Calf Skin or Goat?

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Gourd Banjo Owners and Builders

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This group is for anyone who owns or builds Gourd Banjos

142 Members, Created 3/6/2011 -

Administrators: Austin Stovall (owner)

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From zeppelfahrt on 11/16/2011 5:04:22 AM

Good morning,

I have noticed that one may obtain either calf or goat skin from Elderly. What type is recommended for the head? Also, how difficult will tuning the instrument be with friction pegs?

Thank you,

-Scott

4 Comments
	C Nyal de Kaye says: 11/16/2011 3:50:58 PM Hello again Scott, I am no expert in this having only made one gourd banjo and once put a skin on a hoop for an open back. The skin I used was calf skin and both worked very well. I have no experience beyond that. Yesterday I bought some friction pegs from StewMac and, once they arrive, I may be able to offer an answer to your other question. From what I have read however they seem to work well, hence my buying some. I hope all goes well for you Scott. Norm
	zeppelfahrt says: 11/17/2011 4:07:02 AM Thanks Norm, From what I've been reading calf's skin seems to be to most popular. On my first attempt to build a neck, I will likely go for the Dennis Havlena oak plank style with perhaps some ergomomic mods to enhance left hand efficiency. We'll see how it goes! Oh- another question. I was reading somewhere that gourds can break easily and sometimes rot. It there something like poly-urethane I could apply to both stregthen and preserve it. Thanks again, -Scott
	C Nyal de Kaye says: 11/17/2011 12:12:06 PM As I said, I'm no expert Scott. I have heard that gourds break, but my one hasn't so far and it must be five years old. I did paint the outside with clear Estapol, probably three or four coats. On the inside I strengthened the gourd around the area where the spike or neck goes through. I did this with what we call paddle pop sticks, not sure if that term means anything outside of Oz. They are the sticks in ice creams or ice blocks. I bent then into the shape of the gourd and glued them around the holes to strengthen that area. Then I pained the whole inside with flat black paint. I have no idea if that idea is sound, or really helpful in preserving the gourd, but it made me feel that it was. I am doing the same thing on my new gourd banjo now underway. If you look up the info provided by John Herrington, in this section of BH, you will see some good advice from him about stretching the skin. He is vastly more experienced than me so his info is worth having. Good on ya Scott and best wishes. Norm
	zeppelfahrt says: 11/18/2011 4:06:00 AM Norm, Many thanks for the time you have taken to help me get started. I'll let you know how things progress from here. All the best, -Scott
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