Vega!

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Comment by Dana Curnock on December 29, 2012 at 11:52pm

For Sale: VegaVox De-Luxe IV 1931 Tenor Banjo. Excellent Condition.No Work needed.

Comment by GerryMac on December 24, 2011 at 11:32pm

Another thing to consider, Steve.

You said earlier, ' I find it takes me a long time to change a head'. Well, the first time I changed a head, it took me nearly half a day - and that was just to get everything up and running again. But it wasn't the end, as everyone finds out eventually. The head just takes its own damn time to bed in. OK - time is spent over the next, at least, few days tightening again and again. But I've discovered that it's time really well spent. You get to know your instrument in its entirety, its idiosyncrasies, its failings and its good points - even ways of improving this, that and the other with a tweak here and a twist there. The bottom line is, nothing is wasted - it all goes into the databank at the top of your head for future use and then, hopefully (!), it should be easier and shorter next time round.

Anyway, a Happy Christmas and New Year to all you tenor dorks out there!

Comment by Ayreforce Pyper on December 24, 2011 at 9:52pm

great comments...so many things to consider. I have been looking for the right term to describe the sound I want out of the banjo, and "poke" or "bite" is it. i think i will try the clear head. My skin head sounds nice, but it is too warm for me. Not much poke.
Now, if I could only find a resonator for this thing...

Comment by Steven Ross Hawson on December 24, 2011 at 6:22am

 

Good point GerryMac. I enjoy my calf skin banjo, but you never know what it's going to do. I live in a very dry climate in Albuquerque NM. One would think it would be an ideal place for a natural skin head. But even here it is very unpredictable. Even when the weather is dry, pubs are always humid places with people and drink. After ten minutes of session playin the head starts feeling like a cooked noodle. That's why I'd never bring that banjo out of the house anymore...lesson learned.

Comment by GerryMac on December 24, 2011 at 3:18am

Dan, it also very much depends where you're based. In Ireland or northern Europe, in general, if you want to play on a calf-skin all year round, you may as well whistle Dixie - it would be louder! Drizzling rain and dampness don't do any favours to animal skins. I've a life to live and a few tunes to play. Waiting on a calf-skin to come up to prime in these environs, I'd have to live in a portable oven!

Comment by Dan on December 23, 2011 at 5:32pm

As everyone has mentioned, choice of head is a matter of personal preference.  I've tried most kinds and hands down I prefer the sound of a high quality calf skin head to anything else.  I've tried fiberskin and Renaissance and would never use either again, and I personally don't like the way they look either.  That being said, I've also found I have different preferences for different playing situations.  At home I strongly prefer calf skin, but for loud sessions I like the sound of a clear head, or maybe a good top frost head, since they seem a bit louder with more clarity and "bite".  But at home they sound a bit too artifical for my taste.  As far as bridges, I've also tried many kinds and hands down my preference so far is Snuffy Smith bridges.  They give a loud clear sound.  I try to use 5/8" if I can set up the banjo to handle them, since thy seem a little louder and I like the extra clearance from the head for comfort playing.  But even 1/2" bridges are fine.  I have not tried adjusting the lateral position since I always try to get the intonation as perfect as possible.  I remember reading, however, that the optimal placement of a bridge (the "sweet spot") is 1/3 the distance across the head, due presumably to the physical characteristics of wave forms as the head vibrates.  That makes sense to me, but assuming the bridge is set for proper intonation then that is a function of how the banjo is designed (in terms of the length of the neck) so not much can be done about it.  Clearly not all banjos are designed with the 1/3 "optimal" placement.  I guess in some cases a small adjustment could be made by shimming the neck, but then that causes other changes as well.  Another  big factor affecting tone is the tightness of the head, of course.  So many little things to tweak to find the perfect set up!!!    

Comment by Steven Ross Hawson on December 23, 2011 at 4:06pm

That's a great point, John...for any banjo.  I've been meaning to do some bridge experimentation too.  I'm also amazed how the placement of the same bridge, a few mm up down and over can also affect tone.  Of course, there are limits with respect to intonation -- you can't move the bridge too much without throwing off the neck.  But to the extent that it is possible, strictly in terms of tone ... there seems to be a "sweet spot" that may take a few wiggles to find.  Any recommendations in terms of wood, bridge makers, etc.  I'm game to experiment.  SH

Comment by Stoneyjohn on December 23, 2011 at 11:22am

Yes and it takes a long time for a new head to settle down. I use a fyberskin on my Vega Professional kept up tight and I find I have no problems with volume but I find the easiest way and quickest way to vary the tone is by changing the bridge. It's surprising the difference you can get with different types of bridge, thick ones , thin ones and providing you choose a bridge of roughly the same height no other adjustment needed. although you might find that it takes 24 hrs or so to settle in completely

John Patterson

Comment by Steven Ross Hawson on December 22, 2011 at 6:04pm

Good comments.  I should add, though, that my 1924 M-Style Vega, is in fact, a hybrid and not actually 100% Vega, though it's all roughly from the same period, and there is a tone ring similar to the Vega's.  Might make a difference.  It's too bad that it takes so long to change heads on a banjo...otherwise one could experiment with several heads on the same instrument with different heads more easily.  I find it takes me a long time to change a head...

Comment by GerryMac on December 22, 2011 at 1:17pm

I have a 1925 Vega De Luxe with an 11 13/16" head and wouldn't put anything else other than a Ren head on it. It really suits, and IMHO adds to, the overall look of a classic banjo and, as for the tone, it's simply superb! As for volume, I fully agree with Alan - it doesn't reduce it whatsoever. Need I say more!!

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