Richard Hauser - Posted - 06/05/2017:  08:39:52

Just bought a Stelling Sunflower from a BHO member.  I am trying to adjust the banjo to my playing taste.  A friend told me that the neck should not rest against the tension hoop ?  He thinks that not having a small "gap" stifles the sound a little.

Thank You,

Dick Hauser

budbennett - Posted - 06/05/2017:  08:47:22

I have a Stelling sitting beside me at this moment and the neck rests on the tension hoop as far as i can tell.  I have a second Stelling and am pretty sure it is the same way.  I think if it sounds good don't worry about it.

Edited by - budbennett on 06/05/2017 08:49:01

TOMCAT - Posted - 06/05/2017:  08:52:08

I know the last two Stellings I had did, but it wasn't so tight that you couldn't slide the tension hoop out.

kmwaters - Posted - 06/05/2017:  09:23:48

geoff@stellingbanjo.com

Cornflake - Posted - 06/05/2017:  09:39:48

There may be a tiny slit there on my two Stellings...not sure. Also, while adjusting your Stelling don't forget the two little screws that hold the tailpiece on. They pull the tailpiece back and forth and can make a noticeable difference in sound.

Richard Hauser - Posted - 06/05/2017:  09:45:29

Ken LeVan - Posted - 06/05/2017:  10:38:52

having the neck push against the tension hoop doesn't stifle the sound, it squeezes the head in between the tension hoop and tone ring and makes it difficult to tighten the head. It could even cause the head to break.  You should have a gap the thickness of a piece of paper.

5strings3picks1banjo - Posted - 06/05/2017:  11:19:42

I haven't seen a Stelling that wasn't assembled perfect.

The tapered tonering over time with people adjusting things and changing heads can tilt. This will change the appearance of the gap you mention. In fact tilting the tonering towards the neck will do this and appear tight on the tension hoop.

Here is another thing I found with Stelling banjos which I am sure was an accidental design bonus. Tilting the tonering forward to neck or backwards to tailpiece will change what bridge is required. If my memory serves me well tilting forward allows an 11/16 th bridge and towards the back a 1/2 inch bridge. Maybe not intentional but great if you prefer a certain bridge height and keep good action. This does not affect the sound of the instrument because the contact surface area of tonering to rim remains the same. Try this and see for yourself.

Do not worry yourself about the gap on your Stelling.

arnie fleischer - Posted - 06/05/2017:  15:44:25

Some time ago I went to a workshop with Steve Huber during which he said, non-judgementally, that some builders believe the neck should contact the tension hoop while others believe there should be very slight gap, and that whether that difference was important or not was an unresolved question. I don't recall what his position was and I don't have a Huber banjo to check.

However, three of my banjos do not have a gap; Gibson Retro-4, neck made and fitted by Ed Levin; Gibson pre-war archtop, neck made and fitted by Frank Neat; Stelling Golden Cross. On the other hand, my LouZee and DP Hopkins, both made by Paul Hopkins, have a barely perceptible gap the width of a sheet of paper.

Each of these banjos produces a clear, rich, full tone up and down the neck with very little effort. They are also loud, and on each of them the tone seems to emanate from the back of the resonator (you can feel it as you play). None of the no-gap banjos could be described as "stifled" and I have never had an issue removing, replacing or tweaking heads on any of them.

If you're still concerned, I strongly second Ken Waters' suggestion that you contact Geoff. He's quite accessible.

kmwaters - Posted - 06/05/2017:  15:55:57

Yes he sure is Arnie. By the way, I have had three Stellings over the years and they all touch. And they are all great. Had a Masters Cross, a Golden Cross, and right now the only one I have is a one of a kind that Geoff called "Longhorn" with one fret having a longhorn steer on it. It's a longneck top tension. Unique and awesome. Goes back to the 80's.

5strings3picks1banjo - Posted - 06/06/2017:  01:25:56

I have only 10 years experience building and tinkering and more than likely seen far less banjos than you my American friends but I am yet to find an advantage or disadvantage related to the fretboard gap to tension hoop.

I have heard the arguments for and against and for a while in my head they make sense. I guess it all depends on what a banjo owner wants to hear when playing their banjo.

My Stelling was a 1980 #1536 Sunflower toptension with no gap. Beautiful piece of art.

 

frenchlizard - Posted - 06/08/2017:  04:31:10

i personally talked to geoff about it. he told me there are no problems with the the hoop ring touching the neck.the only thing it may be a little tight to take it apart .but will not have any effect on the sound. i was concerned about it with my bellflower. keep on pickin!

Richard Hauser - Posted - 06/10/2017:  07:41:47

Well I brought the Stelling in for a neck setup.  When I got it back the "buzzing" and noting problems were gone and the banjo sounded wonderful.  The setup lady said she had adjusted the tension and did some work with the coordinator rods.  And, the position of the neck and tension hoop was unchanged - still very close.

Geoff Stelling - Posted - 07/26/2017:  11:16:24

Richard and all the rest of you who are concerned about tension hoop touching of the neck:
I like the neck to touch only slightly for cosmetic reasons. Too much tension causes difficulty in changing heads and could cause some tension hoop or head problems and maybe warping of the tonering if the tension is severe. I have not noticed any change in tone, volume, or anything sound-wise relating to the fingerboard slightly touching or not touching the tension hoop. In general, a slight gap is acceptable as is slightly touching, by most peoples' standards. For cosmetics only, the perfect fit is admirable. Regarding Leon's comment (from Melbourne, Australia) about the tilting of the tonering, that should not be possible with a correctly fitted tonering on a Stelling since there is a retaining lip on the top of the rim to prevent any such tilting. If the tonering can be tilted, the gap between the tonering ID and the retaining lip should be filled with a veneer so that the tonering is not able to move at all.

Dan Drabek - Posted - 07/26/2017:  15:47:08

I've owned and built banjos both touching, and not touching and haven't noticed any affect on the sound, nor any problem with tightening or loosening. the head. I prefer it just making contact, for the look only.

Of course, you don't want the contact to be so severe that it strangles any movement, but that would take some very serous pressure.  I think the negatives may be overstated. That said, if you don't mind the look of a gap, there is certainly no harm in including one. 

DD

mike gregory - Posted - 07/26/2017:  15:48:07

"It makes no WHAT??

Oh, it makes no PLUCKING difference!

Thank you, Mr. Stelling.

I'll pass that information along."

- Bruce Wayne-