i just joined this group, after buying a Gibson RB-175 from the marketplace. Thanks Tom!
Ot has not even arrived yet, but I have a question. I prefer an Elite or Renaissance head one my regular banjos. What he@d material works best with the tonal range of a long neck, tuned to E?
10 Comments |
 | John Gribble says:
7/2/2019 6:18:03 PM
I have a Renaissance on mine, and it sounds good. I bought the banjo used and it had a Weather King on it. That head went bad. If I ever give the banjo a complete overhaul, I think I will go back to the Weather King. I think I liked it just a little better...
|
 | Shmockiebaby says:
7/2/2019 6:37:34 PM
Ok. Interesting. I’ve found those a bit too bright. But like I said, I don’t even have the banjo yet. Thanks!
|
 | LongNeckJo says:
7/2/2019 6:38:14 PM
This doesn’t fall into either of your options, but I have a John Balch goat head on my long neck Vega and love the organic sound of it! I had a fiberskyn on it before which was pretty good. I think the high maintenance aspect of hide heads are exaggerated and haven’t found them to be that much more annoying than keeping a plastic one adjusted, though I also don’t keep the tension cranked up and super tight as some prefer.
|
| Shmockiebaby says:
7/2/2019 6:59:24 PM
I love hide heads. I’ve broken a couple. I do live in a very humid environment.
I have a fiberskyn on one banjo. I’d change it to an Elite, if I wasn’t lazy. But it’s also a smaller pot, so that could be the biggest factor.
I bet real skin would sound great on a long neck, though. Dyed by John Balch is a bonus. I was listening to a John in the car today.
Thanks.
|
 | Mulligan says:
7/2/2019 7:04:47 PM
I have a Remo Fiberskyn on my RB-175. Really like the plunky sound for Irish Balads.
|
 | darwinyarwin says:
7/3/2019 9:08:43 AM
Hi Mark, you're welcome! I promise the banjo is coming soon! I've had other RB175s plus my prized Ode Model 21 long necks and a parts long neck banjo (last three with aluminum rims).
The Weather King that is on the RB175 is the best option. You want the brightness to be able to hear the full range of sound if you play in th eopen registers much. Thicker heads make the bass notes sound muddy when playing open strings or lowere notes. You lose some of the highs, I think, if you don't have a brighter head. But those heads will give you that plunky old timey sound lots more easily. I can't speak to Elite heads -- never had one.
Long necks are basically folk instruments. Their history tells us the Pete's first long necks were with hide heads, and Dave Guard's first Vega LN had a hide head too. Later everyone was using Weather Kings. Hide heads and the thicker textures heads seem to "muddy" the sounds in melodic passages, imho; particularly playing the first 3 frets.
Just my $0.02, YMMV.
Tom
|
| darwinyarwin says:
7/3/2019 9:14:24 AM
Hi Mark, you're welcome! I promise the banjo is coming soon! I've had other RB175s plus my prized Ode Model 21 long necks and a parts long neck banjo (last three with aluminum rims).
The Weather King that is on the RB175 is the best option. You want the brightness to be able to hear the full range of sound if you play in th eopen registers much. Thicker heads make the bass notes sound muddy when playing open strings or lowere notes. You lose some of the highs, I think, if you don't have a brighter head. But those heads will give you that plunky old timey sound lots more easily. I can't speak to Elite heads -- never had one.
Long necks are basically folk instruments. Their history tells us the Pete's first long necks were with hide heads, and Dave Guard's first Vega LN had a hide head too. Later everyone was using Weather Kings. Hide heads and the thicker textures heads seem to "muddy" the sounds in melodic passages, imho; particularly playing the first 3 frets.
Just my $0.02, YMMV.
Tom
|
| Shmockiebaby says:
7/5/2019 6:30:04 PM
I love hide heads. I’ve broken a couple. I do live in a very humid environment.
I have a fiberskyn on one banjo. I’d change it to an Elite, if I wasn’t lazy. But it’s also a smaller pot, so that could be the biggest factor.
I bet real skin would sound great on a long neck, though. Dyed by John Balch is a bonus. I was listening to a John in the car today.
Thanks.
|
 | jun3machina says:
8/22/2019 7:40:36 AM
I prefer the hide heads personally. My ode came with an original ode stamped head, and was replaced with a synthetic, but it felt too bright to me. Could be my ear though as I prefer plunky old time sounds
|
| Shmockiebaby says:
8/22/2019 8:26:55 AM
So far, I am liking the Weather King that came on the RB-175. It is loud and clear, and handles the full frequency range of the long neck very well.
|
Post a Comment
|
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.
|
