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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/291230
hamishpink - Posted - 09/13/2014: 13:47:10
I was given a banjo uke by a friend who had it from childhood in the late 1940s. The calfskin head is near perfect and thick, but has no flexibility. Slackening the head tension has no effect, it's as hard and rigid as a guitar soundboard. The sound is weak due to lack of vibration in the head.
Could it be softened with water, leather cream, oil etc? All suggestions welcomed.
I would like to replace it with a mylar head but it is an individual in between size, which would create more than a few problems. If it can't be brought back to life then I will have to replace with a new skin head.
Mumble Peg - Posted - 09/13/2014: 16:39:05
Sounds like someone may have coated it with varnish or shellac. If not, try cleaning it with plain warm water on a sponge and gently wiping it top and underside.
Gus Bloch - Posted - 09/13/2014: 16:49:55
Remove it.
Inspect for damage and replace if necessary. If it passes muster:
Liberally rub mink oil into both sides.
Let dry overnight.
Polish off excess.
Reinstall and tighten to proper tension.
New skin must be soaked to saturation, lightly tensioned, trimmed and fully dried before removal. oiling, reinstallation final tensioning.
Oil the lug threadings
......Just my humble opinion
Fathand - Posted - 09/14/2014: 06:28:40
$9.00 for new skin heads at Elderly use your old flesh hoop, probably less trouble than reworking the old one. I put one on my Dixie and it sounds great.
hamishpink - Posted - 09/17/2014: 03:51:11
Thanks to all.
For the record a friend gave me some leather cream used in bookbinding restoration, and the head is now as supple as the day it was first installed.
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