A couple comments on my experience with Mitch Meador's 38 Special tone rings.
I have an AMB banjo with a hoop ring. Meador's make a couple substitute rings to replace the hoop ring without any modification to the rim. The banjo sounds really really gooood! with either substitute ring.
Over time I've replaced my other flat heads with the 38 Specials and I couldn't be happier.
The rims in my parts banjos - one is hard maple and the other two are soft maple.
I found that his rings have an even tone across all strings...no 5th string ringing.
And the correct amount decay on the strings.
When I tap the ring with my knuckle I get the tone I want to hear.
Down the neck or up the neck the ring is strong and consistent.
The rings are consistent in tone across the rings. Gives me that old prewar sound I like.
He has all the combos short or long skirt, no hole - 20 hole, un-plated ,nickel , gold. I'm sure I'm missing a couple variations. It's nice that I find the config I need without the need to modify my rims. Which is great.
I plan on building a couple more banjos using his rings.
I have not been disappointed and he is a great guy to deal with.
Just my opinion but I thought I would share my info.
I had one of his 3 lb rings in an uncut ‘28 style one. I posted about it here on the hangout. Everybody cries when you mention cutting a rim but when I posted about this option all I heard was crickets.
Thanks ....That's ok. Just thought I would share some info in case someone was looking for a new tone ring then this could be option in the configuration they needed.
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