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Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/256191
Bernie Nye - Posted - 02/14/2013: 13:20:59
Hey there,
I recently got my hands on an 1800's double spun JB Schall "The Nelson" banjo. I thought it would sound great with a skin head so I went to the local folk shop and bought the thinnest one I could find. When I tried to mount it there was absolutely not enough room to fit two layers of skin under the tension hoop. I read some advice somewhere that said if the head was too wet it might be swollen so I waited for it to dry up and tried again. The tension hoop still wouldn't fit. I've got a 10 9/16 fiberskyn on it now but would love to get a calf skin head on there. Any ideas? I think a pre mounted head would work but haven't seen any in the right size for the pot. Thanks!
jbalch - Posted - 02/14/2013: 14:06:30
Sometimes the tension hoop is so tight that mounting a new hide is very hard. Can be very frustrating I know.
How thick was the hide? Do you have a way of measuring it? Most of the hides I use are .013 in. to .o16.in thick (medium). But you can get them as thin as .008 in. +/-.
A thinner hide might be available depending on what your local store was able to provide. A supplier like Jeff Stern (Stern Tanning Co.) can sand the hide tor precise thickness too.
Bernie Nye - Posted - 02/14/2013: 14:46:43
I don't really have a way to measure something that thin. Sanding might be a good idea though, maybe I'll try sanding the head in the area that needs to fit under the tension hoop. Does anyone know of someone who could make a custom sized pre fitted skin head?
Mumble Peg - Posted - 02/14/2013: 16:41:31
I have a write-up dealing with this problem and offering a solution. Yours for the asking via email.
chadp - Posted - 02/24/2013: 07:31:33
When I put my head on, i started on one side of the head and tacked on like two tension hooks. then bit by bit worked my way around the rim until there were 6 or 8 on in total. you just need to use the hooks to force the hoop down. Don't worry. You can do it! That banjo predates plastic heads by about 60 or 70 years probably. someone else has done this before.
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