All strung up!

[Anthony G Spangler]

And it sounds awful!  Heheh, not really.  As promised, the Nylgut strings are still stretching, so it doesn't just go out of tune, it goes out of tune while I am tuning it!  It actually has quite a loud clear sound, I think, but I'll let others be the judge of that when it settles in.

 "Character", I believe, is the word the Victorians used for "screw ups", and this has character in spades, things I measured twice, cut once, and then hid, and things I just didn't understand until the thing started going together, but all of those things will be instructive going forward.  I look forward to suggestions and critique from anyone who can point me forward, as I'm sure there are still things I don't see.

Thanks to everyone here who answered my many newbie questions along the way!

I still have five skins left, what to do, what to do...

Tony

[Anthony G Spangler]

Hey again,

Here's a real quick sound sample from the new tackhead, no tune or intent, just a little bit right from the camcorder.

Warning!  Contains examples of poor technique, no wait, make that no technique.

Enjoy!

Tony

http://youtu.be/dhdYBlsZfWk

[Ron]

great lookin banjo. I do have a question , I am going to build a tackhead soon and I

wanted to ask you if you glued the head as well as tack it?

I think I heard someone say once that they glued theirs

it sounds very good too

[Anthony G Spangler]

Thank you, Ron!  Yes, it's glued with regular Titebond down to where the skin is cut off.  I didn't document this one very well, but I had masking tape on it about an inch down from the top of the rim to protect the finish from glue.  Pre-drill your tack holes, apply glue, and start the stretching process.  As I understand it, it's the glue that holds the skin in place ever after, not so much the tacks.  There are a couple of threads I found that were helpful to me, this is one, and here is another one, more gourd specific but the principle is about the same.

I look forward to seeing your tackhead build!

Tony

Ron said:

great lookin banjo. I do have a question , I am going to build a tackhead soon and I

wanted to ask you if you glued the head as well as tack it?

I think I heard someone say once that they glued theirs

it sounds very good too

[Strumelia]

It's got a great clear tone!   I'd say you have it down, playing them two outer strings.  It all starts there...  lol!   ;D

[Anthony G Spangler]

Thank you, Strumelia! This stroke motion still feels very awkward to me, but I suppose it's just a matter of repetition, repetition, repetition.

Strumelia said:

It's got a great clear tone!   I'd say you have it down, playing them two outer strings.  It all starts there...  lol!   ;D

[Tim Twiss]

NOTHING feels more awkward and foreign that first trying Stroke.

Stick with it.

[Strumelia]

yes, I think that both minstrel stroke style and clawhammer are extremely foreign and awkward at first.  the good news is that the worst part is at the very beginning- it just gets easier each day, a tiny bit at a time, like Tim says, stick with it.  One day soon, out of the blue, you wake up and realize you are feelin' the groove.   :)

[Ron]

I am a beginner too. Be encouraged its not impossible to do this.

Like all good things it takes time. I recommend Tim's Book

Early Banjo. It comes with a cd, and there are learning videos

available on here too. Learn the basic movements first, they are

like an erector set, you put them together in different combinations and

bango...there's a tune

 

best of luck to you

 

Ron H

[Anthony G Spangler]

In an odd way, that is really good to hear.  Will do!

Thanks,

Tony

Tim Twiss said:

NOTHING feels more awkward and foreign that first trying Stroke.

Stick with it.

[Anthony G Spangler]

Good to hear that confirmed!  The good news is, I like the sound a banjo makes, so it's not hard to steal away a moment here and there to practice, and longer when I get my act together!

Strumelia said:

yes, I think that both minstrel stroke style and clawhammer are extremely foreign and awkward at first.  the good news is that the worst part is at the very beginning- it just gets easier each day, a tiny bit at a time, like Tim says, stick with it.  One day soon, out of the blue, you wake up and realize you are feelin' the groove.   :)

[Anthony G Spangler]

Thanks, Ron, that's good to hear!  Actually, my copy of Tim’s book arrived just a couple of days ago, but I've only had a short time to look it over.  It's starting to make sense, though!

Ron said:

I am a beginner too. Be encouraged its not impossible to do this.

Like all good things it takes time. I recommend Tim's Book

Early Banjo. It comes with a cd, and there are learning videos

available on here too. Learn the basic movements first, they are

like an erector set, you put them together in different combinations and

bango...there's a tune

 

best of luck to you

 

Ron H

[Strumelia]

Anthony, think about just starting with the first few moves of the right hand.  Then think about playing around with using those moves to play Juba.  I found that Juba was a real FUN way to practice the right hand moves.  It's like playing a real fun tune, disguised as practice.   :)  Keep it fun, and don't worry about how fast or slow you progress. I have found that, like love, progress usually sneaks up on you when you stop worrying and looking for it.