BlowingRockNC - Posted - 05/31/2014:  14:22:56

I have three main banjos that I play almost equally in terms of time. I switch banjos every two weeks. I like all three, but each has a slightly different sound/tone, and I don't actually have a favorite. All three are openbacks and have a mostly OT sound/tone. Anyway, all three have skin heads. Now that I have a torn head on the Gibson TB conversion, I'm willing to at least consider the possibility of using a synthetic head, as in a Renaissance or a Fyberskin in order to give me greater options vis-a-vis the weather. From my reading, I gather that the Fyberskin really isn't all that good, and that the Renaissance is far ahead in terms of overall use and quality. I don't know any of this to be true, only what I've read. I'm curious about the opinions of others on this point. The Renaissance is often written about as being a little more bluegrassy, and I prefer OT as I mentioned before. Anyway, what do you folks think about this issue, or should I just use a skin head to replace my torn skin head. Thanks.

Bill H - Posted - 05/31/2014:  15:13:53

I have Renaissance heads on a Vegaphone with Nylgut strings, a Little Wonder Conversion with steel strings and an 1895ish Bay State banjo with nylon strings. I'm very please with the tone and volume of each. The Vegaphone with steel strings made my ears hurt, talk about volume.

I recently removed the Renaissance head from my 2nd conversion Tubaphone. I was having such a difficult time with overtones, so I tried a bottom frosted head. Really helped with the overtones. I have a third Tubaphone with an 11 1/2" head and opted to keep the top frosted head it came to me with, and I am very pleased with that sound and volume. I just added a Steve Davis bridge to that banjo and WOW. Still, I think it's inevitable that I'll want to try a Renaissance on that one before too long.

What it really comes down to is factors like what kind of banjo, what style of playing, bridge, and most important, your preferences and taste. I think you just need to try one and see. I like the Renaissance: it has a nice clear tone without being overly bright and good volume.   

Edited by - Bill H on 05/31/2014 15:15:19

BlowingRockNC - Posted - 05/31/2014:  15:35:35

Bill, thanks for your views. By the way, I'm also a Bill. I hope some others give their opinions, but your opinion is entirely consistent with what I've read. Zepp is a big fan of the Renaissance head, and that carries great weight as well. I think it might be a good idea to have at least one banjo without a skin head, but I really liked the tone etc of my 1921 Gibson TB conversion, and I would hate to lose it by getting a different head, but live and learn...and I've got a lot of learning yet to do when it comes to banjos. Thanks again. Bill.