Not only like changing shoelaces for a fun refresh (tail piece/bridge) but also WOW, the sound is so much richer (love the before/after)! Thank you! Having this now will help me finally get the nerve to jazz-up/refresh mine!

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

Be sure to let me know how it goes! Thanks for letting me help!

Changing the bridge and tailpiece were the best improvements I ever made on my banjo.

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

And it’s easy! 🤪

Hey Jim thanks so much for this video. I never thought I could do this myself. My banjo head hadn’t been tightened in years and was starting to sound kind of punky. You gave me the confidence to try and it sounds great! Thanks again.

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

Glad I could help 😊

Thanks Jim!👍 I need to get my head straight. 😉

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

😆

@markglore7196

3 жыл бұрын

Hey Jim! Just listened to the before and after again with headphones. It sounded good before but a definite improvement with the new stuff. To my ears anyway. Got more "spank" to it now!👍

I just purchased this model Recording King banjo. It's great to see exactly how to change the head, tailpiece, and bridge. Thanks very much for the video, Jim. I hope you are doing well.

@JimPankey

2 жыл бұрын

Glad I could help!

Thank you

@JimPankey

3 ай бұрын

You're welcome

I was getting ready to do this to my banjo this week. You read my mind, Jim! Thank you for this video!

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

Glad I can help!

great walkthrough, much appreciated!

@JimPankey

2 жыл бұрын

Glad I could help

Great tech demonstration. Thank you.

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

You’re welcome 😊

Thanks Jim!

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

You’re welcome 😊

very personable as always .. even if I don't need that at the moment, very exciting and helpful!

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

At least now you know it’s an easy job.

I love watching these videos where you luthier on your banjos

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks 😊

"You can do it" caught my eye - and you were right! I did it! Thanks for the tutorial, and also the comments about making the banjo sound however I want it to sound, not how others say it should sound. I wanted a fiberskyn head on my resonator banjo, because the frosted head sounds way too bright for my ear. I adjusted the tension on the fiberskyn head to be pretty tight, so it wouldn't sound too plunky, and I love the way it sounds. -- Becky Barrow

@JimPankey

2 жыл бұрын

Great job! Proud of you!

Great topic!

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

I hope it's helpful!

@peterjohnson724

3 жыл бұрын

@@JimPankey I always understood the 'angled' side of the bridge should face the tailpiece. Does it matter Jim?

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

Yup, if your bridge is made that way it should “tilt” toward the tailpiece.

@peterjohnson724

3 жыл бұрын

@@JimPankey Thanks Jim.

22:58 sounds MUCH MUCH BETTER and more resonant. ❤❤ Can you do this on a vangoa resonator banjo?? That way if I get one for my birthday, I'll know what it sounds like. I like mine to be ULTRA TWANGY. Only one that'll be twangy i think is the only wound string lol.

@JimPankey

5 ай бұрын

That one will come with the Reno Frosted head. I’d probably just make sure the head was tight.

Very helpful video. I’m restoring a Vega little wonder as we speak. Thanks so much. New subscriber!!

@JimPankey

7 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Your videos with the OT-25 helped me decide to buy one but I hadn't seen this one yet. Last night I swapped to a frosted head and then this video popped up in my feed today and the timing of it made me giggle. I definitely like the tone with the frosted head better

@JimPankey

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Yup, I too prefer the frosted head on this one.

@samsquanch1972

2 жыл бұрын

@@JimPankey those Pisgah Hawk tailpieces are nice. I have one on my 12 inch Stone open back banjo. I ordered a Gold Tone Terminator Tailpiece to try out on the OT-25 and on my 70s Stewmac kit Eagle archtop open back.

Thanks Jim! Another great video! Would you ever consider doing another clawhammer tutorial? I'd love to see it!

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

Yup! Just gotta figure out what I’m gonna teach. 😊

Great video Jim. you gave me the courage to change my head and tail piece on a custom banjo i had made. i do not like the fiberskyn head on my custom and no knot tail so will try a renaissance head and the same Pisgah hawk tail piece. i was afraid i would have to do something with the neck or dowel stick but seems i don't. i am new to clawhammer and only thing i have done is string changes and bridge placement. you earned a new subscriber! keep up the great work.

@JimPankey

7 ай бұрын

Glad I could help!!

this is very helpful am planing to change my head as well i may get a spare if i screw up

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

Good luck! Let me know how it goes.

What a great tutorial. I don’t need a new head but I want to hide the head maker’s logo behind the tailpiece, so this is great for me. Thanks! PS: Another reason to take your head off would be to put it on your drafting table and ink the phrase “This machine surrounds hate and forces it to surrender” as all long-neck banjos should have.

@JimPankey

4 ай бұрын

Glad I can help!!

@JimPankey

4 ай бұрын

Glad I can help!

I just did this a few weeks ago. My ratchet set helped a lot. I also removed my resonator because it was kinda too loud for my apartment!

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you got it done!

@xmadragex

3 жыл бұрын

i put a rag in inside my banjo help to lower the volume from my resonator so its not loud in my apartment

@deebee4575

3 жыл бұрын

@@xmadragex I just took it off all together and it’s still pretty loud but I stuff a T-shirt in there when I need to be more quiet.

