RV6 - Posted - 06/25/2014:  10:16:35

A Reiter A flat is on it's way to me from Elderly.   I'm 67 but feel like a kid at Christmas

I  have a Reiter Buckbee that I set up with a goatskin head and nylon strings and I love this banjo.  Unless the A flat blows me away with it's steel strings and whatever head is installed, I'll probably set it up the same way.

On the Buckbee, I tried a no knot tailpiece with Chris Sands mediums with the goatskin head but didn't get much tension on the head due to little down pressure.  The "J" hook nuts were not very snug.  So, I put on a walnut tailpiece that I made that  puts some down pressure on the strings/head and was able to get the "J" hook nuts tighter as a result.  The banjo sounded better.

I have a cammed no knot tailpiece I might use on the A Flat and I assume, due to it's 24 3/4" scale, that Chris Sands heavies would be the strings to use.  I ordered a medium calfskin from Elderly and will probably put that on the A Flat.  If that doesn't work out, maybe I'll switch heads and put the goatskin on the A Flat.  I like the skin heads with nylon strings.

Do you think the heavier nylon strings used with  the no knot tailpiece will apply enough pressure to the calfskin (med) head to transmit energy from the strings?  I have Sands heavies on my 26 1/4 scale RK OT25  with a JBalch goatskin head and my homemade tailpiece and it's worked out very well.  I can always make another wood tailpiece that will apply some string pressure.

I plan on tuning the A Flat to open G and double C and maybe a few frets lower most of the time but would like to be able to play cappoed at the second fret in A and double D when I go to a jam (so I can more quickly go from A to G).

Thanks,   Bob

(click to enlarge)

Reiter Buckbee

etparadox - Posted - 06/25/2014:  12:24:20

The tailpiece should have no effect on the head tension. You tighten the hooks independently of the strings or tailpiece. If you're only hand tightening the hooks, your banjo head is a incredibly low tension, hence the lack of projection. 

RV6 - Posted - 06/25/2014:  13:33:49

quote:

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Originally posted by etparadox

The tailpiece should have no effect on the head tension. You tighten the hooks independently of the strings or tailpiece. If you're only hand tightening the hooks, your banjo head is a incredibly low tension, hence the lack of projection. 

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Thanks for replying, Eli.  Possibly I didn't communicate my thoughts well or don't understand yours.

Lets say you have a "no knot"  T.P strung up with nylon strings and the bridge in the normal position.  The hide head is barely depressed.  Lets say, less than a dimes width under the 10" rule when tuned up, lets say "G".   IOW, incredibly low tension.  As you move the bridge towards the tailpiece the pressure on the bridge increases which depresses the the head.  To get a dimes clearance again, wouldn't you have to tighten the head?

If I put steel strings on the banjo and tuned them up to "G", wouldn't this cause the bridge to put a much larger "dent" in the head meaning I'd have to really tighten the "J" hooks?

Gotta go to a wake.  Hope to visit with you later.

Thanks,  Bob

etparadox - Posted - 06/25/2014:  13:48:42

The only time head depression should be an issue is if it is causing unplayably low action. The bridge sinking into the head is normal, and if it is excessive it probably means your head tension is too low. Low head tension is detrimental to volume and tone and should be avoided. If you put steel strings on and the head deflects excessively and you don't want to increase the head tension you should get a higher bridge. 

RV6 - Posted - 06/26/2014:  10:40:35

Thanks.   Bob

mikehalloran - Posted - 06/27/2014:  09:11:21

Try the D'Addario Composite nylon for the third and fourth strings. The wound Composite / EXP nylon basses have a few strands of wire in the nylon core.

The green Composite G strings have a single strand of wire as its core. It ends the "dull nylon 3rd effect".

These will give you a little more definition on those strings and a bit more pressure on the bridge.

The EXP nylon basses are the Composite with a coating. These stay bright even after severe wear. I prefer the EXP.

All are available as singles from the online string dealers in regular, hard and extra hard tensions.

RV6 - Posted - 06/27/2014:  10:52:40

Thanks, Mike.

I received the Reiter A flat a couple of hours ago. It came with a Renaissance head and I don't know what steel strings. I tuned it to Double C & played some tunes.

Holy smokes! This banjo sounds outstanding just the way it is. So, nylon strings and a hide head will be in it's future, probably when I detect some fret wear. The Ab seems slightly louder than the Buckbee was when I received it (equipped the same way.)

Bob

bc5000 - Posted - 06/28/2014:  18:06:23

Bob, did you have Elderly order the banjo? If so how long did it take?

I had my local shop, which is a Reiter banjo dealer, order me an A-Flat 5 months ago and am still waiting. I asked Mr. Reiter about how long to expect and he said around 2 months for delivery.

RV6 - Posted - 06/28/2014:  18:29:48

quote:

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Originally posted by bc5000

Bob, did you have Elderly order the banjo? If so how long did it take?



I had my local shop, which is a Reiter banjo dealer, order me an A-Flat 5 months ago and am still waiting. I asked Mr. Reiter about how long to expect and he said around 2 months for delivery.



 

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I've been checking Elderly's site for months and they finally showed they had the A flat in stock and I jumped on it.

Bob.

bc5000 - Posted - 06/28/2014:  18:51:57

Is your serial number over 4000? I thought he was going to retire at around 4000.