I've acquired an old brass banjo pot with all the hooks etc. I would like to transfer the tension ring and hooks etc. on to a Gold Tone Whyte Ladie. The nickel coated steel hooks on this banjo are rubbish (Chinese steel?) - the hook ends break away easily as you tighten them, and don't grip the tension hoop well: usually they turn slightly to the side. I've wanted to replace with brass, which is more in keeping with the banjo finish ( in other words I've "rustificated" it!).
I can't just replace the shoes and hooks, because the hook ends are too substantial to hold the Gold Tone tension hoop flange. Better that I swop the hoop too.
However, the Gold Tone is an 11" pot, but the old one I've gotten hold of is 10". There is no recess in this rim where the neck attaches. What if I cut the brass hoop, file the cut edges, and then stretch the hoop over the Gold Tones pot, with the gap where the neck attached (if could remember π from school, maybe I could calculate the length of the gap)?
Would the tension hoop lose all its tension, or still be strong enough to keep the head strong? I'm thinking also of replacing the ready made head with a vellum - but maybe that would be pushing my luck!
Any thoughts in the community?
Cheers,
Peter
Edited by - peterreynoldsuk on 09/08/2026 07:12:33
Here's what AI says:
A banjo tension hoop will not properly deform or stretch to fit a larger rim. Cutting a tension hoop and trying to force it onto a larger diameter will ruin the part, cause uneven head tension, and likely damage your banjo rim.
Stewart McDonald ships internationally, maybe you can find hooks and nuts of a higher quality through them that will both fit your existing GoldTone and satisfy your requirement for strength?
A tension hoop has to be a closed ring to work. If it is open the tension will stretch the opening wider, and it will slip over the head rather than pulling it tight.
The GT WL is a fine instrument. If any parts are malfunctioning I would just replace those parts avoiding any further modification to the banjo.
In the UK hooks, nuts etc. can be ordered, for example, from Eaglemusic or Browndogbanjos.
Thanks guys. Clear it was a daft idea!
I had a gold tone I didn't like either because of cheap chinese hooks and tacky chrome. I went to Balsom Banjo Works and ordered new nuts, hooks, and shoes. Additionally I notched the tension hoop. Turned out real nice.
You can cut and re-join a larger tension band (I have done this on a cheapy Asian one) but as stated, and for the reasons, you cannot enlarge one. I have made a tension band out of steel by using a roller jig for such a purpose.
Thanks GreasyDave. Beautiful finish Dave. I was hoping to sort the issue on the cheap!
And thanks Banjonz. Roller jig is a bit beyond my capacity Wayne (esp. as I don't know what one is!)
Ring roller .... sumpthin' like this
or the one StudFigAl shows here: https://www.banjohangout.org/topic/408247/6
Couldn't a hoop be enlarged by "re-join" X 2 ? [And that's not saying if you can you should. 
]
Seems to be more bother than it's worth.
Lots of 11" choices to work with and readily accept parts.
I suppose a larger continuous groove tension hoop could be cut,rounded and brazed to fit (at what cost?).
The neck heel would also need to be fitted to a 10" rim.
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