Muting/stuffing?

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

BOWLIN 1865 BANJO CLUB

Join This Group

A group of owners or want to be owners of a Bowlin 1865 Fretless Banjo. To help each other bring out the best in this banjo.

93 Members, Created 1/27/2011 -

Administrators: John Bowlin (owner)

< Back to Home

From John Gribble on 2/2/2011 2:24:00 PM

Hi, all:

We all seem to be a little shy at the party! Anyway, I'm curious as to whether anyone else will confess to stuffing or muting a Bowlin.

I began using a woolen scarf when a neighbor complained about my "piano-playing " (!!!) at an admittedly inappropriate hour. It turned out that I really like the sound of the banjo stuffed, along with the "free and open" sound. It is like having two different instruments.

Any one else willing to confess or share experiences?

6 Comments
	forrestrand says: 2/2/2011 5:21:03 PM Hi everyone, Yes, I'll confess. I actually have two sizes of customized washcloths. And yes, its like two banjos, four in my case as I sometimes pick in there pretty close to the bridge, when I'm in that kind of mood. Where do you guys keep your heads, tension wise? Banjo, I mean
	R.D. Lunceford says: 2/2/2011 10:48:03 PM My 1865 is the only banjo I own that I don't stuff, but then I don't have any nearby neighbors. To my ear, it really doesn't need any tonal modification. I guess my head tension is kind of middle of the road. There's a little sag to it, but not as musch as there could be. With the one-inch bridge John supplies, there's quite a bit of lee-way. I'll generally tighten the head if the action starts getting too low, or if I want a little more cutting power. Too loose a head makes the tone a bit muddy to my ear.
	Loo P. says: 2/3/2011 5:07:28 AM No stuffing for me. I've actually considered installing a plastic head to possibly get a little more volume/ring from it. Is that even legal or will I be flogged? Tension wise the middle point of the bridge is level with the tension hoop if I sight across it. That puts the string height somewhere between 3/16-1/4" (in the frailing scoop area).
	Tackhead says: 2/3/2011 5:31:43 AM No stuffing for me. I'm always surprised by the clarity of tone and projection that my JB has. Whenever this topic comes up, I recall a comment that Mark Johnson--a.k.a. Mr. Clawgrass-- made in a workshop when someone asked about stuffing: "Let that expensive instrument ring!" And yes, Loo P., a plastic head will get you flogged with heavy duty Nylguts :-)
	Kole says: 2/3/2011 1:48:03 PM Yeah, I wouldnt want to do anything to alter the tonal characteristics of the 1865. No stuffin fer me either.
	R.D. Lunceford says: 2/4/2011 3:35:56 PM >>And yes, Loo P., a plastic head will get you flogged with >>heavy duty Nylguts :-) Yeah!!! And we'll even tie knots in 'em !!!
Post a Comment
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.

Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by maryzcox 3 years ago
	Chickens Crowin at Midnight fretless banjo Linked by maryzcox 3 years ago: this Thursday October 12 2023 6-7 pm at the Cashiers NC Library--free and open to the public ! The Bowlin and more great banjos will be there and playing ! Don't miss it !
Blog Entry: Hogfiddle Sessions here ! Linked by maryzcox 4 years ago
Blog Entry: Holiday News 2021 Linked by maryzcox 5 years ago
	I want to buy some old style FIVE-STAR 5th string Planetary Tuners. Linked by John Bowlin 5 years ago
Classified: I want to buy a used BROOKS fretted banjo Spartan model with the clown shape peg head. Linked by John Bowlin 5 years ago
	SOLD 1964 Longneck (Folk-lure model) Banjo and a new hard case. Linked by John Bowlin 6 years ago
	Happy Easter 2020 :) www.maryzcox.com Linked by maryzcox 6 years ago
Classified: Wanted to buy Brooks Banjo Linked by B.Goodman 8 years ago
Classified: Bowlin 1865 Linked by B.Goodman 8 years ago