Razorback - Posted - 07/15/2016:  20:53:28

 I put a calfskin on my frankenbanjer.   interesting banjo, Deering  deluxe neck  that I re-profiled.  prewar Gibson thin rim that I added an inner ply to for no other reason than to use my Hatfield ring without it hanging over. My home is very stable  as far as humidity, and I thought Id see how she sounded with a hide head.  The banjo sounds great,  that will change if I ever take it out of the  house LOL.

  Head tension is where it sounds best, I get about 87 on the drum dial, and I wouldnt want to go much tighter.  I never could tap tune very well, and always ran with the thought of   tightening it till it sounded the best over any specific note.  I was curious if  any hide head users  also checked with a drum dial, and might have some insight on  average tension versus notes.  I do realize that there are alot of variations with hide heads, but im curious non the less.  this is a miller calfskin  top notch too!

P.S.  Kenny Ingram, if you're reading this ....stop laughing

Edited by - Razorback on 07/15/2016 20:53:49

csacwp - Posted - 07/15/2016:  21:37:26

I've wondered this for a while and look forward to people's responses. Back when I was playing a Gibson archtop with a calfskin head, I got the best sound out of it when it read 96 on the drum dial! I'm not sure how accurate a reading you can get with a calfskin, but in theory a thinner skin should give a reading just like a plastic head will.

Razorback - Posted - 07/15/2016:  23:35:53

I asked this question  because I have busted a couple skins trying to attain that tightness  LOL.  Nothing sound like a dialed in Skin .      I have stabilized my homes humidity enough to give it yet another go!!

Parker135 - Posted - 07/16/2016:  05:02:06

I have John Balch's pre-mounted calfskin heads on two 11" banjos.  One is just shy of 90 and the other is around 88 on the DrumDial.  Around the bridge it's slightly less on both due to the slight curvature of the head in that area.  On both banjos, a quarter passes beneath a 10" straightedge with some clearance (Steve Davis method).  Following John B's instructions, I tap on opposite sides of the head with the eraser end of a pencil and try to get the same pitch.  I can't tap-tune either, but I can hear the difference as I go around the head.  I want to be careful, though, to say that I don't use the DD as the primary way to adjust the tension...just letting you know what I get.  I like to go by how the banjo sounds and the tapping around the perimeter to try to keep the tension even.  I do use the straightedge from time to time to see what the humidity is doing to the head.  I don't let the head tighten up enough that I can't get a quarter to pass under the straightedge. 

Oldpiper - Posted - 07/16/2016:  07:21:32

I've used many of John's skin heads and don't use the drum dial as, according to John, the varied thickness in the heads will give you erroneous readings. I use the torque wrench and go around and get a reading of about 5. Works great.

bartmcneil - Posted - 07/16/2016:  12:20:03

I don't have a drum dial. I have several banjos with skin heads and have not busted any installing or tightening the heads after installation. I use the coin on head method once the head has been installed and dried.