Tackhead vs Bracket banjo

[Steve Jeter]

  Im interested on yalls opinions on these two.  I only have the tackheads Ive built. I used poplar for neck, and block rims of pine.

I don't have as much tone and volume as Id like. I listen to Dave Culgan and my banjo doesn't have that same snap.  I realize I cannot play like him,, but it the tone Im talking about.

Does a bracket minsterel banjo just have more snap and volume? , or is my tackhead lack there of, just possibly due to me using a softer wood.  I want to make a cd to sell at folk fest and stuff down here. But Im not sure if I can get the tone I want out of my banjo.  Just wondering if its worth the trouble to build another tackhead with maple or something akin to it.

thanks Steve

[John Masciale]

The advantage of a tension head is that in damp weather you can tighten things up a bit.  Regardless, you definitely want a hardwood for the hoop.  I'm speaking from a vibro-acoustic background. The hardwood rim will be much stiffer and will result in much better tone.  If you are building your own I would start there.  The tension hoop is nice, but pine does not have the qualities you want for your hoop.  This is especially true if you are after "snap."

 

[Mark Weems]

A banjo student of mine has a Menzies tackhead that absolutely rips and has great volume. Just watch out for humidity!

[Chris Prieto]

Might be the rim height. My prust tackhead is maybe 2 inches and sounds good but the Bell Sweeney has like a 3inch rim or so and it definitely sounds more hollow but in a good way like a big ol circus tent

[Steve Jeter]

thanks!  So the rim sounds like it has more to do with the tone than the neck.  The banjo I play mostly was my 2nd build. and the pine hoop is just a circle I worked down from glued up sections, that's prob. a tone robber.. I have some oak  1/4 I bent , but  hadn't made anything with. 

Guess I need to  finish a rim out. Humidity will always be a prob.  but I don't know how to make a tension system. guess another tackhead.

 thak all of you!

Steve

[Steve Jeter]

 I found this in garage, neck is done, rim bare. Its not exactly a perfect circle,,,  Id made them both a couple yrs ago, but never finished.

[Steve Jeter]

[Steve Jeter]

 yeah found a more circular rim, this should be quik

[Chris Prieto]

Do you no longer have that banjo?


Timothy Twiss said:

Tackheads are highly individualized. It depends a lot upon how the maker installs the skin. My Moschella was amazing.....staying pretty tight under some pretty harsh conditions. 

[Chris Prieto]

Yeah I seen it a bunch. Deff. a nice chunky banjo. I really want a moschella banjo but he wasn't feeling up to it when I asked him last june. Do you still have the gourd banjo?

[Steve Jeter]

should have got a JETER gourd when I was trying to sell for 200.00  they aren't fancy lookin, but sound pretty good lol

[Chris Prieto]

Haha yeah I been making my own these days too. I'm finishing up my second one, need to carve up a tailpiece and nut. I'm also making a bunch of tater tot banzas for my niece and some other friends kids (ages 2-5) due to me ordering many gourds that were too small. I will post pics once I get em wrapped up.


Steve Jeter said:

should have got a JETER gourd when I was trying to sell for 200.00  they aren't fancy lookin, but sound pretty good lol

[Steve Jeter]

 lol id hit the like button if there was one