Maple, Walnut, Mahogany Stellings

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Stelling Owners Club

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For those who own or want to own the ultimate banjo. www.stellingbanjo.com

536 Members, Created 1/28/2011 -

Administrators: 5 String (owner)

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From Cotten Patch Rag on 8/28/2011 9:25:06 AM

Not long ago, I purchased a new Crusader thinking this would fill out my "trilogy of sound" from my Stellings. My first was a maple Butterfly model, an archtop, with incredible brightness, clarity and pop. Second was the walnut Staghorn (flat head) with its warm tones. I thought the Crusader (flat top) mahogany model would take the sound even more mellow. I have been quite surprised that the Crusader is extremely bright compared to the Stag. I have set them up as close to each other as I can, but the Crusader is a very close second to the maple archtop.

Can anyone make any suggestions on this situation? Was not the Crusader created to take us deeper into the warmer and woody sounds of the banjo?

Regards, Jimmypick

4 Comments
	5StringNick says: 8/28/2011 9:30:49 AM Maybe loosen the head a little. A friend of mine had a crusader and it was a very bassy banjo to say the least. Very nice instrument.
	Geoff Stelling says: 8/29/2011 8:26:29 AM Jimmypick, I usually set up all the new banjos with my medium heavy strings and the head set at 91 kg on my drum dial. I would not recommend a head tension less than 89. Light gauge strings will sound brighter. You could try a bridge made of regular maple instead of the old wood birch that came with it. I have some regular maple bridges that are compensated if you would like to swap the birch one for it. Also, make sure your tailpiece is not tightened down past being level with the head. Geoff
	Cotten Patch Rag says: 8/30/2011 10:22:33 AM Thanks Nick and Geoff for your replies to my question. Geoff, would not the maple bridge (that you suggested) keep this banjo going in the direction of a brighter tone? This to me would be a good a thing, what with my propensity for the archtop sound. Thanks for the offer to swap out the bridge, but if you think the maple will make it brighter, I would like to purchase one. Also, congratulations on you up comming Distinguished Achievement Award from the IBMA. Very well deserved! O', and while I think of it: How about putting out another version of the Stelling Banjo Anthology. That CD never comes out of the stack. Gegards, Jim Tero
	Geoff Stelling says: 8/30/2011 12:01:49 PM Jim, I was thinking that you were trying to mellow out the tone of your Crusader. The maple bridges I have might be a tad softer than the old wood birch bridges and should lend themselves to a mellower tone. With bridges, you really never know till you try it on your banjo. If you want bright, go for the tight grained maple or birch bridges. For a mellower tone, look for the wider grain maple. I'll send you whatever you want. Just place your order on our website and make a comment in the comment line about your preferences. Thanks. Geoff
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