Re: Best Banjo Head Type for quiet melodic play
What's the best banjo head for quiet play? And -- what's the best chainsaw for trimming one's toenails? What species of elephant makes the best house pet? What brand of hot sauce should I mix into my baby's formula?
Sorry; I just am having a bit of trouble reconciling "banjo" and "quiet." Really, it's a legitimate question, though it tramples all my carefully-nourished stereotypes.
1. Natural skin would probably work better than Mylar; set the head tension looser than "standard."
2. A fabric "damper" against the head is a common device -- hand towel, rolled socks, whatever.
3. Consider nylon strings, which will cut out the metallic content of the sound.
4. Lighten up the technique; bare fingers only, no picks.
5. Last resort, consider a Gold Tone "Banjola" or a Pollman Mandoline-Banjo: wooden mandola body, five-string banjo neck. It's a nice, though not "banjo-y," sound.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
Bookmarks