bigleaf - Posted - 03/07/2024:  11:40:28

One thing I’d like to clarify about the way I mount my Banjo Bolsters is that they can be used in many ways, according to how you want YOUR banjo to sound.

I like the sound of my banjos best with the bolster off the head, so that’s why I use the velcro ties to keep it off the head. With so many configurations of banjos out there, folks will want to try it in many different ways until they find what works best for them… fully against the head, partially against the head, on one side of the dowel or the other.

One thing I can definitively say is that I love what the Banjo Bolster has done for my sound.

dbrooks - Posted - 03/07/2024:  11:46:46

It looks like Phil has decided to take another path on his Tradesman - Enoch Tradesman 12" Free Shipping. - Banjo Hangout

David

Frailblazer - Posted - 03/12/2024:  08:18:12

quote:

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Originally posted by bigleaf

quote:

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Originally posted by nyartist

looks great! So the idea is that you have to keep the bolster OFF of the head?

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Yes, precisely. I don't know what materials are used inside the bolster, but they tell you to keep it off the head- they just don't supply any mechanism to attach it to your banjo. It seems to absorb the weird overtones inn the pot and leave the nice banjo sounds. I wouldn't have believed it myself, had I not heard the difference on other folks' banjos. 

 

I just used a five-pak of Velcro cable ties to mount them. There's a better explanation in a thread about the banjo bolster on BHO, but you can see it in the pictures. 

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We have received a few inquiries recently regarding the use of Velcro ties to secure the Banjo Bolster in place. We hope this short post clears up any confusion.

Bill Vinett’s (aka bigleaf) ingenious solution, discussed on page 2 of this thread and also on pages 3 and 4 of “The Banjo Bolster” thread solved a problem he was having.  According to Bill, “my belly pushes the bolster against the head dampening it more than I want and sort of defeating the purpose of this wonderful invention…”.  

If you find that parts of your body make their way into the banjo pot and shift the position of the Banjo Bolster, then Bill’s solution is a great way to hold it in place and we recommend it highly!

However, based on the extensive feedback and customer testimonials we have received since opening our store almost a year ago, this situation rarely (0.3%) occurs. For the vast majority of Banjo Bolster users (99.7%), the use of Velcro ties are unnecessary, as the Banjo Bolster will, by design, hold your desired configuration perfectly.

Thanks again Bill for sharing your creative solution!

If you have any questions about the Banjo Bolster please don’t hesitate to reach out and either Deb or I will be happy to help!

- Ric

BanjoBolster.com

 

Frailblazer - Posted - 03/12/2024:  10:49:05

quote:

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Originally posted by Helix

Imitating the texture of skins is one thing, getting the right sound is another.



I think the Bolster could use different lengths, right now it's only one length of half the circumference of a 9.5" or 10.5" circle.

Since 99% of banjos these days use 11" rims, the Bolster doesn't go beyond "One size fits all.

But there's no way to dial it in or out



The use of Velcro strips is NOGGIN, nice work. I use those to coil sound cables

 

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Hi Larry,

You are 100% mistaken about the Banjo Bolster being one length.  Every Banjo Bolster is custom made based on measurements provided by the customer.  Even a difference of 1/8" will affect the fit and ability of the Banjo Bolster to be configured to the customer's liking.  We would love to make them ahead of time to a few lengths, but that would compromise the quality of our product and that is not something we will do.

Check out our How to Measure Your Banjo page for more info.

Ric

BanjoBoslter.com

Helix - Posted - 03/13/2024:  04:58:58

Since I am 100% mistaken



I am still 100 % courteous Your use of BOLD in your response is unnecessary, I get the point.



Since the length is fixed, then it is still not feasible to adjust how much bolster is applied.



1/8" inch is a fine distinction.



I see your enthusiasm and I wish you success. Your rudeness could be dialed back.

I thought this thread was about Fiberskyn on an Enoch.

Instead of hitchhiking with your personal promotion of your fine invention, please start another thread to clarify.

Edited by - Helix on 03/13/2024 05:03:09

Frailblazer - Posted - 03/13/2024:  05:25:04

Hi Larry,

I suggest you take a moment and watch the videos on our How to Configure the Banjo Bolster for Optimal Tone page to learn how the Banjo Bolster can be configured for an almost endless variety of tones.  The configuration you choose has nothing to do with the length of the bolster.  Rather, the length determines the proper fit, i.e. just the right amount of pressure to apply to the dowel stick/coordinator rod(s) to hold it in place.

My posts in this thread were a necessary correction to the inaccuracies that were mentioned about the Banjo Bolster. I hope this clears it up! 

Ric 

stanzukowski - Posted - 03/13/2024:  08:21:05

quote:

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Originally posted by nyartist

Hi David - I did try and loosen the head some. I even thought about picking up a used drum dialer to see if that will help.

Funny that I got the Enoch so I could have that warmer more mellow tone of a 12" banjo. As it turns out the 11" Zach Hoyt I have gives me more of that sound. I'll try the Fiberskyn and then switch back to the ren head if I need to. I've changed heads before but I found a luthier just a couple of blocks from me and I'll let him do it.

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FWIW, I've had an Enoch Tradesman for several years now and had the same feeling when I first started playing it -- it was a little too "loud and brassy." I mostly play alone or with my fiddler wife, but we do have 20-person jams 3x a month, so I wanted something that would blend in rather than stand out.

I'm not a fan of banjo mutes, and I only use one when I'm actually trying to be quiet (which is rare).

First I replaced the strings with nylgut, but I didn't like the sound. I put metal strings back on and replaced the head with a fiberskyn.

I have a drum dial and played around with the tension, but I keep mine fairly tight to 88-91 on the dial. Looser didn't seem to help me find the sound I wanted.

For a bridge, I'm using an off-the-shelf Grover three-footed 5/8" bridge from Elderly.

All together, that did the trick of giving the banjo a "plunkier" sound.

But in the end, sound had little to do with why I gave up on the Tradesman. I'm not a big fan of the pot on the Tradesman. It's very thin, as you know, which may affect the resonance of the sound as it bounces around inside the pot. It's also very light, which for me is not a good thing. I have to wear a strap even when sittin' in my "banjo chair" because the neck wants to droop, and without a strap, I end up holding up the neck while I'm playing and that wrecks my shoulder.

In the end, I bought a different banjo with a much heavier pot, which rests nicely in my lap without drooping.

Today my Tradesman is gathering dust as I play my other banjo almost exclusively now. I use the Tradesman now mostly as a loaner when I'm giving lessons, or when my wife says, "I want to learn to play the banjo" and then she plays it for half an hour before giving up again. :) 

I'm not knocking the quality of the Tradesman at all, it's very well made. But if I were to do it all over again, I wouldn't have bought one in the first place.

Helix - Posted - 03/14/2024:  03:05:13

stanzukowski Thank you for your critique. I, too found the drum shell rim to be too light for the exquisite neck. I ended up doing a rim changeout for a substantial Cherry rim. I replaced the Ebony Wedge with one from Purple Heart.