Posted by Judith511 on Thursday, May 10, 2018
When I picked up resonator banjo I left the other for its complimentary tune up as I purchased it there. Now they both sound great!. Glad I did that .
Although it is fun to work on them myself I lack the knowledge to make them sound really good like an experienced tech person can. I need to remember that when they start to not sound good .
8 comments on “Working on the Banjo”
WayneConrad Says:
Thursday, May 10, 2018 @7:13:08 AM
Another way to think about the free tune-up, is that you can try to do minor things yourself knowing that they'll make it good again if you can't figure it out :)
Judith511 Says:
Thursday, May 10, 2018 @7:25:14 AM
Yes that is true WayneConrad . I do know much more than I did before I did the fixing up myself. It is all a learning curve. :) Maybe if I come across a cheap banjo somewhere I will buy it to experiment .
WayneConrad Says:
Thursday, May 10, 2018 @9:02:44 AM
That sounds like a good plan. I know that others do that.
It would be nice if there were a list somewhere of the different common ways you could harm your banjo. This would help people to know what things are relatively safe to do and which things they may want expert help with. A few that I know of:
* Overly loosen string -- string pops out of slots in bridge and/or nut -- just tighten the string back up while guiding it into the slots
* Overly loosen head - bridge sinks, strings buzz against frets -- tighten the head back up
* Overtighten string -- breaks the string -- need to replace that string
* Overtighten head - Breaks the head -- head needs replacement
* Overtighten truss rod -- strips the truss rod -- neck needs expensive repair or replacement
mike gregory Says:
Thursday, May 10, 2018 @9:15:07 AM
Leave in car on hot day. Melts glue, may melt plastic parts, may get stolen, may have another banjo tossed in on top of it.
WayneConrad Says:
Thursday, May 10, 2018 @9:21:41 AM
mike gregory Ouch! That's probably the mother of all ways to harm your banjo. Did you do that yourself? That would be a painful lesson.
mike gregory Says:
Thursday, May 10, 2018 @12:34:44 PM
Never did it.
But, as SO aware of how heat damages instruments, that I have put necks on the dashboard and rolled up the windows, so as to more easily peel off fingerboards.
It's free, and one may do something else for an hour or two, while Mother Nature and Mr. Sun do their magic.
Sure beats standing there with a heat gun and a frosting spreader!
WayneConrad Says:
Thursday, May 10, 2018 @2:53:33 PM
You, sir, are a genius.
AndyW Says:
Saturday, May 12, 2018 @9:55:07 PM
I have a block built wooden bowl (which I imagine is a bit like a block built rim.) Until last week it sat on a table in front of a South facing sun all day bay window. Last week the glue melted and it simply fell into 3 parts. The warning is a good one.
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