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/285760
BlowingRockNC - Posted - 05/31/2014: 10:29:03
Huge bummer. I just saw that the skin head on my 1921 Gibson TB conversion (the head is about a year old) has torn for about six inches around the rim. It's been really wet around here for a couple of weeks, and I haven't tightened the head at all. Anyway, I'm going to have to put a new one on. The one that tore has a light brown natural grain and tone to it. I like the sound and I like the look. Any ideas from anyone on what I should order and from where I should order it? Am I a fool for wanting to replace it with another skin head? If so, what would you suggest? I appreciate any and all thoughts and opinions. I'm really bummed out about this, but I know it's just a normal part of having a skin head and owning banjos, so I'll survive. I don't plan to do the actual work myself, because I just don't do those sorts of things very well. I don't mind paying someone who knows what they are doing. Thanks.
westsideryan - Posted - 05/31/2014: 11:46:33
I have read great things about JD Balch's heads. I am actually hoping to place an order with him in the very near future myself. You can check out some of his work and a price list here: banjohangout.org/blog/31283
TheLastWord - Posted - 05/31/2014: 11:56:08
I'll second JD Balch's heads. I'm using three and have another one waiting for a future banjo. He has options and will even stain if desired.
raybob - Posted - 05/31/2014: 12:08:16
And while you're at it ask John to treat it for moisture resistance. I think it would help a lot with the stability of the head as seasons change. I do this and haven't had any problems
BlowingRockNC - Posted - 05/31/2014: 12:51:45
I appreciate the responses so far. It would seem that everyone thus far favors replacing with another skin head. I don't really know what the "pre-mounted" part is all about. What's the skin head pre-mounted to?
rowdyboy - Posted - 05/31/2014: 13:07:56
Go to J. Balch's site listed above. It has the complete guide to installation. The prefitted hide is stretched under a metal hoop that is just slightly larger than the pot, enough to allow the skin to fit under the hoop and be routed back under your tension hoop. The tension hoop pushes down on the fitted hoop to tension the skin. It's not all that difficult to accomplish, but having it premounted saves you the time and hassle of doing it yourself. I used to get mine from Bill Miller but he did not have a premounted 11 13/16" to fit a big Vega pot. That surprised me as there are so many of them out there.
Edited by - rowdyboy on 05/31/2014 13:09:41
BlowingRockNC - Posted - 05/31/2014: 13:40:25
quote:
Originally posted by rowdyboy
Go to J. Balch's site listed above. It has the complete guide to installation. The prefitted hide is stretched under a metal hoop that is just slightly larger than the pot, enough to allow the skin to fit under the hoop and be routed back under your tension hoop. The tension hoop pushes down on the fitted hoop to tension the skin. It's not all that difficult to accomplish, but having it premounted saves you the time and hassle of doing it yourself. I used to get mine from Bill Miller but he did not have a premounted 11 13/16" to fit a big Vega pot. That surprised me as there are so many of them out there.
I have an 11 3/4 1923 Vega N conversion, also with a skin head. I hadn't thought about the sizing issue, but the one that tore is a regular 12" Gibson TB conversion, so I would think a regular 12" skin head would do the trick.
jbalch - Posted - 05/31/2014: 14:23:56
Hello Bill:
I really appreciate all the recommendations. Thanks. I am hesitant to reply ... In light of the recent criticism of others for selling products through these forums. So please forgive if this seems too mercenary.
I am set up to pre-mount heads in 11" and 12 sizes These are finished heads - ready to install with no wetting (see photos). In order to pre-mount a head, I must have a rim & matching hardware in the final size. I use new rims purchased from Bart Reiter. I do not offer pre-mounted heads in sizes other than 11" and 12" simply because I don't have rims & hardware in the dozens of different diameters marketed in the past. I just can't afford to buy lots of vintage banjos (or even just the rims) to mount the small number of requests that I might get.
I do offer a service to custom mount directly on vintage rims & hardware. The cost is the same as a standard pre-mount - plus actual return shipping. I also encourage folks to mount their own hides. It is not difficult...especially with a little practice.
Here is the link to my blog: banjohangout.org/blog/31283
Obviously I'm biased, but there are plenty of great reasons to choose natural hide over plastic. Besides sound, look and feel (all VERY important), sometimes plastic heads with the associated large aluminum hoop just don't fit well on old banjos.
Hide heads do require occasional adjustment. They do respond to changing weather. They are NOT "set-it-and-forget-it." So - if a plastic head fits and you want maximum convenience - or you just like the plastic sound - nothing wrong with that.
I hope that helps! Best wishes...
Edited by - jbalch on 05/31/2014 14:30:19
Crusty - Posted - 05/31/2014: 14:27:25
Go to Stew-Mac and read the installation instructions here. It will make the selection of a hide head easier.
BlowingRockNC - Posted - 05/31/2014: 15:43:22
quote:
Originally posted by jbalch
Hello Bill:
I really appreciate all the recommendations. Thanks. I am hesitant to reply ... In light of the recent criticism of others for selling products through these forums. So please forgive if this seems too mercenary.
John, I was hoping you would respond. Thanks for the information. I've got to think about this some. I've also got a message into the fellow who put the torn head on, but he's in Canada and I don't think it makes sense to send the banjo there and back for this type of repair. Thanks again. Bill.
BlowingRockNC - Posted - 05/31/2014: 16:41:06
Well, I've communicated with Carl Arcand in Canada (I bought the banjo from him), and I plan to stick with a skin head. Thanks for everyone's thoughts and ideas.
carlb - Posted - 06/01/2014: 06:15:50
My suggestion, and I think it's critical: If you like the tone of the skin before it ripped, I suggest you measure the thickness of that skin and replace with a new one of the same thickness. I, personally, like slunk heads which are very thin. Thicker skins make my banjos sound too tubby.
BlowingRockNC - Posted - 06/01/2014: 06:33:35
quote:
Originally posted by carlb
My suggestion, and I think it's critical: If you like the tone of the skin before it ripped, I suggest you measure the thickness of that skin and replace with a new one of the same thickness. I, personally, like slunk heads which are very thin. Thicker skins make my banjos sound too tubby.
Thanks for the recommendation. I just want my banjo to sound the same, which is to say sound as great as it did before.
