick - Posted - 11/21/2012:  14:45:24

Just changed out the Elite head on my new Bart Reiter RP for one of John Balch's 12" Coffee Stained Goat Hide Heads.....Looks amazing and sounds even better....I won't bore you again with my playing but trust me....under the subject of set-up improvements I highly recommend it. Rick

I tried a second sample....sitting farther away from the computer and trying to play more relaxed and softer....thanks for bearing with me as I experiment....Rick

Edited by - Montanarick on 11/23/2012 12:09:47

VIDEO: Cluck Old Hen...take two (click to view)

shannonhearne - Posted - 11/21/2012:  14:55:45

The hide head looks great Rick!

Should give you many years of enjoyment.

I also have a couple of Balch heads. John is a great guy and makes an excellent product.

-Shannon

PS: Great photo. Are you a fly fisherman? I try to fish Montana several times every year.; really love it.

Montanarick - Posted - 11/21/2012:  15:01:44

quote:Shannon.....thanks.....and yes....whenever I get the time I'm on the water. Regards, Rick

---

Originally posted by shannonhearne

The hide head looks great Rick!



Should give you many years of enjoyment.



I also have a couple of Balch heads. John is a great guy and makes an excellent product.



-Shannon



PS: Great photo. Are you a fly fisherman? I try to fish Montana several times every year.; really love it.

---

jamesd - Posted - 11/21/2012:  15:10:36

Please  go ahead and bore us with a tune with the new goat hide head.  I have a RP on order and would like to hear a sample with the goat head!

mbuk06 - Posted - 11/21/2012:  15:42:11

Looks great Rick. I just put one of John's goat skin heads on my Round Peak too. Taking it slowly to get the tension how I like it but it's starting to sound really nice. I wouldn't find it boring at all to hear a sound clip...

jbalch - Posted - 11/21/2012:  18:27:27

Thanks to all of you for the support and your feedback!  The greatest reward is to see folks enjoy the heads.  I hope these serve you well for a long time.

Montanarick - Posted - 11/22/2012:  11:55:38

mbuko6 and jamesd....here is a sound sample for you......I will be able to prove to you in one fell swoop that I'm not a very good player or recorder but hopefully this will give you an idea of the sound produced with a jbalch goat skin head. The head and strings are still stretching but I told them to behave for a minute while I recorded this....Rick

VIDEO: Cluck Old Hen (click to view)

Dan Drabek - Posted - 11/22/2012:  16:50:42

Very nice. Sounds like the new head is a good fit for both your playing style and your banjo.

jamesd - Posted - 11/23/2012:  06:18:28

Rich, thanks for posting.  Your new  head looks great.  I may try one someday myself.    And you play just fine.

Montanarick - Posted - 11/23/2012:  09:46:57

quote:jamesd....thanks for the encouragement....I'm working hard to improve....Rick

---

Originally posted by jamesd

Rich, thanks for posting.  Your new  head looks great.  I may try one someday myself.    And you play just fine.

---

mbuk06 - Posted - 11/23/2012:  10:45:19

Sounds good to me! 

I had an idea to post before-and-after sound clips of 'Let Me Fall' on my Round Peak with the original Elite (Renaissance) head and then with the goat skin head for comparison purposes. I figured this may help someone else considering making the same head change. Actually It's taken longer than I expected for the skin head and strings to 'settle' and for me to find the head tension I like. I recorded and uploaded 'Let Me Fall (1) last weekend and I'll try and get 'Let Me Fall' (2) uploaded tomorrow and post both in the Sound-Off section.

Edited by - mbuk06 on 11/23/2012 10:47:02