Just completed a drum to banjo conversion, looks good, sounds ok but after constant retuning I realise that the bridge is pushing into the drum membrane. Firstly, this is not a high quality drum that I have used as it was picked up off the side of the road (big garbage day). I was wondering if regular banjos suffered the same problem, and do you relieve the string tension when not in use? May be the bridge is too high and putting excessive pressure on the drum skin? Maybe there is a reason why drums are not banjos?

Views: 525

Attachments:

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Banjos typically have an adjustable internal rod or dowel that spans the diameter of the head, as a continuation of the neck. It keeps the rim and walls from compressing too much, preventing distortion of the head. Also, banjos have 2-3 times as many head adjustment hooks as a typical drum head.
Yeah, I have a half inch threaded rod going through the guts of it and I have doubled up with the drum head tensioners so I think that I have plenty of tension on the drum head (skin). As I mentioned I picked up a this kit on the side of the road (ex kids Christmas present), so I was wondering about the quality of the drum head. Is there was a lot of variety or quality available in drum heads?
Also wondering if the bridge base should be bigger surface area or whether it should be closer to the middle of the drum? I intentially left the fret marks off for this reason.
I know that there have been a few drum builds go through CBG nation , wondering if they experienced similar problems.?
Attachments:
Yeah, there's substantial variation in drum head materials. Kid's kit is likely some cheapo plastic. Banjos use either actual thin skin, or synthetics made to resemble it. Hmmm. You might consider replacing the drum head with a Remo or Evans replacement drum head sized for your size drum...Evans skins run around $10-15, depending on size. GC carries them...
Thanks Ron, if the good skins are so reasonably priced, I will definitely get one and try. Just as a matter of interest, today it's been tuned for a couple of hours and although there is a noticeable depression in the head (see pic attached) it is still in tune??
Attachments:
Skin tightness can also vary with both atmospheric pressure, and humidity.

You may also have reached the "stretchiness" limit of the head, the strings, or both.

Well then you might be good to go.  I know on the goatskin heads I've used there is a period before everything settles in.  I'd like to hear this one!

Cool banjo!  Yeah, I'd say replacing that head would most likely fix you right up.  Bridge looks like it's in a pretty good position too. 

Just for background, turns out most present day drum heads are made from...Mylar:

http://www.onlinedrummer.com/forum/index.php?/topic/23034-a-beginne...

And most modern banjo heads are Mylar too.  A banjo ain't nothin' but a drum on a stick ;) 

Really nice looking rig!

Is it intended to be played lap style?

I wouldn't make any radical changes. Just give it time to settle in. Keep re-tuning and it should settle.

Nice job.

Thanks for the encouragement, reguards playing style , it is a bit deep but not much more than a fair dinkum guitar. You can play it any way you like but I am only a beginner so I will be playing how ever Pat Curly tells me to. (CBG Lessons)
Jeff,

Has the tuning stabilized?

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you Poorness ! for loving it ! appreciated!"
15 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to Timothy Hunter's discussion just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
" Very interesting. Thank you Timothy!"
16 hours ago
Kent Thurston updated their profile
16 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Punch Project!

She now sports gold metal CBGitty knobs, speaker and an Artec 2.5 watt speaker. Finished this in…
17 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Project Punch!

Gonna finally get back on this long-delayed project that is more than half complete. (The matching…
17 hours ago
Poorness Studios liked A.D.EKER's video
19 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Rob (Uker) Porras
"Hope this helps?"
19 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"I appreciate the kind words Papa D! I have always loved the look of these cigar boxes. Glad to have…"
22 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
yesterday
A.D.EKER posted a video

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

The recorded History By Alan Lomax for the library of Congres of the Blues, from Mc Kinley Morganfield (Aka Muddy Waters) the in this take recorded Tribute ...
yesterday
Papa D commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"Beautiful..Nice work Doug.."
yesterday
Papa D commented on Papa D's photo
Thumbnail

american1 Sun Glo

"Thanx AGP & Doug..  4 more coming soon"
yesterday

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->