Damping ring without damping volume - one solution - Aluminum Rim Outcasts Group Blog

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Damping ring without damping volume - one solution

From Explorer on 9/28/2014 3:25:18 PM

I have a Kay aluminum rim which is one of my favorite instruments. It's very light-weight, can be loud... but the ringing is a bit much.

I initially had stuffed the head, but I was setting up a mandolin the other day which is a bit ringy, and got to thinking.

Mandolin players will sometimes put rubber grommets between the strings to dampen vibrationon that side of the bridge. Others might wind a showlace, a leather strip or a piece of yarn down there.

If it works on mando instruments, why not banjo?

So I took a little length of shoelace and did just a little wrap on it.

And it took the edge off, while leaving me with more volume than stuffing the head.

If I slide the lace towards the bridge, I get a thunkier sound, towards the tail a brighter sound.

I'm pretty pleased about the additional volume.

Has anyone else given this a try?

4 Comments
	BanjoBelle says: 9/29/2014 7:19:30 PM no I haven't-both of my aluminum rim banjos behave pretty well. If you decide you'd rather have the rubber grommets,however,I do sell them in my online store-PM me for details. (I play and teach mandolin also and use grommets on my mandolin)
	Explorer says: 9/30/2014 12:05:55 AM Fortunately I have a hardware store nearby which sells grommets. I've found it worth making a stop if I need them, because they're pretty inexpensive.If anyone is thinking of going that route, it's worth checking to see what's nearby, because buying them from a store with plumbing supplies and such can sometimes save a bit over price plus shipping. But really, I like how the string works, since it's not so heavy that it damps more than it has to . That can be much more than one desires if one is just tinkering a little bit.
	resomark54 says: 10/22/2014 8:35:54 PM I have a Iida aluminum pot banjo from the 70's. It is a really nice playing instrument but also had a very bright, piercing tone. I talked to Mike Smith ( the Kat Eze bridge guy) and he made me a nice Snuffy Smith new generation bridge in a heavier weight to warm the tone up and it worked very well. The new bridge a a minor tailpiece adjustment made a huge difference. kateyzbb.com/
dlaughery1013 says: 2/17/2015 4:20:49 PM I inserted two wooden embroidery hoops inside and touching the rim, one inside the other. I painted them with grey primer after trimming them to the right length. I finish with a wooden spring clothespin on the bridge when playing. I like the sound. Dave L.
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