David Holt’s banjo playing has inspired ever since his old PBS show Fire on the Mountain. I particularly like the sound of his Deering banjo. In a video for Deering, he describes the eleven by four-inch (deep) rim as a substitute in creating the tone of the older, larger minstrel banjo rims. I have thought about trying that concept in my next build.
I know I could never re-create the sound of David’s Deering, but the concept intrigues me. I one time built an (shorter than a usual A-scale) banjo that I tune to A. An eight-inch rim was the largest I could turn on my lathe, so I made it much deeper, and it gives the banjo a fuller, mellower sound than might be expected.
I was wondering if anyone here has experimented with rim depth?
Jeff, I would to see more of the banjo you created. Looks nice from the one picture but would love to see more.
David Politzer on here did a pretty extensive study and experiment with various rim depths. Here is a link to his paper.
http://www.its.caltech.edu/~politzer/TheOpenBackOfTheOpenBack.pdf
Here are a couple of closer photos and an MP3 of me playing Angeline the Baker. Considering its unique design and size, I was pleased with the way it sounds and plays.
Glen, Thanks for the link. I'll have to look at it later. Time to go play some music at the Senior Center.
This is sort of a follow-up from about three years later: http://www.its.caltech.edu/~politzer/rim-height.pdf .
The link Glen Wiz suggested was my first attempt at serious "banjo physics." I've learned a lot over the years. I post stuff when I think I've got at least some of it right at http://www.its.caltech.edu/~politzer/ . The newest is on top. There's a lot there at this point, but you might find something else of interest as well. There are typically some sound samples, a lot of graphs, a few equations, and attempts at explanations in plain English. I realize that much of it is not of general interest, but it keeps me happy.
Now that is what I am talking about! Scoop all the way to the 7th fret!!!
