For those of you make them, which is the woods you prefer and why? I realise that the sound of these are very subjective and it also depends on the setup.
Edited by - banjonz on 05/14/2026 20:33:32
I make all my tone rings from bamboo. From the different woods that I have tried I have found bamboo to be the best. It has a very high tensile strength and has great dimensional stability. Most banjo tone rings I make these days are archtops with the head contact resting about 1/4” or 6mm inside the inner edge of the rim.
I have seen some made from rosewood, granadillo, and teak. I'm not sure what other woods might be used.
Iron wood..baked first...before gluing.
Maple
quote:
Originally posted by Laurence DiehlMaple
The reason for your choice??
I didn’t choose maple specifically but John Boulding was doing these conversions and maple was what his supplier was using. I was very happy with the result.
I love my two banjos with Tony Pass wooden tone-rim but to be honest i don’t know wich wood they are made of…
quote:
Originally posted by banjopaoloI love my two banjos with Tony Pass wooden tone-rim but to be honest i don’t know wich wood they are made of…
I met Tony Pass at a jam one time in Monticello Ark. he later told me that 90% of his rims were made of birch. He thought maple was too bright.
So, the question was to those who build their own. Can it include others?
Bamboo because of her attributes as stated above
Bamboo vintages better and faster due to lower fiber count per square inch
However she pickles after 400 years.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent (EU/GDPR Only)
Copyright 2026 Banjo Hangout. All Rights Reserved.
