Banjolution - Posted - 11/29/2012:  09:51:18

 I was wondering who produced the Tubaphone tone rings used in Bart Reiter's older Tubby models? Does he use Rickard rings on his recent models?  Are there any difference's  in the design?

Thanks for any info!

Deaf Lester Crawdad - Posted - 11/29/2012:  11:51:23

quote:

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Originally posted by Banjolution

 I was wondering who produced the Tubaphone tone rings used in Bart Reiter's older Tubby models? Does he use Rickard rings on his recent models?  Are there any difference's  in the design?

Thanks for any info!

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 Why not ask Bart himself?   He goes under "banjobart" here on the Hangout.

~Pete

jbalch - Posted - 11/30/2012:  04:02:46

Bart traditionally used StewMac tone rings and metal parts. I'm confident that while the tubaphone was a regular production model, that was the source for the rings.

Some such parts are no longer offered on the StewMac website or catalog (ie: tubaphone & Bacon tone rings).  But I think that Stew-Mac still owns the tooling and may produce them from time to time as OEM supply for builders like Bart. 

 I don't know if Bart currently buys any parts from Bill Rickard. Maybe he will respond to the question.

Edited by - jbalch on 11/30/2012 04:03:20

banjobart - Posted - 11/30/2012:  06:35:34

I just got a box of tubaphone tone rings form Bill. They look just like the tubaphones I used to get from a local spinner/fabricator in the Flint area. I had 100-200 made. I forget the exact amount. I plan to revive a tubaphone model using Bill's rings. The first ones ship next week. The bacon rings do come through Athens. Bill intends to make those, too. I had other sources years ago.

Ho C Ying - Posted - 11/30/2012:  07:22:08

quote:

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Originally posted by banjobart

I just got a box of tubaphone tone rings form Bill. They look just like the tubaphones I used to get from a local spinner/fabricator in the Flint area. I had 100-200 made. I forget the exact amount. I plan to revive a tubaphone model using Bill's rings. The first ones ship next week. The bacon rings do come through Athens. Bill intends to make those, too. I had other sources years ago.

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Very good news! 

jbalch - Posted - 11/30/2012:  07:33:41

I guess my assumption Re StewMac and the tubaphone rings was wrong - It is always a good day when I learn something new!

I agree that the re-introduction of the model with Rickard parts is great news!

Edited by - jbalch on 11/30/2012 07:38:00

Banjolution - Posted - 11/30/2012:  10:43:58

 Thanks for the info everyone. That's exciting news you will be making more Tubaphones Bart! Will they be custom order only or sent to stores that sell your Banjos?

mikehalloran - Posted - 11/30/2012:  14:42:56

I don't ever remember Stew-Mac offering a Tubaphone ring.

Ken LeVan - Posted - 11/30/2012:  14:58:17

quote:

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Originally posted by mikehalloran



I don't ever remember Stew-Mac offering a Tubaphone ring.

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They never have, and I have never understood why not, but that resulted in me developing my own constructions, so I ought to thank them.  I DO -Thanks for not selling a tubaphone, Stewmac!

RWJones1970 - Posted - 11/30/2012:  17:14:36

Oh boy here we go........did Bart really say that ?!!

banjobart - Posted - 11/30/2012:  18:42:04

Stew-Mac sold tunaphone, I mean tubaphone tone rings for a couple years back in the 90's. I wish I had bought them all but I had just gotten a large shipment on a pallet from my own sources and thought they would never run out. A guy in Long Beach made a lot of tuba rings for me, too.

banjobart - Posted - 11/30/2012:  18:47:57

Making tuba rings is a nightmare of a project. The square tubing is very stiff and almost impossible to roll into a hoop without crushing the hollow tube. A hydraulic bender will do it, roll the entire 12' bar into a coil then cut it into 4 hoops and silver solder the joints.

By comparison, you could teach a chimp to make WL rings.

mikehalloran - Posted - 11/30/2012:  19:57:47

I remember talking with Greg Deering a couple of years after he bought Vega. At that time, he told me thst he was making all of their Tubaphone rings himself; he hadn't taught anyone else how to do it.

superdave - Posted - 12/02/2012:  06:20:56

I have one of Bart's more recent tubaphone banjo's with a Bill Rickard tone ring and I will say the tone doesn't get any better than this. And yes Rob this is exciting news for anyone who didn't or couldn't buy a Reiter tubaphone before. I just posted some pics. including one of the back of the pot and tone ring of my Reiter/Rickard tubaphone on my homepage.

Thanks, Dave

Edited by - superdave on 12/02/2012 06:27:46