jbird39 - Posted - 06/25/2016:  07:02:17

Hey guys , i recently bought a Bart Reiter Bacophon banjo .2004 model and i need some set up advice.  

the overtones are killing me.

i have a drum dial. what should it be set at . i have heard in the 90's  some where. what about the no knot tailpiece?

should i keep it ? what about strings? light med or heavy. any advice on getting rid of the overtones  will be appreciated . i have rags stuffed ever where. lol also i don't play clawhammer style.  i play old time two finger style. sort of like that guy Chip sombody .sorry i cant remember his last name. but i use a finger pick. no thumb pick

thanks 

jc

jbalch - Posted - 06/25/2016:  08:30:48

Your Reiter Bacophone banjo should respond well to set-up choices.  That Bacon tone ring may be a little less bright (more "woody") sounding than a whyte laydie, or tubaphone. The Bacon ring can have a "Dobson-like" sustain.  But it should sound great once you arrive on your preferred settings.

I think the first thing to try is head tension.  I don't use a drumdial very often.  Others may comment with more helpful advice as to their preferred settings. Perhaps the range from 89-91 may be a consensus. Steve Davis' "ruler & quarter" (deflection) method can also be useful.  I recommend experimenting with a rang of settings to find what works for you.  But whatever your preferred setting,  I think it is equally important to get the tension even all around the rim.  You can evaluate that by tapping at various points and comparing the sound.  Also tools like drumdial & drumtorque can be helpful to evaluate evenness.

A different tailpiece might also help tame pesky overtones.  I use Presto tailpieces on my Reiter banjos - or the OEM Waverly style that Bart used to supply.  Heavier types (like Kershner) give even more control.  But heavy tailpieces may also diminish tone (IMHO).

Re stuffers, I use small scraps of rolled-up sheepskin.  I like that material because it reduces tubbiness without diminishing volume or tone too much.

Good luck with it!

Edited by - jbalch on 06/25/2016 08:34:05

jbird39 - Posted - 06/25/2016:  11:51:13

ok thanks for the advice. i will consider a new tail piece an will also raise the tension on the head. thanks again

jc

dpgetman - Posted - 06/26/2016:  12:50:19

My Bacophone is one of the sweetest sounding banjos I own, so don't fret, it'll get there with a little tinkering. My first suspect is the head, what type do you have on there? I use a goat skin head I got from John Balch, really brought out the tone in mine.  The worst overtones I've experienced, that defied adjustment fixes, were with a renaissance head is used. I use a Kershner tail piece and am very happy with it.

Good luck! 

jbird39 - Posted - 06/27/2016:  06:40:31

quote:

---

Originally posted by dpgetman

 

My Bacophone is one of the sweetest sounding banjos I own, so don't fret, it'll get there with a little tinkering. My first suspect is the head, what type do you have on there? I use a goat skin head I got from John Balch, really brought out the tone in mine.  The worst overtones I've experienced, that defied adjustment fixes, were with a renaissance head is used. I use a Kershner tail piece and am very happy with it.

Good luck! 

---

jbird39 - Posted - 06/27/2016:  06:55:39

oh man . sweet sounding is what i'm looking for. the head is an elite fiberskyn.
my drum dial says it's about 86- 87. i'm going to crank it up to about 91. i want to put new string on it first plus a new tail piece and maybe a new bridge. what are your thoughts on bridges. what kind of strings are you using?

thanks

jc

banjo bill-e - Posted - 06/27/2016:  08:00:03

JC my only advice is to only change one thing at a time. That way you will see what effect THAT change made. If you change three things at once then for better or worse, you have no idea what just happened!

jbird39 - Posted - 06/27/2016:  09:25:25

ok Bill sound advice. i will put on new strings ( the ones on it are old) anc increase head tension first, and see what happens.

alright .thanks


jc

dpgetman - Posted - 07/05/2016:  13:26:49

JC,

The strings would be my last suspect, but I find that the Kershner tailpiece and the John Hartford mediums give me just the right tension and feel.  The Fiberskyn head is criminally suspect, I would definitely hit JB up for a goat skin.  

DPG