superdave - Posted - 11/29/2013:  07:24:07

Even after installing a John Balch skin head I find myself still needing to lightly stuff the head to eliminate the metallic wolf tones. I love the sound of the tubaphone ring but it seems like the sustain is just slightly a bit much.

Thanks, Dave

jbalch - Posted - 11/29/2013:  07:41:54

Thanks for trying my hide head.  I hope it is an improvement.

The tubaphone tone ring definitely has more ringing sustain than just about any other design (including: Gibson mastertone).  IMHO - there is nothing wrong with stuffing - as necessary - to tone it down.

I like to use a small square of sheepskin - rolled-up.  That seems to tame the pesky tones without damping the sound too much.

Brooklynbanjoboy - Posted - 11/29/2013:  08:12:18

I use a small piece of a painter's sponge, the sort used to add texture to paint on walls.  I believe it is called a sea sponge.  Works decently enough.

banjered - Posted - 11/29/2013:  09:20:29

What's the advantage of natural sponge over synthetic foam ? Banjered

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 11/29/2013:  11:03:19

Nylon / Nylgut strings will tone it down further.
My favorites are Chris Sands heavies.

I'd say don't hesitate to stuff if that's what gives you the sound you want.

superdave - Posted - 11/29/2013:  15:55:22

John is that your Baconphone plus in the pic. ?

Dave

Montanarick - Posted - 11/29/2013:  17:15:14

Dave, I use sea sponge on my Bacophone and have been very happy with it. I'm going to get another hide head from John soon. I just got back from the hospital a couple of hours ago following back surgery so unfortunately I won't be able to lift my baco for a little while. However, when we got home I did have my wife do a short video of me playing my Tranjo, just to prove that you can't keep a 'bad' banjer player down! The fact that my anesthesia hasn't quite worn off yet is my excuse this time. Regards, Rick 

keqwow1 - Posted - 11/29/2013:  17:16:01

That is not the Bacophone in John's photos...it is a tubaphone.

jbalch - Posted - 11/29/2013:  17:47:36

quote:

Originally posted by keqwow1

 

That is not the Bacophone in John's photos...it is a tubaphone.

 Correct - that was a bracket band tubaphone that I recently sold.  Great banjo!

BTW - I use the sheepskin stuffer with my bacophone-plus too.

superdave - Posted - 11/30/2013:  04:55:07

Thanks, that's what I get for not expanding the picture. I find with Johns skin head and just some minor stuffing the tubaphone ring has a very pleasant tone. Now I will have Bart scoop it and it will be perfect.

thanks, Dave

russtul - Posted - 12/02/2013:  07:25:49

John's right, I bought his bracket band Tubaphone and after a few months of getting settled in with it I have to say it is a sweetheart.

John's goatskin head sounds fantastic and the sheepskin strips he gave me for stuffing work better than anything else I've tried.I have since started using them in all my banjos and had success all around.

By the way, I had the luck to pick the Tubaphone up from John while on a vacation trip. We had a little time to visit and share a meal with he and his lovely wife. John is a wealth of knowledge and a gracious host. Anyone lucky enough to be enrolled in the upcoming banjo camp, where John is one of the instructors, will find themselves in for a treat. 

superdave - Posted - 12/02/2013:  16:00:57

I have always lusted to own one of Bart's older more ornate banjo's until I got my recently built Reiter Tubaphone scooped and found my perfect banjo sitting right under my nose. I could have never scooped one of his heirloom instruments so I now at peace. With John Balch's skin head and Bart scooping and tweaking my banjo it's like getting a brand new instrument. 

Thanks, Dave

Montanarick - Posted - 12/03/2013:  11:26:31

quote:I just realized how goofy it was to talk about my surgery in Dave's thread. I was still somewhat sedated and so happy to have it over with that I was kind of doing one of those shout it from the roof top things...sorry bout that....Rick 

Originally posted by Montanarick

Dave, I use sea sponge on my Bacophone and have been very happy with it. I'm going to get another hide head from John soon. I just got back from the hospital a couple of hours ago following back surgery so unfortunately I won't be able to lift my baco for a little while. However, when we got home I did have my wife do a short video of me playing my Tranjo, just to prove that you can't keep a 'bad' banjer player down! The fact that my anesthesia hasn't quite worn off yet is my excuse this time. Regards, Rick 

superdave - Posted - 12/03/2013:  13:00:41

No harm done Rick. Always good to hear from you. Glad your feeling better.

Dave

superdave - Posted - 12/05/2013:  14:04:11

Next time I'm near the sea I will look for some sponges.

Edited by - superdave on 12/05/2013 14:12:18