Coordinator rod question

Premier Sponsors

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to our privacy policy which includes details of cookie usage. Hide this notice

Stelling Owners Club

Join This Group

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

536 Members, Created 1/28/2011 -

Administrators: 5 String (owner)

< Back to Home

From bsmith_5 on 6/14/2012 2:30:57 PM

I have an '85 whitestar with the 3-ply rim and using the 11/16th stelling bridge, my action is a little higher than I like. I hear most folks recommending neutral rod pressure so should I be putting in a neck shim rather than put pressure on the rod? I don't want to warp the rim or constrain the tone ring.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Barry Smith

6 Comments
	Railo says: 6/14/2012 3:15:00 PM Hi Barry, It depends on how high is a little high. You can bring the action down a 16th or so with the rim rod. If you need more than that you can change the bridge or shim the neck. As far as the whole rim rod in neutral thing, In my opinion it doesn't apply to Stellings because of the wedge fit rim and tone ring. The tone ring sits on top of the rim not over the rim like the mastertone style banjos. So the rim can't constrain the tone ring although it is still possible to warp the rim with excessive rod pressure. I am not an expert though, so you may want to email Mr. Stelling, he is.
	dpskala says: 6/15/2012 7:04:33 AM Why not just go to a 5/8" bridge? I prefer about 1/4" action on my '88 Masterpiece. I use a 5/8" Kat Eyz bridge on it, and it sounds and plays great. You would really have to try hard to warp the rim with the rods (but I'm sure you could do it).
	grm405 says: 6/15/2012 9:48:19 AM I believe that Stellings of that era were cut for a 5/8" bridge. My 84 Sunflower is. I use my own bridges on it, generally 5/8", and they sound fine. 11/16" are too tall for it, unless you really like high action. Gerry
	bsmith_5 says: 6/15/2012 3:38:17 PM As a matter of fact, this did have a 5/8 bridge when I got it (Sosbee I think). I just felt that the Stelling site was indicating I should use their 11/16 to get the 'sound'. I use the Ludwig head but I don't know what the head is tuned to. I did considered the ring to rim wouldn't be like a Masterclone, but hesitated to crank the rods too much. Thanks for your views. I'll tweak this a little using a 5/8 and see where I get it. Barry
	briln says: 6/16/2012 5:07:04 AM I had Geoff recut the heel of my '83 Sunflower and a stainless refret this year. I tried an 11/16 bridge and it would not work without really cranking the coordinator rods (which of course I didn't do) with the original setup. Much happier now.
	bsmith_5 says: 6/17/2012 7:01:08 AM Yeah, I've been working from the assumption that the neck came cut specifically for the 11/16th. A re-cut of the neck may be in the future. Thanks all!
Post a Comment
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.

MP3: Somewhere over the rainbow Linked by Eastbanjo 1 month ago
Tablature: Kitchen Girl Linked by tenolanmd 4 months ago
Tablature: Big Country part 1 Linked by JOBO 3 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by gottasmilealot 4 years ago
	STELLING SUPERSTAR 1979- For sale..... May consider trade for nice Baldwin-Ode D Linked by Ralph Stanley legend 5 years ago
Tablature: Road to Columbus Linked by Briscoedillard59 5 years ago
Tablature: Banjo Signal Linked by dmayeur 5 years ago
	Stelling Visit Linked by gotvim72 5 years ago
Tablature: Eighth of January Linked by Tom Hanway 5 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by revellfa 6 years ago