I'm just doing this on a tenor so glad you posted it. The perfectionist in me needs somebody to tell me what note to tune the head to though😭 everybody says the same thing you did lol.

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

Ok... tune it to an Ab. There. That’s a note. It’s not the “right” one, but it’ll be a note. 😀

@timmallette1888

3 жыл бұрын

@@JimPankey thanks for your help! 😂 I'll do my best to trust my ears

Can you please do a b4 and after series?? Like kinda combining old vs new (for example, old head vs new, old bridge vs new bridge frosted, not frosted, coated, non-coated.) And like series(bridge, tailpiece, string,nut,)

@JimPankey

5 ай бұрын

You gonna supply all that stuff? I don't typically change things often, and tearing a banjo apart multiple times seems like a huge undertaking....

Thanks Jim I love your relaxed style and no frills approach! I mainly work on acoustic and electric guitars, but have been getting a few banjo repairs in lately, and found your video to be most helpful. One question - do you have any advice on lowering a bridge if it's too high? Kind Regards, Grahame

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

Check this video out at about 27 minutes... kzread.info/dash/bejne/f6x31bhyj6XKnqQ.html

Nice job! How does the tightness of the head affect the sound and what is the difference between different types of heads? Love your videos and your approach to teaching!

@JimPankey

2 жыл бұрын

A tighter head is generally brighter sounding, a looser head is more hollow sounding. Different head materials abound, that comparison is probably better left to someone else. I just know that I prefer a frosted head…

@billeckelberry6502

2 жыл бұрын

@@JimPankey thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question. Keep up the great work!

Good video Jim! Is it possible to install a tone ring during this process?

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

No, a towering installation is a major change that would require turning the rim on a lathe to accept the tone ring.

Hi Jim. Loving all your videos! What's the tune you play at the end?

@JimPankey

2 жыл бұрын

It's called Paul David

Would the Pisgah Hawktail Banjo Tailpiece be a worthwhile upgrade for my Recording King Dirty 30's banjo? The bridge is a bit buzzy but I love the banjo.

@JimPankey

2 жыл бұрын

The Hawktail is really nice... certainly a good old-time vibe and sound.

@bellend69

2 жыл бұрын

@@JimPankey There's nothing on it to rattle or buzz either.

...uhh how was the bridge placed correctly..does it have to sit in a certain spot? fab stuff btw :D...might have a bit more confidence in myself now if i want to change tailpiece or head

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

I have a setup video where I walked thru the process of placing the bridge.

What is that lovely song you play at the end?

@JimPankey

Жыл бұрын

Paul David

I have a bell brand banjo with wooden tuning keys it doesn't have a resonator and has 24 tuning lugs can you gestimate the year of manufacture? I can send pics if that would help thank you Jim

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

Pics would help

Hello Mr Pankey,, what size bridge was on it, and what size and name brand bridge did you put on ? Thankyou for your videos..

@JimPankey

2 ай бұрын

Comes with a 5/8 bridge. Currently I have a Bryan Hooper bridge on it.

i don’t know where else to go, but is there a way to add a resonator to my dirty 30s banjo

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

..probably not a cost efficient way to do that

I’m a beginner, and after watching this, I’m still unsure about what to do with the tailpiece, as far as maintenance goes. It’s probably self confidence more than anything.

@JimPankey

2 жыл бұрын

I wouldn’t worry too much about the tailpiece at this point, but I do have another setup video where I talk about it a bit more.

Hey Jim, i'm a long time beginner and i have reasonable entry level banjo. It has a resonator but a fybreskin head but i am goin to change for frosted, to get a better bluegrass sound. Question is its an 11 inch but how do you tell if its a L,M or H? Im in the UK and not wanting to buy the wrong size. Thanks

@JimPankey

6 ай бұрын

What kind of banjo?

@michaelk3819

6 ай бұрын

@@JimPankey its a Grafton popular, not sure if only available in the UK. It was originally bought from Andybanjo, but unfortunately closed down after covid. It looks a bit like my gold tone cc50 ot but with resonator, don't need 2 with fibre skin heads. 👍

@JimPankey

6 ай бұрын

@@michaelk3819 wish I could advise you. Check over at the Banjo Hangout, I bet someone there knows.

@michaelk3819

6 ай бұрын

@@JimPankey hey Jim, managed to get new head and strings done with thanks to this video and your string one. Unfortunately didn't magically make me sound better but, hey ho, onwards and upwards. Thanks again 👍.

Tention bracets..show to much thread when tightend what do i do ?

@JimPankey

9 ай бұрын

How do you know there's too much thread?

Is the bridge supposed to bend the head a little bit?

@JimPankey

Жыл бұрын

Yes

when would a person decide to use medium, light, or heavy strings? the new skin has made such a big sound difference, I was surprised. When my hand is mended, I'm going to fix my dropped banjo like johny cash made a Cadillac.

@JimPankey

Жыл бұрын

String gauge is just a preference. You’ll have to try different ones to know what you like.

We're did you get a Cramped head that ant Glued ,,,,,glued heads ant no good in my pinion can't get them to stay

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

What? I don’t understand your question.

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

It’s just a standard Remo head

@daleburke3679

3 жыл бұрын

@@JimPankey them is a better head then the ones with glue ,,,,

Thanks Jim!

@JimPankey

3 жыл бұрын

You’re welcome 😊