Just a plug for a classified ad I just put up for a Corian tone ring. It will fit standard Gibson rims. Might need a little tweaking but it is 11" diameter. Cheap enough to try and it has a look that might just make your day. Or not. It is what it is.
banjohangout.org/classified/108529
Interesting. What is the weight compared to a conventional ring?
It is lighter. I meant to weigh it.Will do that tonight.
Have you considered making one Nechville compatible?
Certainly can do it. Not like having to cast something. If someone wants a custom size just PM me.
Edited by - lazlototh on 02/17/2025 10:27:28
This ring weighs 1.1#
Thanks for the weight info. The banjo in my avatar has a ceramic tone ring. I no longer own it; after playing it for 25 years it went back to its original owner, who never thought he would see it again and was quite happy to get it. The ceramic ring had a clear, ringing sound that I liked, and many listeners remarked on it as well. I assumed it was made in a mold and there would be other rings around, but the original owner said it was the only one. I like the use of alternative materials, and these days I am looking at lighter banjos.
Edited by - mrbook on 02/17/2025 15:07:33
What is the tap tone like?
There is no tap tone. It is literally like a rock. No resonance.
BUT, the instrument sounds good. I suspect it is due to the high density of the material.
Here is another link that represents the sound better than my playing. This is a Caddock Corian banjo. It was made by the late luthier Charles Caddock.
This got me going on Corian. This was posted by my friend Blake Gilpin from BH.
youtube.com/watch?v=X6kelqxYx-M
BTW is this ring bent and glued or is it machined out of a flat piece?
I guess it would only actually matter if it were resonating (which it doesn't seem to be), but I'm curious anyway.
Very interesting. I always wondered what crystal glass tone ring would sound like and also a stainess steel one. Te possibilities are endless!
quote:
Originally posted by aaronobleBTW is this ring bent and glued or is it machined out of a flat piece?
I guess it would only actually matter if it were resonating (which it doesn't seem to be), but I'm curious anyway.
Corian is a composite made of resin and stone. Basically this is synthetic stone. It cannot be bent, it is poured into a form in a similar manner to concrete.
Corian is thermoformable. It can be formed into any shape.
I wound up making an oven specifically for making tone rings.
When heated it is like a floppy noodle and is very hot.
Once it is at room temperature it is very hard.
I think this high density is what affords it it's sound quality.
I have always wondered about ceramic or glass as well. I know they have been used with some good results reported here over the years. Not that easy to work with so we do not see much work with those materials.
I wonder if the density causes the sound quality when ceramics or glass are used in a banjo or the resonance is causing it. Since Corian is pretty dead sounding, i.e. like a stone, I suspect the density is.
Woody banjos usually use a higher density wood in place of a tone ring. This material is not that resonant (ringy).
I have more prototypes coming. I am open to suggestions and also would like to see someone try one of the rings out.
Next one will look a bit more like a standard instrument, if there is such a thing.
One last Corian comment. There was a well known folk banjo player, Ray Alden, who was from NYC. He had a number of instruments that used Corian for the fingerboard. I think he had sparkley blue!
quote:
Originally posted by lazlototh
I wonder if the density causes the sound quality when ceramics or glass are used in a banjo or the resonance is causing it. Since Corian is pretty dead sounding, i.e. like a stone, I suspect the density is.
Woody banjos usually use a higher density wood in place of a tone ring. This material is not that resonant (ringy).
I believe the rigidity, rather than specifically the density, is the relevant characteristic here; a rigid material at the edge of the head will cause more reflection (rather than absorption/ transmission into the rim) of sound waves on the head which should lead to greater sustain and perhaps even more feedback through the bridge back to the strings (which I believe is a proposed source of 'twang')
I expect they both play a role here. Rigidity being the primary ingredient. Thanks for bringing this up.
Best I can tell a Gibson style ring, where it sits on the rim and up to the head is 13/16. Can you make one that height. And how would you ship it without it becoming a box of rocks?
I wouldn't describe Corian as "stone", it's resin & stone. What are the sound properties of resin? (I'd like to see some sound studies of Corian, ceramics, glass & wood).
There is no issue making a Corian ring that is shorter. The resin component of Corian makes it quite strong. The only material I have broken is quite thin ~ 1/8". I have shipped tone rings with no issues.
In terms of studies of the material, the best I can do is try it in various situations. I do have a video of a shorter ring on a wood block Gibson banjo.
Here is the link:
banjohangout.org/topic/401723
I will leave it to someone else to mess with making glass and ceramics.
I stand corrected about the bending, I did not realize the resin would remain stable after heating.
Regarding the tonal properties of resin, it is irrelevant in this case. A composite does not equal the sum of its parts, and the property of the composite as a whole is the only thing that matters.
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