'Plunky' sound!

[Sooze]

Can anyone give me any tips on how to make my open back Ozark banjo sound more 'plunky' and mellow, if that is at all possible?! It was set up for me by the shop I bought it from, but it doesn't have that lovely old-timey sort of sound that I have heard on some of the YouTube banjo videos! I'm a bit loathe to start tinkering around with it myself, really, at least, without any proper advice, in case I make it unplayable altogether! I did try stuffing a wad of tissues in the back, which made a slight difference (a cotton wool ball did not have any effect at all!). Maybe it can't be done with my particular banjo, but I thought it worth asking about!

[Danny]

I have a (much modified) Ozark too, and found that tightening the head made it brighter, so conversely slackening it off ought to have the opposite effect. Also the hight of the tailpiece behind the bridge can have a marked effect on tone, so try fiddling with that too.

[frkeith]

I agree with Danny about the tailpiece and head tension. A no-knot tailpiece will give the plunkiest sound because it puts the least downward pressure on the bridge. A fatter bridge will also give a more plunky tone. The renaissance head seems nice and mellow - I have one on a basic Deering Goodtime. Its hard to compare your own banjo sound to others unless you record it from the front and then listen to it - When I listen to my recordings they sound nothing like the sound I hear from behind the banjo when I'm playing.

[Danny]

I put a fibreskin head and a noknot tailpiece on my Ozark and it sounds pretty good to my ears.

[Sooze]

Thank you, Danny and Fr. Keith, for your replies. I would really like to try out your suggestions, although I am very apprehensive about making any alterations myself! Is there anything I should particularly be aware of when slackening off the head, or indeed, in changing it altogether? Likewise with the bridge and tailpiece?

Fr. Keith - I have used my webcam once or twice to watch and listen to myself murdering my banjo (scary stuff!) and you are right, it does sound quite different to how it sounds from 'behind' it, but I just thought that was because the mic in my webcam is not very good!

Hope you don't mind all my questions! I'm off to do a search now, on prices for the different heads and tailpiece you mentioned - and I have absolutely no idea what a no-knot tailpiece even looks like compared to whatever sort I have on my Ozark, so hope there are some good pics out there!


Thanks for your input!

Sooze.

[Danny]

Sooze

for info try www.savethebanjos.com and for parts and installations in the uk (if you can make a long drive) try either www.andybanjo.com in kent or www.eaglemusicshop.com in yorkshire. You might also get the parts from www.touchstonetonewoods.co.uk/ (they're a luthier supply company here in the uk)

I've done everything you've said to a banjo that probably started out as identical to yours, so either email or PM me and I'll tell you what I did right and indeed what I did wrong.

Also Patrick has done video lessons on banjo setup a couple of times, they might help too.

Be in touch matey

[Danny]

btw the fiberskin head and noknot tailpiece cost £25 incl post from www.andybanjo.com

[Danny]

forgot the most important website of all www.frets.com has more than you ever dreamed about about repairing and changing musical instruments

[Fingers n thumbs]

Hi Sooze

I found that tightening the head - PC has done a video on how to do it.

And

..rolling up a tea towel and stuffing it between the dowel stick (maybe you have a co ord rod) and skin, right up where the neck meets the pot, creates a nice plunky sound. Quick and easy, and no purchase necessary, though my wife did notice that a tea towel was gone (should of taken an old manky one not the new shiny one )


Volume drops a bit but it does stop me drowning out a guitar when i play it. Like when Duggy K is going for it Merle T style ;D

Rogf

[Sooze]

Hi Rogf! Thanks for your tips - but I think it might be prudent to add here that I did try adjusting the head tension (and the tailpiece) and then thought it sounded worse so tried to change it back, but thought I had truly messed it up, so bought another banjo which was set up to sound plunky and old timey and then decided that the first banjo actually sounded better after all! So now I have two banjos which sound quite different, and am ashamed to admit that I don't play either of them because I bought a new guitar too, and feel so much more at home with it, that the banjos have taken a back seat. Oh dear! But thanks everyone for their tips - they will be useful for anyone else who has the same query! (And I really must dust off those banjos and get practising again............)!

[Fingers n thumbs]

Hi Sooze

Yep i think tightening the head on it's own will take some plunky ness away - a brighter clearer sound, but the tea towel takes the edge of that again so you get the energy of a tight head dampened quickly by the tea towel creating more 'donk' for a plunk sound.

If it makes you feel better i have 6 guitars and two banjos ;D and play mostly what takes my fancy.

Play what makes you smile

Rog

[Clangabell]

Hi Sooze
one of the things I found, to get a plunky old time sound is by the way you strike the strings, and its not always the banjo set up. I have put a link to a guy who shows how to get the old time 'clucking' sound. Must admit it is quite difficult, I found that using the very short nail was the best method for me. You shorten the nail and after you play down on the string, the fleshy part of the finger stops the banjo from ringing, anyway its easier to watch the video that listen to me pattle on, so buy and good luck with it

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RVqWF_FC554

cheers
Colin

[Sooze]

Blimey, Rog, SIX guitars - maybe we should start a new thread so everyone can say how many of each instrument they have! Anyway, next time I play either of my banjos I'm going to raid the tea towel drawer first! What you said makes sense. And if it reduces the volume, too, that certainly won't hurt - I expect my neighbours would be really pleased!

Hey Colin, how are you doing? I watched the YouTube vid - VERY interesting and helpful - well done for finding that. I should be a wizz at that short nail technique - my middle, frailing nail NEVER gets chance to grow long enough to produce a clear sound anyway - it splits and then I have to cut it right back - maybe my playing sounds more plunky than I think, in that case!

[Bill Orrell]

A thicker head would make it sound plunky. Slackening the head would also but would lose some volume. Also taking off the resonator if one is fitted. Some banjo are better for frailing others of picking.

[malc]

I wanted to make my Gold Tone White Ladye a bit more plunky.
It was already fitted as standard with a Fibreskin Head. I spoke to Andy at Andy Banjo's and he suggested a velum head. I play my banjo generally at home in the same room so up to now I have had no problems with the skin head moving much, (not at all really) but on Andy's suggestion I bought a number of different depth Bridges and if the velum tightens or slackens off I can just use a different bridge.
I am quite pleased with the sound of the White Ladye now. It is about as plunky as I think I could get it. The other alternative is buying a Banjo with a Wooden Tone ring for a really plunky
sound, but that's my wish list option.
Hope this helps.
regards Malc.