As mentioned in a prior thread, I’m amassing a collection of banjo heads.
Should I have any concerns about storing them? Should I keep them in the plastic bags they came shipped in?
I have both plastic and skin heads.
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, so the weather is pretty mild.
Skin heads (vellums)are more susceptible to humidity/temperature change being organic in origin. Modern heads are made of synthetic mylar and as thus not prone to the vagaries of what affects vellums. All my heads (both types) sit in drawers under my workbench which is in my garage. While temperature and humidity do fluctuate here, it is not as severe as in the US so I feel my storage of them is ok. I have never noticed any issues with vellums.
I have a somewhat elaborately decorated head given to me by an admirer. It has my name on it, and shows two cartoon hillbillies (like in the Bugs Bunny square dance sequence) in a tug-of-war over a banjo. I won't ever use it. Do you want it?
Edited by - Ira Gitlin on 10/16/2026 06:20:11
I have a number of heads acquired over the decades. Both Vellum and Mylar.
Mylar is almost indestructible, so anyplace they won’t get punctured will work fine.
Vellum is organic. So storing in a plastic bag is not the best as they can mold or otherwise as it can’t breathe. Best thing I have found is wrapping the head in a single layer of cut out paper bag, and storing them in a cardboard box.
No issues on any level…so far. But I just put on a head that I had stored like this for over 20 years, kept perfectly. So I think that would be a good time test.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent (EU/GDPR Only)
Copyright 2026 Banjo Hangout. All Rights Reserved.
