DA - Posted - 05/26/2026:  06:48:05

Hi all, I'm trying to attach this old resonator to a block cherry rim built by Zach Hoyt. The resonator has four notches cut into the interior, but I can't figure out how to attach the two parts - the resonator and the rim. I've read that L brackets might work best, but I can't see how they attach without drilling holes through the resonator, which I do not want to do.

What am I missing? I do not plan on having a flange, so the simplest and most elegant solution is what I'm ideally looking for. Zach suggested magnets as a possible option, but I thought I'd see if anyone had other ideas before I moved forward with anything since I'm not really sure how to do this.

Many thanks.

trapdoor2 - Posted - 05/26/2026:  07:01:45

You're going to have to devise some kind of interface between the resonator and rim. How that interface interacts with both is a matter of design and preferences. Magnets can be an easy route...but also can have problems of their own.

Angle brackets are just one way of doing the job and only one piece in the puzzle. Gibson used them but there were many more ways this was done. They have to have something to screw into on both ends (to the rim and to the resonator)...and screws can be a problem in thin materials. 

I would probably think about adding wooden stand-offs to the inside of the resonator (in those 4 slots) that contact the rim and hold the resonator where you want it. Magnets can be added to the standoffs and matching ones glued to the rim...locator pins or slotting the standoffs to keep things from sliding around will help.

Edited by - trapdoor2 on 05/26/2026 07:03:00

DA - Posted - 05/26/2026:  07:11:25

Thanks, Marc. I'm not sure what you mean by standoffs, but I will look into it.

DA - Posted - 05/26/2026:  07:12:47

This is proving to be a harder puzzle to solve than I thought.

trapdoor2 - Posted - 05/26/2026:  07:35:07

Standoffs are just an interface. Wooden blocks glued to the resonator in those slots would be "standoffs" if they met the bottom of the rim to position everything.

Joel Hooks - Posted - 05/26/2026:  07:35:15

I'm guessing that in the four cutouts there were blocks that were shaped to hold the reso away from the edge of the rim in addition to having some way that held it in place.

Weymann used springs that pressed against the rim. Paramount used slide hooks that caught hardware on the rim. I have an aftermarket, made of aluminum, that has spring hooks that hook over the stretcher hoop.

If you want simple, get some peel and stick velcro spots or strips.

Brett - Posted - 05/26/2026:  09:53:56

Not being familiar with the build you stated, do you have a dowel stick at all or metal coordinator rods youre working with?

Old Hickory - Posted - 05/26/2026:  10:41:32

It would help to see the rim. Preferably attached to the neck with all parts installed.

DA - Posted - 05/26/2026:  13:06:18

Old Hickory I'll post photos of the assembled banjo once I've done all that. I still need to do all the other work on this, so I'm getting ahead of myself with the resonator - just wanted to figure out how to do it since it's such a mystery to me. But I'll follow up here in the next few weeks once I've finished the rest of the instrument.

Joel Hooks Thanks for the insight. Makes a lot of sense. I'll look into finding blocks that can rest inside the notches, or else make them myself.

@Brett I'm using coordinator rods but don't have them yet. Had to order them from Gold Tone.

Old Hickory - Posted - 05/26/2026:  13:35:09

quote:

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Originally posted by DA

Old Hickory I'll post photos of the assembled banjo once I've done all that. I still need to do all the other work on this, so I'm getting ahead of myself with the resonator . . .

---

I get that. But I believe one thing that's puzzling is also puzzling others, and that's the absence of a notch or cutout for the heel of the neck such as we see on almost every other resonator. The heel sits down in the notch and the bottom of the rim is within an inch of the floor of the resonator. I've attached a photo showing this typical configuration.

On this resonator, there's no place for the heel of the neck to go. So it can't look the attached photo. Does that mean the whole resonator sits below the bottom of the heel? I've heard of "pie plate" resonators that fit sort of that way. I though they connect through some attachment in the center.

Anyway, the reason I asked to see the rest of the parts is they may (must?) hold a clue as to how this resonator is supposed to attach. 

RK80 Heel Detail

 

DA - Posted - 05/26/2026:  13:50:35

Thanks, Old Hickory - there is, in fact. a notch for the neck heel; I just didn't take a good photo of the resonator before. See the attached photos. I'm propping the rim up with some small blocks just to show how the banjo should look assembled once I've assembled everything.

 

Brett - Posted - 05/26/2026:  17:13:37

Blocks, or stand-off, magnets or Velcro, sounds like youre there.

Old Hickory - Posted - 05/26/2026:  17:20:21

quote:

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Originally posted by DA

Thanks, Old Hickory - there is, in fact. a notch for the neck heel; I just didn't take a good photo of the resonator before. 

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Nothing wrong with your photo. I totally missed it. My bad. I was wrong. Sorry. And thanks.

Now I see that your rim is new and provides no hint as to how this resonator was fitted to its original pot.

With wood blocks in the cutouts as suggested already, conventional resonator "L" brackets may lead to a method of attachment.

If these are made of ferrous metal, then you could glue or screw small, powerful, magnets to the tops of the blocks.

Now that I think of it, the hardware store will be a source of ordinary metal L brackets as used for  repairs. You only need banjo-specific L brackets if you're going to attach with conventional banjo thumbscrews.

Edited by - Old Hickory on 05/26/2026 17:25:15

BNJOMAKR - Posted - 05/27/2026:  03:22:33

Since I have a pacemaker/defibrillator, I warn people about using magnets. If you never let anyone else play your banjo, then everything will be fine. But, if someone with an implanted device would accidentally pick it, it could be VERY dangerous to them. I had one incident with a magnetic attached strap. I got a warning signal emanating from my chest!

BNJOMAKR - Posted - 05/27/2026:  03:34:43

I don't know if you could incorporate this into your banjo, but I have used cabinet bullet latches installed into the rims of mini banjos that utilize a Dixie Uke pot assembly. I drill holes into the rim, drill shallow holes, glue the latches in place protruding outward. I then make divots inside the resonator wall so that they align with the latches so that the ball will snap into place holding on the resonator. You could actually mount yours in reverse position into the resonator. Here's a video showing how it works. Forward to the 1:30 time mark if you don't want to watch the whole video....

 

Walker Mini Banjo #031