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 ARCHIVED TOPIC: Slingerland Maybell tenor tonering.


Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/409160

john burke - Posted - 06/22/2026:  12:56:04

A friend of mine is selling a Slingerland Maybell tenor banjo

It has a resonator fitted.
He says it has a reverse pancake tone ring.
Does anyone here know about this type of tone ring ?

OldFrets - Posted - 06/22/2026:  14:06:02

I think he's referring to this kind of ring, which is commonly called a "donut" ring. It has a curved flange that protrudes inward from the rim. Makes for a very nice banjo with a deep sound.



banjonz - Posted - 06/22/2026:  15:41:30

quote:
Originally posted by OldFrets

I think he's referring to this kind of ring, which is commonly called a "donut" ring. It has a curved flange that protrudes inward from the rim. Makes for a very nice banjo with a deep sound.







I concur. I had a Slingerland 5 string with that pot assembly in the 1980's that sounded perfect for CH. 

AndrewD - Posted - 06/22/2026:  15:57:20

There was a post a few years ago with pictures of one of these disassembled. As well as the bit you can see it also had a metal hoop inside sitting on metal studs driven into the rim. I've got 2 of these (5 string). If it wasn't for the narrow neck the fancier one would be my go-to banjo.

Edited by - AndrewD on 06/22/2026 16:01:03

john burke - Posted - 06/23/2026:  01:24:50

Thanks for the information regarding the tonering.
Yes, the ring in your pictures looks exactly the same as my friends banjo. So it's called a donut, or Dobson tone ring.

martyjoe - Posted - 06/23/2026:  01:58:10

Not a Dobson. Dobsons are a bit different. The donut curls inward and upward whereas the Dobsons curl downwards towards the rim.

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