I just got a 1926 BB. I'm trying to find one of the Sullivan or Huber conversion tone rings so I can try the tone as and as a flat head. Any leads on where to find one of these conversion tone rings (or one made by anyone else)?
18 Comments |
 | Fathand says:
11/30/2013 6:50:13 AM
Have you tried flipping your BB tone ring upside down first. This gives a larger vibrating head surface and may sound more "flathead like".
Sullivan conversion rings should be available from FQMS
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 | Ragtimejoe says:
11/30/2013 7:02:40 AM
I appreciate the advice about flipping the ring, but I've read that folks have had mixed results and I'm not sure my ear is good enough to hear the difference vs the work to try it out. I did send Sullivan an e-mail. I hoping they have one laying around. From their website it looks like all they do is build banjos these days.
I'll try FQMS, but I think they're just retail instruments these days
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| Ragtimejoe says:
11/30/2013 7:13:31 AM
I look on the FQMS site on saw that they had an SL-2 archtop to flathead conversion tone ring. I sent them an e-mail asking if it would work on an 1926 Gibson ball bearing banjo (of course they do have a return policy).
Thanks for pointing me in that direction
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| Fathand says:
11/30/2013 7:59:41 AM
FQMS used to list the BB to Flathead ring.
All you do to flip your BB ring is remove the head and flip the ring over and replace the head. takes 15-30 min
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| Fathand says:
11/30/2013 8:01:35 AM
If you listen to any of the Jim Reed clips here, I am pretty sure he has the flipped tone ring on most or all of them.
banjohangout.org/my/jimh269b
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| Ragtimejoe says:
11/30/2013 8:20:30 AM
I'll give it a try thanks
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 | revellfa says:
11/30/2013 5:14:49 PM
Arthur Hatfield offered me one when I was looking but I didn't buy it because I like the BB sound better. He should still have it though so I would try contacting him.
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| revellfa says:
11/30/2013 5:16:21 PM
Arthur Hatfield offered me one when I was looking but I didn't buy it because I like the BB sound better. He should still have it though so I would try contacting him.
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| revellfa says:
11/30/2013 5:18:53 PM
Arthur Hatfield offered me one when I was looking but I didn't buy it because I like the BB sound better. He should still have it though so I would try contacting him.
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| revellfa says:
11/30/2013 5:19:13 PM
Arthur Hatfield offered me one when I was looking but I didn't buy it because I like the BB sound better. He should still have it though so I would try contacting him.
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| Ragtimejoe says:
12/1/2013 8:10:23 AM
I've been reading about the Mitch tone mate tone rings. They sound (all puns intended) very promising). The posts on the hangout are glowing, the You Tube clips sound good, Mitch make a ring for the BB ring, the price is $200 and the original bb ring stays in place. Sounds like a winner all around. I'll post a clip of the before and after conversion.
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 | banjerman says:
12/2/2013 11:57:39 AM
Id say to play that BB as is. I have never heard one person say that the conversion was as good as the BB ring with a good set-up etc. Just my 3 cents. adjusted for inflation.
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| Ragtimejoe says:
12/2/2013 5:08:42 PM
1.FQMS never responded to my email.
2. Huber wanted over $1,000 to make a one-off custom BB to flat head HR-30 conversion ring
3. Arthur was great. He had a Ryan but wasn't sure it would fit and suggested coming up and trying it with no obligation
4. I spoke with Mitch from the Mitch mate and decided to go that route - cheaper, non-obtrusiove and no changes to the original banjo.
After all this I expect I'll end up preferring the BB tone ring best.
Thanks to everyone who helped me out.
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| Fathand says:
12/3/2013 5:50:22 AM
I wonder if anyone on the BB Group knows the differences between a typical Flathead ring and a BB to Flathead Conversion ring. If it is a matter of removing material on a lathe, I am sure there are many on the BHO capable of performing something likt this.
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| revellfa says:
12/3/2013 2:04:36 PM
I'm glad you came to the conclusion to leave it alone as a BB.
I was going to suggest this but as a new parent I now know that I can't tell somebody what to do--they have to make their own mistakes!
You will love the BB as is.
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| revellfa says:
12/3/2013 2:05:27 PM
I'm glad you came to the conclusion to leave it alone as a BB.
I was going to suggest this but as a new parent I now know that I can't tell somebody what to do--they have to make their own mistakes!
You will love the BB as is.
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 | BanjoFlyboy says:
12/6/2013 8:07:53 AM
I bought my '26 PB-5 a few years ago already converted with a Sullivan ring. It sounded ok but nothing special. Since I had all the BB parts I put it back to it's all original state. I like it way better as a BB. I'm not a very good picker, but listen to some of my videos with it. I've got some great flatheads that are locked up in their cases. The biggest problem with us banjo enthusiasts is that we always think the grass is greener with the latest fad. That's not always true.
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| BanjoFlyboy says:
12/6/2013 8:08:06 AM
I bought my '26 PB-5 a few years ago already converted with a Sullivan ring. It sounded ok but nothing special. Since I had all the BB parts I put it back to it's all original state. I like it way better as a BB. I'm not a very good picker, but listen to some of my videos with it. I've got some great flatheads that are locked up in their cases. The biggest problem with us banjo enthusiasts is that we always think the grass is greener with the latest fad. That's not always true.
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