I have the option to buy a TB-01 banjo conversion...it plays great, but I don't like the huge diamonds at all. Can the flange be replaced without much trouble? ...Does anyone have experience with this?
The rim can be turned down to accept any one piece flange no matter who made it-
The outside of the rim underneath of the flange all the way to the bottom of the rim will need to be re-stained as turning the wood for a flange will also take off the finish-
As a side note -
Current shoe bracket diamond flange style banjos are 22 hook brackets
When you change the flange it will have a 24 bracket flange -
A lot of time people replace the hooks with prewar style hooks and use a 24 notch tension hoop like a master tone style instead of the grooved hoop that are usually on the shoe bracket banjos -
You can run the grooved hoop but you will have to get more hooks in order to make it work correctly
Lastly , you might have to replace the tailpiece bracket as the one that’s on there now is for a 3/4 inch rim
Once cut it will take it down to a 5/8 thick rim - those usually run a little longer tailpiece bracket -
Your current neck will need surgery too- that neck is probably a flat heel cut and will need a new heel cut to accommodate the new flange
It will probably affect the cosmetics of the neck but the current flat cut will not work once the banjo is cut for a flange
Another style of those flanges are the same flat shoe bracket style flange but called a “hex flange”
The look almost like a master tone style flange on the hole appearance.
Check those out as it will directly interchange with the diamond flange and you won’t have to do anything except loosen the hooks and removed the resonator brackets and it will slide right on -
I think that might be your best option
Search “hex flange”
Great idea with the hex flange! I didn't even notice that it only has 22 hooks...well, it's clear that I've come to the right expert, thank you very much for your well-informed answer. I'll go this route if I buy a banjo, but I probably will, because it sounds better than instruments twice as expensive!
The biggest problem might be getting a hex flange, or do you think it could be done?
The banjo would look much better with those hexagons, I would love it!
There are lots of shoe bracket flanges floating out there -
Those old banjos make some of the best banjos out there-
You could post a classified ad looking for a hex flange -
You will be very happy with that banjo if you buy it-
I have a few with the diamond flange and I love the sound of the 3/4 rim
The banjos are very warm and sweet sounding with deep bass.
The diamond flange will grow on you - and honestly
Everyone who sees mine wants to play it because it is different -
Worse case you buy it and play it as is -
Best case you get a hex flange and run what you have -
But you won’t be sorry no matter what you choose
Arthur Hatfield taught me everything I know about those old shoe bracket Gibson.
Don Bryant in North Carolina used to have a bunch of those parts I don’t know if he still does but it might be worth reaching out to him
Clancy Mullins is another person you could reach out to. It's possible that he might have a 22 bracket hex hole flange.
Verify it is an 11" rim first. There were some 10 1/2" built similarly.
It should be either a Tb-1 or a TB-00.
quote:
Originally posted by lightgaugeVerify it is an 11" rim first. There were some 10 1/2" built similarly.
It should be either a Tb-1 or a TB-00.
If it's a diamond flange, it's a TB 1, All the 00 banjos had one piece flanges
The 10 1/2" vs 11" is a good piece of advice !
A lot of the 10 1/2 were what they call a ribbon flange - although some I have seen, though less common, do have the 10 1/2 diamond flange
Be sure the measure across the head - I am guessing it will more than likely be a 11 inch head-
Thank you all for your valuable contributions that will help me decide whether to buy the TB-01. Of course, it depends on other factors, but that is not the subject of the discussion here...so I will mainly check the rim size whether it is 10 1/2" or 11" and then I would contact the people you recommended to get a hex flange.
This is quite important information that you will not find out just anywhere...I really appreciate it...thank you!
My opinion only.
Don't buy this one if you don't want the diamond flange.
Leave it for someone who will want it as it is.
Hello,
I own a Gold Tone Cripple Creek plectrum banjo and would like to replace the resonator attachment that holds the 4 plates with one solid flange. The banjo has 18 hooks and I can't find such a flange. Do you know of any manufacturer that has such a flange available? Since the attachment of the stringers to the rim with a large nut is below the level of the resonator rim, a flange from Gold Tone would probably be suitable, but on their official website they only have one with 24 hooks.
