Lyndon Smith - Posted - 11/02/2013:  07:02:47

I bought a calfskin on eBay (UK) the other day and when it arrived I was very surprised to see that it's virtually transparent. I'm not at all sure about it...

Is there a way to whiten the skin, or at least make it more opaque?

I'll have a go at mounting it later and I may post some pictures of it.

Edited by - Lyndon Smith on 11/02/2013 07:03:18

derwood400 - Posted - 11/02/2013:  07:39:15

I don't know about whitening it, but I have seen them quite transparent before.  I have a Prust tackhead banjo, and the skin is mottled, but it has areas that are very translucent.  I think it looks really neat myself.

Edited by - derwood400 on 11/02/2013 07:42:19

trapdoor2 - Posted - 11/02/2013:  07:43:22

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lyndon Smith

 

I bought a calfskin on eBay (UK) the other day and when it arrived I was very surprised to see that it's virtually transparent. I'm not at all sure about it...

Is there a way to whiten the skin, or at least make it more opaque?

I'll have a go at mounting it later and I may post some pictures of it.

---

Of course, you could paint it or hit it with white shoe-polish.  I think you should do that before you tighten it down as the liquid may cause it to go flabby.

I know folks who would pay extra for the transparent type. They're typically very thin and sharp sounding.

jbalch - Posted - 11/02/2013:  07:46:25

Those are very common. They can make sturdy and great sounding heads. They are usually stiffer and may be more reliable than bleached, opaque, white calf skins. 

Linked to the hide heads group.

Edited by - jbalch on 11/02/2013 07:48:42

LWC - Posted - 11/02/2013:  08:23:49

I got a skinhead several years ago from Bill Miller and I dyed it, worked great sounded good so I don't see why you can't whiten it.

Lyndon Smith - Posted - 11/02/2013:  13:00:08

I've mounted the transparent calfskin but it is no longer transparent. It's mottled white and looks ace but maybe that's only because it's damp...

jbalch - Posted - 11/03/2013:  05:22:10

How did it turn out after drying?

Lyndon Smith - Posted - 11/03/2013:  05:30:58

jbalch: Mottled and opaque, for what I like, beautiful. I'm so pleased. I'll get a photo up shortly...

Lyndon Smith - Posted - 11/03/2013:  05:44:54

Clifford Essex eat your heart out!

Here's a calfskin that cost 2/3 of what CE charge, was 18" diameter (not 15") and therefore easier to fit and it looks the dog's...

When it arrived you could read newsprint through it but something in the soaking and stretching has made it mottled white. Just perfect for what I was looking for. 

My 'Bowlin' tribute banjo is coming on very nicely...

Calfskin Fitted

My 'Bowlin' Tribute Banjo

carlb - Posted - 11/03/2013:  06:28:12

quote:

---

Originally posted by trapdoor2

I know folks who would pay extra for the transparent type. They're typically very thin and sharp sounding.

---

Yes, I'm of that school and have been using thin, transparent skins (also known as "slunk") since 1973. I just love the sound I get from my banjos. The one presently on my Bacon Professional #3 has been on since I purchased it for $54 ($50 plus shipping) in July, 2004.

jbalch - Posted - 11/03/2013:  08:31:18

That is a nice looking hide. Well done!

banjot - Posted - 11/03/2013:  15:20:48

Kyle Creed swore by translucent skin heads. He claimed that the translucent part was a grease spot and that cat skin was best because it was all translucent.

Tom Mylet

championofnorthhuron - Posted - 11/03/2013:  17:29:22

I had a very transparent skin on an SS Stewart I bought from Bernunzio. Almost no white/mottling... just a few tiny spots like an odd cloud in an otherwise clear bright sky. What was odd too... or at least seemed that way to me, was that you could see none of the pores that I assume to be hair follicles on other skins I have. Unfortunately I didn't keep that banjo long enough to make any solid conclusions as to how stable the head was.

Edited by - championofnorthhuron on 11/03/2013 17:33:39

S.S. Stewart UF

Hawgfiddle65 - Posted - 11/04/2013:  01:15:00

Hi Lyndon

That does look like  the bees knees! Was it an auction or a dealer on ebay. Any chance of a link. It's exactly what I might be looking for.

All the best

Jim (Hawhfiddle65)

Davidprat - Posted - 11/04/2013:  02:27:04

There are several that sells hide heads in the Ebay Uk

ebay.co.uk/itm/BANJO-HEADS-NAT...c36ffbb4a">ebay.co.uk/itm/BANJO-HEADS-NAT...c36ffbb4a

ebay.co.uk/itm/Banjo-heads-Goa...&hash=item4d08755365

ebay.co.uk/itm/Banjo-heads-nat...a6ab553f2

I Bought some hide heads from one of this seller a few years ago, but since I got my first hide head from John Balch I only got them from him.

Lyndon Smith - Posted - 11/04/2013:  04:35:18

Here's where I got it from: ebay.co.uk/itm/330858266687?ss...439.l2649

I got a thin one, which is about the same thickness as a Bill Roger's. Good price and good quality...