banjo1930 - Posted - 06/09/2025:  08:25:11

When I was learning how to set up banjos one of the questions I'd ask to everyone I met was "how tight do you make the coordinator rods at the heel?"  Nobody would answer that question and would just talk about the nuts on the other end, so I just had to figure it out on my own.  Anyway, if this is something that you have been wondering and need an answer, look no further!

lazyarcher - Posted - 06/09/2025:  08:36:28

Great post.
Majority of banjos Ive set up have used the technique where you tighten the coordinator rod until the washers at the neck are sunken into the rim at least 1/4"..

LouieChee - Posted - 06/09/2025:  08:57:46

I learned about this in your Picky Fingers interview and it was definitely the missing piece in my setup abilities!

In 2021 I sold a 1981 Gold Star GF100HF that wasn't sounding right - in retrospect, the neck was on way too tight! I have some regrets

Owen - Posted - 06/09/2025:  09:00:11

Maybe off onto a tangent, but what is the intended function/purpose of the co-rods?

Joel Hooks - Posted - 06/09/2025:  09:05:51

quote:

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Originally posted by Owen

Maybe off onto a tangent, but what is the intended function/purpose of the co-rods?

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patents.google.com/patent/US1402876A/

banjo1930 - Posted - 06/09/2025:  10:06:09

quote:

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Originally posted by Owen

Maybe off onto a tangent, but what is the intended function/purpose of the co-rods?

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IMO, I feel they should only be used to hold the neck on and keep the rim round.  I find that when you use the rods to adjust the action you will loose a lot of tone and response and you also run the risk of permanently warping the rim if you go too far in either way and leave it for too long.  I've even seen rims cracked from the nuts being too tight, but you'd really have to go crazy with them for that to happen!

Dean T - Posted - 06/09/2025:  10:38:27

I’m glad you covered the neck twist a little bit. I’ve seen this here several times… folks loosen the neck, to change a head, tighten everything up, get it all back to the way it was… and the 4th or 1st string buzzes. Then you get two pages of high frets and co-rods and truss rods and bridge height and drum dial readings… and no one mentions neck slop/twist. I know about this one fist hand…

Culloden - Posted - 06/09/2025:  12:12:03

quote:

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Originally posted by Dean T

I’m glad you covered the neck twist a little bit. I’ve seen this here several times… folks loosen the neck, to change a head, tighten everything up, get it all back to the way it was… and the 4th or 1st string buzzes. Then you get two pages of high frets and co-rods and truss rods and bridge height and drum dial readings… and no one mentions neck slop/twist. I know about this one fist hand…

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You too, huh? This is another one of those "Don't ask me how I know this" moments.