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Approved
| Joined: | Wed Aug 23rd, 2006 |
| Location: | United Kingdom |
| Posts: | 87 |
| Instrument Interest: | Ukulele, Clawhammer Banjo, Bluegrass Banjo, Guitar, Harmonica, Other |
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Posted: Tue Sep 19th, 2006 07:36 pm |
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Hi all!
It's strange that I posted a question about strings earlier ... I have just noticed that my 1st 2 strings have a slight "kink" in them, just on the 3rd Fret. Being new to the instrument (and the banjo family) I'm not sure if this is normal? I have been playing quite a lot since Friday. I guess I could have been fretting too heavily but I don't think so, I certainly fret a lot lighter than on my acoustic guitar. Maybe I have been sliding the strings too frequently? It is very tempting to slide a lot (particular on tunes such as old joe clark) or maybe this kind of wear is quite normal? They aren't massive deformities, it's just noticeable upon close inspection.
I also noticed (and this may have always been this way) that my bridge is pushing down the head, again, not massively but I seem to recall seeing somewhere that if you can see the legs of the bridge denting the head that the head is too loose (is this right?). That said, it seems fairly tight, nothing has come loose that I can see.
Thanks for any help you can offer, even if just to allay my fears.
Mark
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banjo brad
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| Joined: | Wed Apr 14th, 2004 |
| Location: | Tucson, Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 2416 |
| Instrument Interest: | Ukulele, Clawhammer Banjo, Guitar, Harmonica, Dulcimer, Fiddle |
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Posted: Tue Sep 19th, 2006 09:07 pm |
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It sounds like you may, indeed, be fretting a little heavily, or maybe the frets are a little squared-off instead of rounded. Or maybe you're just playing the heck outta that thing and wearing the strings out quickly.
The head has a couple of possibilities (aren't non-wood head instruments fun?). Maybe the humidity is up some and stretching the head. Is it a plastic-type head? If so, that shouldn't be the problem unless the humidity is really high. The feet of the bridge should leave a slight impression on the head when looked at from underneath, this is fairly normal. The tension on the strings forces the bridge downward. The head can actually be adjusted to give a brighter or darker tone to the instrument by changing the tension - tighter = brighter, vise-versa. As long as the tone sounds good, I wouldn't be too concerned unless the head actually starts to break.
This is based on my limited knowledge of the mechanics of the banjo, not the dulcijo, but there is some similarity between the 2 instruments.
Hope this helps.
Brad
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mark
Approved
| Joined: | Wed Aug 23rd, 2006 |
| Location: | United Kingdom |
| Posts: | 87 |
| Instrument Interest: | Ukulele, Clawhammer Banjo, Bluegrass Banjo, Guitar, Harmonica, Other |
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Posted: Tue Sep 19th, 2006 09:39 pm |
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Thanks for your reply Brad,
I have just caught myself fretting a little heavier so you may well be right about that, although right now I have dampned the sound a little (a small piece of bubble wrap just in front and behind the bridge, works wonders) as it is 10.30pm here and I don't want to wake my little boy (or annoy the neighbours!) so I could be trying to compensate by fretting a little heavier. That said though, I am, as you said "playing the hell outta that thing", I have bearly put it down since I collected it on Friday so equally I could just be wearing the strings out!
Regarding the head, from what you have said it sounds as if I don't have a problem at all (*sigh of relief*). The sound is nice and plucky up the neck and clear & bright down by the bridge. It's a plastic head and as the UK has cooled down over the last few weeks I don't think humidity is a factor.
Thanks again Brad, I appreciate you taking the time to help.
Mark
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