Hey Stelling owners - If you remember the breaking in characteristics of your head on your new Stelling please pass them along. I am referring to how closely I need to monitor the head as to stretching as it settles in over the breaking in period. Best of my knowledge it has only been played around 6 weeks or so and I am wondering if it will stretch out much more. Also isn't the head a 5-star Ludwig? Know it's not a Remo. Thanks all for help.
11 Comments |
 | Tim13 says:
2/17/2014 1:35:17 PM
The head is a Ludwig. I ordered one from Stelling a while back as my previous one wouldn't hold tension anymore. The one I got was definitely a Ludwig, but it wasn't as heavy as the one the banjo came with.
I recently replaced the new Ludwig with one of the AMB "pre-EPA" crimped Remo's as they're referred to as, and I prefer it to the Ludwig. These new AMB heads are definitely thicker Mylar, and I think Stellings in general benefit from a heavier head.
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 | kmwaters says:
2/17/2014 1:51:19 PM
Heavy ones should have basically no stretching when they are thick mylar.
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 | banjoman56 says:
2/17/2014 6:17:26 PM
It's been my experience that a five star head will settle pretty good in ten days to two weeks, if they are re-tightened every couple days. A Remo may take a bit longer.
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 | BobbyE says:
2/18/2014 3:20:28 AM
Thanks, mine seems to have settled pretty much just wanted a second opinion or two.
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Tam_Zeb says:
2/18/2014 3:32:24 PM
I have not adjusted the tension on my Masterflower since Geoff set it up although I have changed the strings. Sounds just fine.
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swamplunker says:
2/20/2014 6:45:22 AM
Mr. Stelling is the one that told me to get a Drum Dial from Janet Davis. When I first got my Sunflower the head was too loose. Bringing it up to 91 all the way around with the Drum Dial made it right. Stelling has something against Remos, but I don't remember why, he says 5-star and Ludwig are the same.
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swamplunker says:
2/20/2014 7:03:28 AM
Mr. Stelling is the one that told me to get a Drum Dial from Janet Davis. When I first got my Sunflower the head was too loose. Bringing it up to 91 all the way around with the Drum Dial made it right. Stelling has something against Remos, but I don't remember why, he says 5-star and Ludwig are the same.
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| kmwaters says:
2/20/2014 7:21:31 AM
I like Steve Davis use of a cut down ruler that will fit inside the tension hoop. Set it on edge parallel to the strings and close to the bridge. If you can slide a quarter under near the bridge foot with no excess space you are just about where you want to be.
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| BobbyE says:
2/20/2014 9:59:07 AM
Thanks guys. I do believe it has settled about all its going to. If it sounded much better don't think I could stand it.
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 | Geoff Stelling says:
2/20/2014 12:31:38 PM
Bobby,
I don't use Remos because many of them broke on me while just setting up a new banjo. Their frosting also wears off with the slightest movement of the bridge. Frosting thickness has changed over the years on Ludwig heads, but I still like their consistency of sound, stability, and toughness. In 40 years, I think I broke only one Ludwig head. To me, the Remo has a deader tone and not quite the pop that can be gotten from a Ludwig. I check my head tension maybe twice a year. After the first month with it up to tension, that should be sufficient.
Geoff
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| BobbyE says:
2/20/2014 2:05:54 PM
Thanks Mr. Stelling. I appreciate your experience, expertise, and most of all, my Sunflower.
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