maplevega - Posted - 04/26/2015:  14:38:05

Wondering if anyone can tell me the inside diameter of Bill's 11" Dobson ring and how high it sits above the rim and/or raises the action? Thanks, Rick

maplevega - Posted - 04/26/2015:  15:09:17

Assuming I'll have to cut a rabbet on my 11" rim (it's a no tone ring rim)to fit the Dobson ring......would I just set the proper depth and height on router table? And, if I have to adjust for extra height above rim....just sand down?

PS....I know I could contact Bill with these questions but he gets very busy and I hate to bug him if there are others on the forum who have experience with these tone rings....Thanks again, Rick

jbalch - Posted - 04/26/2015:  15:52:32

Rick - I can't provide detailed specs - hopefully someone else will.  But from what I understand, they are smaller than 11".  I think 10 7/8".  I once had an 11" banjo with the Rickard Dobson (made by Wayne Sagmoen). The ring sat in a rabbet routed in the top edge of the wood rim. Wayne told me it was 10 7/8"

I know from experience that the 12" size is 11 7/8" (designed to slip on a standard Keller drum shell).That ring will fit on an Enoch Tradesman banjo with no modification.  In that application, it slips all the way down on top of the wood and raises the head only a very minimal amount.  I have installed them on those banjos with no other changes required (other than maybe a different bridge height.

Edited by - jbalch on 04/26/2015 15:56:42

maplevega - Posted - 04/26/2015:  16:07:18

Thank you John....I really love the fact that Bill's ring just slips over the Tradesman rim. I have an older Deering Little Wonder (2002 Blond model) that I really like. I'm going to try to add one of Bill's rings to it.

PS Since I had my stents procedure last November (it's hell getting old) I have to do about 45 mins to an hour every day on my Schwinn Airdyne.  Your HOT..Biscuit and Carry on John CD's are helping me get through it.....I listen to your music and picking every day and never get tired of it. Regards, Rick

Edited by - maplevega on 04/26/2015 16:10:39

jbalch - Posted - 04/26/2015:  16:15:54

I hope your recovery proceeds very well!  Thanks for the comments - that made my day!

guywolff - Posted - 04/28/2015:  05:28:38

I bet the Tradesmen sounds great .. Its lighter rim and the Dobson tone ring and John's skin head make a great combination and closer to the original idea of the Silver bell ..

Will1717 - Posted - 04/28/2015:  07:01:04

Rick:

I'm away from the shop at the moment but will post the info your looking for later in the day or this evening. I need to get an actual ring in my hands to be 125% sure myself as we adjusted a couple of dimensions awhile back.

Bill Rickard 

maplevega - Posted - 04/28/2015:  07:08:49

Thank you Bill....

banjered - Posted - 04/28/2015:  18:08:39

How much does the Dobson tone ring weigh? Banjered

Lyndon Smith - Posted - 04/29/2015:  00:24:04

quote:

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Originally posted by banjered

How much does the Dobson tone ring weigh? Banjered

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235g. It's one of the reasons I like them, they're light...

Will1717 - Posted - 04/29/2015:  05:59:35

Hope this works and is helpful Rick.

Edited by - Will1717 on 04/29/2015 06:04:20

Dobson Tone Ring Fitting To A 2 Ply Rim

Will1717 - Posted - 04/29/2015:  06:08:30

Rick:

I'll measure the inside diameter when I get to the shop and add this dimension shortly

maplevega - Posted - 04/29/2015:  06:47:00

Thanks Bill....very helpful....Rick 

maplevega - Posted - 04/29/2015:  14:00:05

I have linked to Rickard Banjo Group so others will have access to this information. Rick