Hi everyone,
I just bought a used 2023 Recording King R20 banjo for $250, which I think (?) was a pretty good deal. I'm an old time player, primarily clawhammer, but learning two finger (with picks) as well.
I appreciate the volume of the banjo, but find it a little too bright and harsh. I know stuffing is an option, as is taking off the resonator, but I want to get as much volume out of it as possible. I know that wanting to mellow out a banjo while maintaining volume can be contradictory goals, but I'm hoping there's a happy compromise.
1. Do people have head recommendations?
Right now it's a frosted top Remo. Based off Bob Smakula's descriptions, Fiberskyn is the plunkiest, but I worry that it's relative thickness (.014" for Fiberskyn vs 0.009" for frosted top) will deaden the volume significantly.
Renaissance heads are describes as a "fuller tone" than frosted, but I saw a side by side demo of frosted v Renaissance on a Goodtime and preferred the frosted. But the R20 has a tone hoop and mahogany instead of maple, so maybe it will sound different with the Renaissance?
Also, perhaps suede is an option. At .010", it's slightly thicker than frosted top.
2. Can I use a high crown head on an R20?
The R20 comes with a medium crown head, but I don't like the way the tension hoop rises above the plane of the head. My thumb jabs into the hoop when I play in my normal clawhammer position. I actually filed away that part of the tension hoop on my Recording King Madison open back, but I'd rather avoid that this time around.
Getting a high crown would make the tension hoop lower, but I'm worried the flesh hoop would run into the heel of the neck.
Thank you for any and all advice.
I’d opt for calfskin—not as tight as it could go.
Try a few different bridges as well.
I’ve been experimenting with all the types of heads for years, and ALWAYS have gone back to the frosted head. This has been consistent with my tone ringed banjos as well as my old Goodtime. And the reasoning is volume and being heard in the mix, while playing live music with my friends. I would recommend bridge/string selection, head tension, and tailpiece height.
bFunk
Your description of what you are looking for tonally has me recommend you purchase either a Renaissance or a White Suede head.
With the crown height; measure the space from the bottom of the head to the neck cutout ledge. If there is more than 1/16" of space, there will be no problem to install a high crown head.
When I kept The Music Link's Recording King banjos in stock, part of my set up included making the cutout on the neck for the tension hoop and head a little deeper. It was easy to do with a Dremil with their router base. Having an extra 1/8" or so of "head room" to tighten is a good thing.
Bob Smakula
smakulafrettedinstruments.com
Edited by - Bob Smakula on 10/15/2026 05:46:29
I would start with stuffing the head close to the neck. The effect may be enough, and it will take very little power out of the banjo. Even some bluegrassers do it to clean the sound. You could also try a banjo bolster. They say it works, even if it does not touch the skin. Steen
quote:
Originally posted by Bob SmakulabFunk
Your description of what you are looking for tonally has me recommend you purchase either a Renaissance or a White Suede head.
With the crown height; measure the space from the bottom of the head to the neck cutout ledge. If there is more than 1/16" of space, there will be no problem to install a high crown head.
When I kept The Music Link's Recording King banjos in stock, part of my set up included making the cutout on the neck for the tension hoop and head a little deeper. It was easy to do with a Dremil with their router base. Having an extra 1/8" or so of "head room" to tighten is a good thing.
Bob Smakula
smakulafrettedinstruments.com
As always, thanks so for being so generous with your knowledge, Bob.
When you say "measure the space from the bottom of the head to the neck cutout ledge", do you mean the bottom of the head's flesh hoop? And would I do this measurement on the head that's already installed, or would I take the head off, place a new one on (without brackets), and then measure?
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