Hey there!
I'm somewhat new to playing banjo, having only a couple of years of experience teaching myself two-finger on a nylon Weymann. I've recently downsized my instrument collection and begun to take clawhammer lessons, so I decided to get a modern steel stringer.
I realized after receiving it that it goes about a half step sharp with any slight movement of the pot in my lap or from the weight of putting my hand on the neck playing seated. That includes the open strings, so not an intonation issue from the bridge location, I believe. It's a dowel-stick banjo without a truss rod (but with a reinforcement rod), and I didn't see any obvious way to adjust the tightness of the neck to the rim.
I thought that maybe I was just driving myself a little nutty, so I decided to take it to a skilled local shop who confirmed the neck joint was pretty loose and are going to shim it to correct for that.
I'm out of the 48 hour return window, and I do love the sound when in tune, but I am wondering if this is the type of thing that's considered normal / acceptable for new banjos? My Weymann came to me with a shim and a bunch of other little fixes from 100+ year of use, so I'm not opposed to it in theory, but I guess I'm just not sure if this is the type of thing that's no big deal or something that you would be concerned about.
It was a high dollar purchase that I want to love, so I might just be in my head a bit and was hoping someone might have a perspective. Thanks!
Edited by - borgy on 04/18/2025 11:59:30
>It was a high dollar purchase that I want to love, so I might just be in my head a bit and was hoping someone might have a perspective. Thanks!<
My perspective would be that a 'high dollar,' purchase should not need a shim. Tune the strings, tighten the head, adjust bridge placement, yes; shim, no. IMO. I will also add that, IMO, a 'high dollar,' purchased banjo should have some way to make such a neck adjustment you describe when needed. Wood will do things seasonally that might necessitate such an adjustment.
Bobby
Edited by - BobbyE on 04/18/2025 12:42:52
I'd be interested in seeing pictures of neck/pot interface from the dowel-stick side. Typically dowel-stick banjos have some sort of mechanism to pull the neck into the pot. A wedge, a screw, etc.
Any chance a piece is missing? I don't think I've ever seen one only held on by the tailpiece screw as it sounds like you're describing.
Edited by - A Drum On A Stick on 04/18/2025 13:21:32
Pictures of the joint and dowel stick hardware, please.
Pictures. It sounds like something is loose or out of adjustment.
New "high dollar" banjo and you didn't contact the maker before taking it to someone else to look at? And the person you took it to can determine the neck is loose but doesn't see how to tighten it?
OK.
No, it's not normal to shim a new banjo. Especially a "high dollar" one. But it's also not normal not to ask the maker of a new banjo to make it right. A new banjo is supposed to have correct intonation, playable action, and a secure neck. This is basic stuff.
Perhaps I'm misunderstanding what you mean by "new" and the "48-hour window" is telling us this banjo is new to you but not new to the world and bought on two-day approval. If this is a previously owned banjo that's only new to you, then of course you've purchased someone else's problems, regardless of selling price. High dollar used banjos are not immune to issues.
So if it's the latter, then all you can do now that the 48-hour window has closed is get this banjo repaired. Maybe find someone who can figure out the neck connection. Or maybe Ian's right and a piece is missing. In which case if it takes a shim, that's not the end of the world -- for a used banjo.
So which is it: Newly made banjo? Or just new to you?
If they can't figure out how to tighten the neck, how are they going to tighten it on a shim?
I'd be pushing back on the 48 hour policy especially since it's a holiday weekend.
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