 |
|
|
|
|
Q. I just purchased a Deering Goodtime banjo from you. I love it, but I was wondering if there's an armrest available for it.
A.
Yes! Although Deering does not make accessories for the Goodtime, we
do stock an armrest that will fit on your banjo very nicely. It sells
for $14.95, and you can install it
yourself!
Q.
Do the Weber
mandolins, (flat models) have adjustable bridges?
A.
They're not adjustable with height wheels like the arch top
mandolins,
but they can be
easily adjusted by an instrument repairperson.
Q.
I am contemplating repairing a mandolin I found at a thrift store.
It doesn't
appear to be a brand name instrument (that I can find) so I guess
it is
a "cheap one". I will need to get a few parts, and was wondering if
you can
help. It
is an "A" model
mandolin. It needs tuners, complete
bridge,
strings, and a
nut. Looking down the neck, I see a very slight twist to
the fingerboard
near where the nut will attach. Appears to raise at most
an eighth
of an inch in the twist of an otherwise flat fingerboard. One thing
which has me confused is that it appears to need an either
an "L"
shaped nut, or it will have a quarter of an inch between the
mounting
of the nut
against the fingerboard at the head and a fret at the top of
the first
fret position. Is that normal?
A.
The nut mystery as you describe is probably a
fingerboard
with a zero fret,
meaning that the strings go through the nut to guide
them,
and then rest on
the zero fret before they traverse the rest of
the fingerboard.
It's a common way to build guitars, mandolins, etc, although
not as
typical as the other way.
Tuners will run
about $15.00, the plastic nut is $2.00, and the strings
are about
$6.00.
It would help if
I could see a couple of photos and have you take
some
measurements
before we proceed. A photo of the face of the instrument, as close
and clear as possible.
Measure the width
of the top of the fingerboard where the nut will
rest.
Measure the
distance of the tuning peg hole, center to center, the
spacing
between any two.
(assuming the spacing is identical between all of them. Send us the
measurements and photos, and we'll supply you with the parts you
need.
Q.
I know that there's a variety of banjo playing styles. What's the
difference between them, and are there certain kinds of banjos for
each kind?
A. Five-string open-back banjos are generally used for traditional music, popular folk music, such as Peter, Paul and Mary, Pete Seeger, Kingston Trio, and also for old-time clawhammer style. Banjos with a resonator are most commonly used for bluegrass. Four-string tenor banjos are not very often used these days, as their biggest place in music history was in Dixieland Jazz. A few dedicated companies such as Deering Banjos still make them, but the majority of banjos being played in the world now are five-string.
Q.
The bridge on my banjo isn't attached. Is that how it's supposed to
be, and does it matter where it's placed?
A. The bridge isn't meant to be attached to your banjo, and yes, it does matter where you place it. A good way to start is to measure from the nut the twelfth fret, then use that same distance from the twelfth fret to the top edge of the bridge . Use your ears, or preferably an electronic tuner to get it exactly in place.
Q.
How tight should my banjo head be?
A. The tension of the banjo head directly affects the tone of your instrument. Generally, the tighter the head, the brighter and snappier the tone. Try to keep equal tension all the way around the head, by adjusting a little at a time, and working side to side (12:00 to 6:00, 1:00 to 7:00, etc) and be careful not to overtighten.
|
|
|
|
|
Play It Again Sam....66 Main St....Montpelier VT 05602....Phone (802) 229-0295....Fax (802) 229-0755