Greetings,
I am very new to the banjo. I bought a Washburn about a year ago. It has a Remo Weatherking head on it. It is an uncoated head. I have noticed that almost everyone that I see playing a banjo has a coated head. And my banjo has more of a tingy (is that a word?) sound to it. I would like to get to be a much better player before I dish out the cash for a better banjo, and overall I am very happy with mine. But, wondering if changing the head will change the sound of the banjo. I did a quick search and it seems like heads are fairly inexpensive, and it does not seem like it is a major job to replace. I would, of course, have my music shop replace the head.
Thanks.
Peter a top coated Remo will definitely sound good (better?) on your banjo, bottom coated or "shiny" heads usually sound brighter and "pingier" do it yourself, its easy and, there is no time like the present to learn .
quote:
Originally posted by spoonfedPeter a top coated Remo will definitely sound good (better?) on your banjo, bottom coated or "shiny" heads usually sound brighter and "pingier" do it yourself, its easy and, there is no time like the present to learn .
Thank you! I have also talked to the repair guy at my shop...I am thinking that I am definitely going change the head.
Check this out before you call the shop. As Nick said, it's not too hard to do.
Clear heads are usually used only on 4 string tenors, and even those are becoming less common. The bright tone they produce is less desirable today.
quote:
Originally posted by pmartin9363quote:
Originally posted by spoonfedPeter a top coated Remo will definitely sound good (better?) on your banjo, bottom coated or "shiny" heads usually sound brighter and "pingier" do it yourself, its easy and, there is no time like the present to learn .
Thank you! I have also talked to the repair guy at my shop...I am thinking that I am definitely going change the head.
Get yourself the proper sized wrench, a new Remo top frosted head and a drumdial and you're in business.
Take it from me, I'm clumsy and not that mechanically inclined and I can swap a new head on in about 15mins (not counting bringing it up to tension).
Seems like there have been some discussions on BH about putting a coating on a smooth head with common materials?
Make sure you measure your head size if you do buy a different head. If your Washburn is a modern banjo, it is probably 11 inches.
Tony Furtado sticks duct tape all over his head, and the tail piece. youtu.be/cCnqLjSbFDI
quote:
Originally posted by ChunoTheDogquote:
Originally posted by pmartin9363quote:
Originally posted by spoonfedPeter a top coated Remo will definitely sound good (better?) on your banjo, bottom coated or "shiny" heads usually sound brighter and "pingier" do it yourself, its easy and, there is no time like the present to learn .
Thank you! I have also talked to the repair guy at my shop...I am thinking that I am definitely going change the head.
Get yourself the proper sized wrench, a new Remo top frosted head and a drumdial and you're in business.
Take it from me, I'm clumsy and not that mechanically inclined and I can swap a new head on in about 15mins (not counting bringing it up to tension).
I do not think I would have any issue replacing the head. it is putting the strings back on with the bridge. I have absoluting no idea how to do this and I am sure that I would screw it up.
quote:
Originally posted by jan dupreeTony Furtado sticks duct tape all over his head, and the tail piece. youtu.be/cCnqLjSbFDI
I talked to the guy that does this at be music shop. Until we discussed this I had no idea that the resonator can be taken off with a few screws. I might try it.
quote:
Originally posted by thisoldmanCheck this out before you call the shop. As Nick said, it's not too hard to do.
Thanks, this looks like something that I can try.
Drum dial shrum dial.
I never used one and really don’t see a need to.
Not saying I won’t ever need to, but have been able to correctly tension a head without one, for multiple banjos I’ve owned, so I don’t think it’ll hurt me not to buy one now.
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