I like my setup but have always wondered what other people with Ramseys choose to do. I don't know what kind of head mine is (it's in my photos if you want to check it out) - it's an almost translucent sort of tan color. Do you tighten the head tension or keep them looser? What type of strings? I don't know what kind mine are and oddly I can't remember if I ever had them replaced after getting it from Mike Ramsey or if I just kept what he gave me. They don't seem worn out yet, no matter how much I've played over the last few years (more than my other instruments and yet not a super serious player who does it every day). Any other alterations? I had spikes added and bought one of those nice, soft Lakota leather bison cradle straps (love). This isn't about setup but my latest thought is I'd like to be able to carry it around more easily so I want something with backpack straps. I was going to get one of those Boulder gig bags but then I thought about the hard foam cases I've seen for other types of instruments and I found one for banjos. So it will offer almost as much safety as a traditional hard case, but will be lighter and have backpack straps. Do any of you use these? Not super cool and pretty (a little bulky, and boring black) but it will be a much safer option than a gig bag, and without breaking my back.
If you share changes you made to your banjo, please state why.
11 Comments |
 | Joe the banjo guy says:
2/22/2014 10:31:26 PM
That's a renaissance head. I have the same (12 inch Student). I use the Mary Z. Cox signature strings from AMB. Currently have a Steve Davis bridge on mine. I don't recall what my head tension was, but i'm guessing around 90 on the drum dial.
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 | Theresse says:
2/22/2014 10:39:08 PM
Thanks for sharing! I don't know anything about bridges. How do they help? Mine is whatever Ramsey had on it which - hmmm I don't know if he said it was his standard one or what. It seems to me he might have said he'd had one or two small upgrades on it (it used to be his personal banjo) but I didn't notice anything about it that wasn't standard on all his Specials (not that I'd necessarily know). Why did you choose those strings and that bridge? I love Mary's music BTW.
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| Joe the banjo guy says:
2/22/2014 10:42:53 PM
Oh, just trial and error really. Lighter strings and lighter bridge=brighter sound and more "give" in the strings. There are no end of bridges to try if you don't mind spending some money :)
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| Theresse says:
2/22/2014 11:22:13 PM
I like more give in the strings, but a darker sound. I wish I could remember but I *think* I may have asked a luthier to change the strings to something with more give, initially. Who knows, at this point! But I love everything about it so if it ain't broke...
I don't know how far off topic we're allowed to stray here but I just discovered this video which I love (I don't think those are ramsey banjos though): youtube.com/watch?v=-qP0KeymSQI
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| Joe the banjo guy says:
2/23/2014 7:35:02 AM
Sounds like you'd want pretty light strings with a heavy bridge that's as short as you can get away with without making anything buzz.
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 | Strumelia says:
2/23/2014 8:11:41 AM
Yeah cool video but not Ramsey banjos (Goldtone banjos sponsoring somehow maybe?)...and one is a bass tenor type 4 string played with a flatpick.
Real skin head is best sound in my opinion, but a Renaissance head is next best thing, and handy for outdoor humid playing situations. I find the older Fiberskin heads to be too thunky for my taste now- i used to like them but when Renaissance came along they were more 'alive' more like a real skin head, and imho blew the Fiberskin out of the water. :)
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| Theresse says:
2/23/2014 9:55:14 AM
Thanks Strumelia! Then I guess I'll stick with it since I like to play outdoors a lot and we have humidity sometimes. So curious about the sound though! I'd love to find a comparison video between the two - and question whether I'd even be able to hear the difference. Love all your gorgeous banjos by the way!
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 | guywolff says:
4/6/2014 4:04:27 PM
Im with Strumelia on the head .. My custom Ramsey came with a great 12 inch Renaissance head . I have put on a John Balch goat head that is prestretched (it is fine in the humidity ) and then added a Bill Rickard heavier bridge (very warm tone ) . Also I am using Nylgut strings (the Red set ) and a no-knot tale-piece again for tone . I just put up a video of this banjo playing House Carpenter in double D .The banjo has a brass tone-ring , a "Woody" extra deep pot and a nice big Dobson neck with diamond custom inlays .Its an awesome banjo and my main player for the last 10 years .
youtube.com/watch?v=Z7khwNvlHKI
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| Theresse says:
4/7/2014 12:11:35 AM
Guy, I am in absolute love with the sound of that banjo! It's so soothing. Like rain drops. Such a beautiful song, too. I wonder how much a Ramsey Chanterelle Special could sound like yours though considering it's not a dobson...and is your neck shorter or was that just my imagination? Also my pot isn't all that deep I don't think. I'll have to start yet another thread up asking for various measurements of 12" open backs. Reason being, Reunion Blues sent me a pad to try out to add to my banjo gig bag to help it fit more tightly there since their bags are are meant for resonator banjos. I thought I'd need to raise my banjo's head up a bit but really, very little raising was needed...so they'd like me to inquire about people's open back head heights before they come up with a permanent after-market cushion. Anyway thanks for your detailed response!
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| guywolff says:
4/11/2014 6:38:24 PM
My Ramsey dose not have a "Dobson" Tone rind (The pot is like Mikes "woody"pot I think. It is heavier and deeper on a 12 inch measurement (Brass tone ring ) The Neck is a heavier Dobson neck . I think that the string length is somthing like 25.5 to 26 inches
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| Theresse says:
4/11/2014 7:07:38 PM
Oh I see - I'm sorry I got that wrong! Anyway it sounds so nice to my ears. :)
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