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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/312788
Leslie R - Posted - 12/21/2015: 15:25:10
I have a Paramount Leader. It came with a Rogers skin head on it. It's kind of dirty, but seems to be in very good condition. It sounds good on the Leader.
I have a 1925 Gibson BB. It's pot seems to be an even 10&15/16, maybe 10&7/8.
I was thinking of trying to put that Rogers head on the Gibson. Not sure if the slight difference in diameter would make this not simply not feasible. Also, there's not a lot of room for error. The notch on the heel of the neck, for the tension hoop, is not all that deep. And, I am guessing it may take a fair amount of space to pull that head tight. But, if it did work, I think that banjo could really come to life.
RioStat - Posted - 12/21/2015: 15:36:34
'25 Gibson ball bearing should take an 11" head.
I know this for a fact, because I just put a low-crown, Taiwanese Remo head on a '25 ball bearing, TB / RB 3, this past Summer.
I'm not the least bit familiar with Paramounts....what's the pot size on them?
Edited by - RioStat on 12/21/2015 15:40:10
jbalch - Posted - 12/21/2015: 16:38:45
Others will know for sure, but I think many Paramount banjos use an 11 1/8" head. As RioStat said, the Gibson Ball bearing should be a 11". Such small differences do when fitting a head on your banjo. Those two sizes would not be interchangeable.
Try cleaning your Rogers head with a white pencil eraser. You can also use very fine sandpaper ... but be very careful not to overdo it.
G Edward Porgie - Posted - 12/21/2015: 17:46:25
Paramount--11 1/8 inches.
Gibson--11 inches.
Not interchangeable.
Leslie R - Posted - 12/21/2015: 18:47:44
I put a tape on both. They are Gibson = 11 inches; Paramount = 11&1/8 inches.
They are not interchangeable. At least it was fun to think about. And, it got me to thinking about putting a skin head on it. I think that BB would sound really good, with a good quality skin head on it. I do think it would be tricky to get one on that banjo though.
Dave1climber - Posted - 12/21/2015: 20:34:41
One of John Balch's pre mounted skin heads would go right on, no fuss, no muss. Just tell him what you want and what it is going on.
dhergert - Posted - 12/21/2015: 23:33:39
I've put a Yellowstone head on my BB and also on a friend's BB.
It's similar to installing a skin head to some extent, but tecnically more involved on any banjo because you put the Nomex sheet material on dry and you use an un-welded flesh hoop for it.
To do an install cleanly, I usually take the neck and other hardware completely off the pot, which does make it a longer process. But that said, it's not that difficult to put either a skin head or a Yellowstone head on a BB.
Just a labor of love :).
-- Don
quote:
Originally posted by Leslie R
I put a tape on both. They are Gibson = 11 inches; Paramount = 11&1/8 inches.
They are not interchangeable. At least it was fun to think about. And, it got me to thinking about putting a skin head on it. I think that BB would sound really good, with a good quality skin head on it. I do think it would be tricky to get one on that banjo though.
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