Head tension question

Premier Sponsors

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to our privacy policy which includes details of cookie usage. Hide this notice

Bart Reiter Banjos

Join This Group

For all things related to Bart Reiter banjos.

349 Members, Created 1/28/2011 -

Administrators: jbalch (owner)

< Back to Home

From Jimmy Gibson on 3/8/2012 10:44:06 AM

Hi all,

I am fairly new to the hangout (this is my first post to the hangout and to the Reiter Banjos group), but I've really appreciated the wisdom that more accomplished players have imparted through this site.

Several months ago I purchased my first quality banjo and after a long search and deliberation period I decided on a Reiter Round Peak. I honestly don't think that I could have made a better decision. The only problem with it is that I can't seem to put it down :)

As I am rather new to caring for such a nice instrument I am a bit wary of messing too much with the set up. But I also figure that I need to learn sometime. I have noticed recently then when I change tunings between open G and double C that the strings that don't change (the 1st, 3rd, and 5th) go out of tune and I need to retune them all. I hadn't noticed this when the banjo was new and I'm wondering if this is to do with the head stretching a bit? I've read that the head will stretch for a while when it is new and then will need to be retightened. Is their a rule of thumb for the head tension? Or any precautions I should take to find a good tension?

Thanks,

Jimmy Gibson

5 Comments
	Hairymare says: 3/8/2012 11:12:16 AM Great question. I don't know the answer but want to. LOL
	Bluesage says: 3/8/2012 11:24:23 AM What you're experiencing is endemic to the banjo and, unfortunately, very normal. When moving from one tuning to another, you are changing the total amount of tension on the neck. For instance, if you move from G tuning to Sawmill, string two is raised from a B up to a C. This added tension pulls the neck forward slightly causing all the other strings to go a little flat. If you move down to Gm tuning (second = Bb), the other strings will go slightly sharp. Hope this helps... Mike Iverson - banjoutah.com
	jbalch says: 3/8/2012 11:47:51 AM I agree with Mike regarding tuning & re-tuning. That is why they say: "Banjo players spend 1/2 their time tuning ... and the other 1/2 playing-out-of-tune." Regarding head tension, Your Round Peak was probably supplied with a renaissance head. Those do indeed stretch a good bit especially when new. If you have not tightened it a all, maybe a little tweak will help. Nothing to be afraid of. I usually just tighten sequentially all around the rim. Just don't do too much too fast...work in small increments. Try to judge, by the feel of the nuts, that the tension is fairly even all around. Go around once ... then tune it up and play to judge the iimpact. repeat if it still needs more.
	Jimmy Gibson says: 3/8/2012 4:41:52 PM Thank you all for your input. I guess my headstock tuner was a better investment than I realized.
	Jimmy Gibson says: 3/26/2012 2:00:07 PM Just a quick update: After some experimentation I found a good tension for the head. It seems to keep in tune much better and sounds better too. Thanks again for your help.
Post a Comment
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.

Blog Entry: Curtis Eller on Kickstarter: New Album coming soon! Linked by curtiseller 15 days ago
	Early Bart Reiter Regent w/HSC-Beautiful! Linked by jbalch 9 months ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by jbalch 2 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by jbalch 2 years ago
Blog Entry: Curtis Eller UK Album Release Tour: 9-23 October, 2024 Linked by curtiseller 2 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by jbalch 2 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by jbalch 2 years ago
Tablature: Crossing The Little Doe River Linked by eandreucci 2 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by jbalch 3 years ago
Blog Entry: Curtis Eller's New Album Kickstarter! Linked by curtiseller 3 years ago