Over the last 50 years I've installed maybe a half dozen calfskin heads, a task that I save for a rainy or winter day when I know that there will be no distractions. On a 4 string I can see the advantage of the rough side being on the inside to avoid the scuffing sound a flat pick makes, and on the outside for a 5 string to possibly give some added stability to a planted pinkie. Other than that, does anyone have an opinion regarding which offers the better tone, on any other reason to choose one approach over the other?
I've installed a few as well. I always try to put the smooth side out just because it's the smooth side. I've made a couple mistakes though and ended up with the rough side out (it can be hard to tell when the skin is wet). I don't think it matters one way or the other tonally. I think it's a matter of preference.
I have installed several skin heads, although it's been a while. I recall reading that the skin should be mounted on your banjo the same direction it was facing when the animal was wearing it originally. That always worked for me.
On a similar topic, what's up with these terrible, thick goatskin heads people are using now? Is this another intentional "we suck on purpose" thing? The goat skins I've played on are thick, greasy and unresponsive.
quote:
Originally posted by blazoI've installed a few as well. I always try to put the smooth side out just because it's the smooth side. I've made a couple mistakes though and ended up with the rough side out (it can be hard to tell when the skin is wet). I don't think it matters one way or the other tonally. I think it's a matter of preference.
It is hard to tell sometimes ... and I've made mistakes that way. But a few years ago, Jeff Stern told me how to identify the flesh & grain sides of a wet hide:
Scratch the wet hide with your fingernail. The flesh side will turn white where scratched. The grain side will not.
That being said: the traditional preferred way is to mount the grain (hair) side facing the top. I have done it both ways and sometimes deliberately mount stained hides with the flesh side up - because that side sometimes absorbs the color better. If I mount the flesh side facing up, I often sand it a little (after drying) to reduce roughness (if that is an issue- depending on the specific hide).
Edited by - jbalch on 06/27/2024 06:53:16
I've mounted heads both ways, and agree that sometimes the head can feel rough or smooth on either side. I prefer to mount with the rough/hair side up. To me it seems like it helps the bridge to stay in place on some banjos with a longer distance between the bridge and tailpiece, or with shorter bridges. And, the coloring is better on the hair side, of course (though sometimes the pearlescent appearance of the flesh side on some goatskins is quite attractive, as well).
Edited by - Noah Cline on 06/27/2024 07:33:23
Smooth side out. Dat's what I do.
No goatskin, too rubbery. I want my calfskin heads so stiff you could roller-skate on em.
Skin heads have been around for a long time & so has advice on how to mount them. There is a very long -standing tradition of mounting the smooth side on the top. ( I doubt anyone could find instructions to mount the rough side up). No reasons are really given, but I suspect it might be related to aesthetics, & cleanliness. Smooth surfaces are easier to dust & wipe & clean. Textured surfaces allow oils, skin particles, dust & grit to accumulate. I have not seen a skin mounted upside down in many years of dealing in vintage drums & banjos. ..& when it happens, it was probably a mistake or some idiosyncratic project.
Edited by - tdennis on 06/27/2024 16:46:04
Thank you all for your comments. I think next time I'll do the rough side out. My most recent "installation" which I did over the winter split a couple of days ago so I'm due to do this again. I find the trickiest part of the installation is gauging how much a of crown to aim for because the skins vary from one to the next and it's difficult to predict the amount of shrinkage that will occur. On the one that just split after 4-5 months, the crown was too low which left the tension hoop too high which in turn interfered with fretting above the 19th fret. With humidity on the rise this time of year I figured I could gradually tighten the head just a little bit at a time but I went just a bit too far and the next day I discovered the head had split. So I'm temporarily back to a mylar head which I don't like on my vintage Vegas, as I've grown to prefer the sound I get with a quality skin head.
I bet it doesn't really matter, either functionally or acoustically. The only reasons I can think of are: 1) the "finished" side of the skin, which is the side the hair grew on (the outside of the animal), is usually smoother. That might imply a better acoustic connection between the bridge feet and the skin. The imported goatskin drum heads I usually use do tend to be a lot rougher on the "inside" surface. 2) the smoother surface feels better to my hand. 3) I find the outside/hairside surface generally more appealing aesthetically...that might be the most important reason for me. As for the issue of goatskin versus cow...I love the imported, inexpensive goatskin drum skins I get. They are graded by thickness (I usually get medium or thin), are NOT greasy and are very beautiful. Oh...and they sound great!
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