I am guessing you have brass rods. If so, try a set of steel. I found several years ago that I prefer them for a cleaner sound. I have made my own several times and I am sure you could as well.

The bottom (Bb) rod is 1929 Gibson.
I do believe Jimmy used brass rods,but both rods have a ringing duration when tapped...just different notes.

I've always liked the great tone/voice of this banjo (Cox 2 conversion) and just wondered what would happen if I canceled out those rod's contributions to the sound.
I would think a steel rod would have a sustained note when tapped.

Steve, please explain in more detail how you used the duct tape.

I might want to try this out. I wonder if I can find a piece of rubber tubing with a slightly smaller diameter than the rods. It could be cut lengthwise and put over the rods

I have no knowledge of such ^^ matters.

Would an elastic band [or two?] ... one loop around both rods be worth considering/trying?

quote:

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Originally posted by BTuno

Steve, please explain in more detail how you used the duct tape.

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Sure,Bruce.

My roll of extra heavy duct tape is 1 3/4" wide.

co-rods are 1 1/4" apart,center to center.

10" piece of tape following the rods from the tailpiece to the neck end of the rods making it look like a windmill blade.

Tape the rod closest to the head first with one edge of the tape,then starting in the middle pull the tape tight and stick it to the other rod.Working out from there keep pulling tension and sticking the tape to the other rod.

I left it at one piece so I can try sticking other shapes to the tape.

When I recorded at the Hearst Studio in Camden I was taken by their use of moveable panels/walls within the space and this may turn into a micro version of that.

Make that a 9" piece of tape.Inside diameter of the rim.

There are many ways to dampen the "voices" of those 2 rods,Owen.
I don't think one rubber band would "shut them up",but I haven't tried that so I should say try whatever you think of,Owen.The amount of deadening can surely be adjusted and then the final test is did I make a difference or am I just kidding myself?
I want to maybe stick a piece of 1" cedar along the tape,but I want to get used to it as is for a week or so.
Trying not change more than one thing at a time.Might get confusing.

Tubing should work fine,Louie.

Hey steve i wonder if you took foam pipe insulation and cut a slit in it then wrapped it around each rod. ( i should probably have my head examined)

That "sounds" fine,Gary.
Anything that shuts off the inherent ringing sustain of those rods.
I'm taking this mess to our Sail,Power and Steam Museum Jam today.3 hour jam spread out in a 40' room.Musicians sit around the outside edge with a 20ish audience in the middle.

This will thoroughly test this banjo's projection and tone with the muted rods.

And,the pipe insulation I've used was already slit.

That’s a very interesting format for a jam.

I go to up to 4 jams per week and this is the only one set up in this way.
There is also a main stage underneath a 10 foot long model of windjammer "The Adventure" which is mounted on the wall,behind.

When I started going to this jam over ten years ago I would at times think of bringing up reconfiguring to musicians in the center surrounded by audience,but I've gotten used to this way and have found this set-up to be more conducive to audience participation during Sleep With One Eye Open,Fox On the Run or Leaving On That New River Train.

I just got done checking my rods with a magnet.
The original "2" rod is steel and the upper Cox rod is brass.
The original steel rod taps at Bb and has a ringing note of about the same duration as the upper brass Cox rod which rings at C when tapped.

Both rods after taping sound the same Bb and C notes when tapped,but the lingering duration of those notes is gone.

on the construction job--from time to time--some would buy a new hammer that would ring==(resonate) -but identical hammers did not--I would guess that all steel rods have a resonant tone--which supposedly is the wave swinging around on the end and heading back--

Geez Tom ... now ya tells me!!   

Several decades back I worked on a construction crew ... used to regularly sing Irish Rovers songs while we worked .... led by the owner/boss.    Kinda a bummer that now I can only speculate how much ^^ could have added to our "performances."   

[Still not overly happy that a co-worker knocked my good Estwing into the Winnipeg River, but, "eventually" ....  .]