Rubbing alcohol might remove it if it was sharpie. Perhaps naphtha?

Joel, don't be mean.

UK-Adam, I'm not sure that it would add much value to the head; I think Greg and Janet are both alive and pretty accessible; don't they go to events?

Still, it's a cool thing.

Any Deering dealers over there? A store might like to display that.

No special value, but it might be of interest to a collector of banjo ephemera.

I have seen Remo heads signed by Earl Scruggs come up for sale on Ebay in the past and the seller had been asking a ludicrous amount for it (in the US$1000's)

Thanks for the replies, the rubbing alcohol comment made me laugh! It's a nice head, perhaps I'll hang onto it and fit it to a banjo one day. Just wanted to check it wasn't obviously going to be of some value to someone somewhere.

Sorry, was not trying to be mean, I was really being serious. The signatures don't add value. And, as it seems, actually removes value as one might not want to mount it to a banjo because of the signatures.

Removing them would restore the head to being just a head, which on a banjo has a very high value in my opinion.

Joel, I concur. I know where this banjo is, played from a musical perspective, no one in the family even remotely talented in this generation. Stickers leave adhesive on lunchboxes and bikes. John Prine played the best he had.

I thought you all would like to know that Remo manufactures special heads for trade show souvenirs that they manufacture the head in the traditional method, then remove the aluminum channel for recycling. Since the souvenir head is not intended to be used on an instrument, removing the aluminum with their hydraulic can opener makes sense to keep the final cost as low as possible..

I had a head signed by Remo Belli and Louie Bellson at a NAMM show of long ago.

Not to say that is what the Deering's gave away, just making the Hangout members aware that such a thing is possible.

Bob Smakula
smakulafrettedinstruments.com