The "plus" refers to Bart's adding a Bacon "donut" ring on top of a Whyte laydie scalloped ring (replacing the WL skirt). We used to call this "hot-rodding" the banjo too.
It has never been a regular production model. But in the past it could be special ordered and still now from time to time Bart puts this combination together. They sometimes show up in the banjos Bart sells on ebaY... but those are fairly rare these days.
I think the Stewart-MacDonald Bacon ring can replace the skirt on top of a Stew-Mac WL ring in a Regent or Whyte Laydie model banjo with no other modification. So if you can find a Bacon ring ...and you have one of those banjos...you can do it yourself.
I have two "plus" banjos and really like the impact of the Bacon ring on the sound. I've said before that it "adds a hint of warm sustain and ring to the finish of the note." The "plus" banjos retain the punch of a WL with a little added dimension to the tone. It reminds me of the sound of some of the "H.C. Dobson" banjos. The extra sustain is subtle and warm sounding ... not too much ringing sustain like a tubaphone (IMHO).
I hope that helps.
17 Comments |
 | jmoathout says:
12/17/2011 8:59:19 AM
Let me see if I understand:
Bart now makes a "Bacophone" that has a Bacon tone ring but without an internal resonator.
You have described the "Plus" as a Bacon donut atop a WL tone ring. Is this donut the same as found in the current Bacophone?
Sometimes one sees a Reiter with internal resonator - such as Bacon Professional. Does htis have a Bacon tone ring and the internal resonator, or some other type tone ring.
I have a GALAX and Round Peak, but I tried the Bacophone before sending it back and exchanging for the Round Peak. I've speculated about getting a tubaphone, but found oyur comments interesting regarding "ringing".
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 | jbalch says:
12/17/2011 9:23:33 AM
The Bacophone has a Bacon "donut" ring and no internal resonator.
The internal resonator models have the same bacon "donut" ring inside the IR.
Bart sometimes "hot-rods" a Whyte Laydie tone ring by replacing the skirt that comes on that assembly with a spun brass donut from a Bacon ring. This is part of the same Bacon ring as from a Bacophone. Such a modification is referred to as a "plus" banjo.
Does that help?
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| jbalch says:
12/17/2011 9:52:17 AM
Take a look at the three photos I just linked. They are:
1. Steward MacDonald Bacon tone ring photo and drawing
2. Stewart MacDonald Whyte Laydie tone ring drawing
3. Illustration of the "Plus" configuration
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 | dsr says:
12/20/2011 6:20:59 AM
I checked the stew-mac site and they do not list the Bacon tone ring in their tone ring section...so where would a fella get one?
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| jbalch says:
12/20/2011 7:35:38 AM
I'm not sure. They have not been listed for a while now. You might give them a call and see if any are available. I assume they may still make them for builders who continue to offer the Bacon models (Reiter & Ramsey). Or perhaps those builders hoarded a supply? Not sure.
I'm curious if a Rickard Dobson ring might fit. Might be worth inquiring of Bill to see...
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| jmoathout says:
12/20/2011 7:54:00 AM
I got the part number for the Bacon Tone Ring (817) and searched the catalog, but it's not listed. So, I called their 800 number Monday and told them I was seeking a part no longer listed. They said they no longer sold that item. I mentioned that SOMEONE must be selling to some of the top makers. After a minute, they found they did have one (only one?) in stock. So, I ordered it. I was going to wait until I actually received it before posting, but I see there is keen interest. Good luck.
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| dsr says:
12/20/2011 8:58:16 AM
I will be going to see Bill R in the near future to pick up a banjo he's working on for me. I have a stew-mac WL ring so will take it and see if they fit....unless Bill can say one way or the other.
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| jbalch says:
12/20/2011 9:53:00 AM
dsr: I'd be very interested in what you discover.
I'm also curious about installing a 12" Rickard Dobson ring on my large rim Reiter professional. It doesn't have a tone ring per-se' ...just a rolled brass hoop. I'd like to know if a Rickard 12" Dobson ring will slip over the top without raising the profile of the head too much.
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| dsr says:
12/21/2011 8:43:24 AM
any ideas as to the guage or thickness of the dobson rings or the stew-macs?
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| jbalch says:
12/21/2011 8:52:14 AM
Stew Mac gauges are shown on the photos I linked to this group.
BTW: I e-mailed Bill photos and details about my 12" Reiter banjo. He thinks his 12" Dobson ring will fit...so I ordered one to try. As usual, Bill offered money back if it doesn't work out. He is a great guy to deal with. I'll update again after it arrives.
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| dsr says:
12/21/2011 10:08:20 AM
ah yes I guess I shoulda looked closer at your diagrams.....I just might try metal spinning a tone ring sometime if I can find some material. :-)
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| dsr says:
1/3/2012 12:14:16 PM
well I went last week and Bill's Dobson ring does not fit the Stew-mac Whyte Ladie ring.
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| jmoathout says:
1/3/2012 12:53:55 PM
About two weeks ago, I was able to get a Bacon donut from Stew Mac (part 0817) and had it installed by a lutier atop the WL in my Galax - essentially making it a Bacophone-Plus. We chose to align the "gap" in the WL rod on a peak of a WL scallop, and aligned that scallop with the neck. We were pretty much guessing, but I found nothing contrary to than in BHO. During this conversion we removed my cradle strap - more on this later.
When I got home, I re-attached the cradle strap the same way I had it on the Galax which sounded fine: under (not around or over) the No-Knot tailpiece bolt, with the extra loose ends of the strap tucked back under the tension hooks, creating a double layer for a few inches each side of the shoestring knot.
When I played it I found the tone less rich, less mellow, more metallic, less depth - esp. off the neck. This was just opposite what I had hoped for. I lowered the head tension, tried different bridges, pulled my hair out.
After another mis-step or two, I re-routed the circle strap, going over and under tension hooks so that the tone ring was not touched, and went OVER the tailpiece, and avoided doubling back the loose ends.
During this excercise, I also took off the re-installed the tailpiece a couple of times - so tightness of the tailpiece may also play a role.
Sounds GREAT. Full rich tone with great depth. I plan to see John Balch Thursday to get his opinion. His setup is somewhat different than mine. I'm not positive if the improvement had to do with the strap or the tailpiece, but the difference is remarkable. Maybe this is old news to more experienced players.
My setup:
Elite Renaissance head
Snuffy Smity III 11/16" bridge, Crowe spacing
D'Addario J61 medium strings, nickel wound
Medium head tension, 88-89 on drum dial
Folk of the Woods circle strap
No-Knot tailpiece
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| jbalch says:
1/3/2012 2:55:33 PM
I look forward to hearing your new set-up.
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 | Quartermaster James says:
1/25/2012 5:28:16 PM
So, call me slow but I can't figure out from this discussion if this trick works the other way around. Can I drop a WL tone ring into a Reiter Bacon FF without other modification?
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| jbalch says:
1/25/2012 5:37:41 PM
QJ: Unfortunately you cannot install a Whyte Laydie ring in a Bacon FF style rim ... without cutting the rim. The WL ring sits in a rabbet cut into the top of the rim. A standard Bacon FF does not have this cut.
But...you can add a Bacon FF spun brass ring over the top of a WL ring (replacing the WL sleeve) with no modification to the rim.
So this "plus" change can be easily made to any Reiter banjo that has a WL ring installed (but NOT to the Bacophone or Internal Resonator models.)
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| Quartermaster James says:
1/25/2012 9:43:18 PM
Hi John! Thanks! That's what I wanted to know.
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