Howdy, I have a '27 TB-3 that Eric Sullivan expertly converted for me including his Flat top conversion tone ring. I've decided to reinstall the original arch top tone ring for kicks . It's been a few years, try something different. Is the head the same for both? Normally for a arch top a 11" low crown is called for according to the reading I've done.
Always remember in the "old days" of plastic heads, they were ALL MEDIUM crown.
Low and High crowns came along decades later for those banjo players who were fussy about how far the top of the tension hoop protruded above the plane of the tone ring and head. Or didn't protrude...
You can't go wrong with medium. Get low crown if you like but you might not even notice the difference.
Can I just use the one from the flat top?
quote:
Originally posted by lestermattCan I just use the one from the flat top?
The head may pull down too far and bottom out in the neck notch. Even if that doesn't happen, you will have a ring around the head about an inch from the edge when you put the flat head ring back in. Unless you are really cheap, it is a good idea to have a different head for each ring.
quote:
Originally posted by lestermattCan I just use the one from the flat top?
If it's medium crown, yes.
As Mark says, a high crown may bottom out in the neck notch (the cut-out in the heel for the head and tension hoop) before you get the head fully tight.
If it helps, I just put a medium crown Huber head on a '28 TB4 archtop. It fits and sounds great.
Edited by - tomd7 on 03/11/2026 09:23:21
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