Day to Day Humidity Issues with Vellum

[David Clapp]

Hi there, 

How do people cope with humidity and their vellum head banjos?

I have recently bought a banjo case hygrometer to check the humidity here in a somewhat rainy England and it's around 60% on most days.

I run 2x dehumidifiers, one upstairs and one downstairs. They are set to 50% but can never quite achieve it.

I have found if I put my CE Professional in the sun for 10-15mins (in window light) the sound becomes brighter with better volume as I am guessing this warms the vellum and tightens it a bit. 

I also recently bought a Drum Dial to ensure the head is evenly tensioned (set around 80) 

Anyway - is there anything more I can do to keep the tone consistent? 

[David Clapp]

A side note - I have also come to realise that the sound of the banjo greatly changes with what top I wear! If I wear a Berghaus fleece or similar, the sound is a lot worse as it absorbs all the tones of my open back CE Professional. If I wear a T-shirt the sound is so much better! 

[Joel Hooks]

I wear a suit of armor when I play.  It also protects me from the beer bottles and rotten fruit. 

David Clapp said:

A side note - I have also come to realise that the sound of the banjo greatly changes with what top I wear! If I wear a Berghaus fleece or similar, the sound is a lot worse as it absorbs all the tones of my open back CE Professional. If I wear a T-shirt the sound is so much better! 

[Joel Hooks]

I'll post some clear photos of originals this weekend.  I have two sets, one (which I have rewired) was missing the disconnect and cord.  The other has all the parts but I need to rewire it.  Really, I just need to buy the wire as the job would only take about half an hour.

If you get one with original wiring don't plug it in.  Even if the wiring looks good.  The rubber insulation dries out and cracks.

They are very basic and one could make them from scratch with less effort than that BMG article.  The only problem would be finding the E12 size brass sockets.  But I would think these were pretty common and could be scavenged from old light fixtures or lamps from thrift shops or flea markets. 

The attaching bracket is very simple, a piece of flat metal with two holes drilled and bent to shape.  The sockets attach via the holes.  They are then wired in parallel.  Very basic stuff that anyone could do.

And they do work.  That said, other than using them after I rewired the first set, and one other time at a ABF rally for novelty, I can say that they have just been taking up space with my "collection" of other banjo accessories.

[Jody Stecher]

If you want more "utility" from these sets, revert to the original faulty wiring, plug it in on the 4th of July and play Stars & Stripes Forever as the lights flash, the sparks fly, and the smell of an electric fire fills the air.  Hint: don't use your best banjo for this.   Don't perform this stunt indoors.  I did, not knowing any of this would happen. I was about 15. My parents were not in the room at the time  but  if they had been I think they would have calmly said to unplug the contraption. Or simply done it themselves.

Joel Hooks said:

I'll post some clear photos of originals this weekend.  I have two sets, one (which I have rewired) was missing the disconnect and cord.  The other has all the parts but I need to rewire it.  Really, I just need to buy the wire as the job would only take about half an hour.

If you get one with original wiring don't plug it in.  Even if the wiring looks good.  The rubber insulation dries out and cracks.

They are very basic and one could make them from scratch with less effort than that BMG article.  The only problem would be finding the E12 size brass sockets.  But I would think these were pretty common and could be scavenged from old light fixtures or lamps from thrift shops or flea markets. 

The attaching bracket is very simple, a piece of flat metal with two holes drilled and bent to shape.  The sockets attach via the holes.  They are then wired in parallel.  Very basic stuff that anyone could do.

And they do work.  That said, other than using them after I rewired the first set, and one other time at a ABF rally for novelty, I can say that they have just been taking up space with my "collection" of other banjo accessories.