Patrick David Sawyer, Founder/CEO of the Pisgah Banjo Co. has recently added a "From the Workbench" post to his website (pisgahbanjos.com, under FAQS), that's worth checking out.
You can read the post here.
I have one of those bolsters on each of my banjos. These bolsters are NOT DAMPERS. They are not mufflers.
Their aim is not to reduce the sound and loudness of the banjo, but to help take any rattle and ping out of the way the interior of the banjo is constructed on most modern tone ring and non tone ring banjos. It has improved the tone on every banjo I have put it .
Tone ring or even non-tone ring banjos have a lot of construction, metal parts other things holding them together that can put a rattle in the banjos. These bolsters go in a place where a lot or rattle and ping from that can detract from the sound or sound making and give the banjo a more even sound.
I have the privilege of having met Sawyer several times at banjo gatherings, and a couple years ago my wife and visited their workshop in North Carolina. There are few people I know in the banjo world whose integrity and honesty I respect more. He would not be doing this if he did not think this was something good for banjos.
Edited by - writerrad on 03/29/2025 15:32:56
FWIW- I love my Deering Sierra. I noticed an immediate improvement in the clarity the first time I tried the Banjo Bolster.
I’m convinced.
Has anyone tried a pool noodle in theirs?
