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? 

[Richard William Ineson]

I've been playing banjos fitted with natural vellum for over 60 years and never had any serious problems. I wrap the hoop/pot of my banjo in good quality plush velvet cloth which remains in the banjo case when not in use. The cloth prevents moisture getting to the vellum and the banjo should be in its case when it is not being played which prevents the vellum being exposed to excessive moisture. Modern vellums tend not to be as hard as the old Rogers vellum of yesteryear and consequently are not as resistant to the absorption of moisture. Taking time to fit the vellum in the first place, making sure that it is tightened very gradually over a week or so and then removing it from the hoop to allow the portion of the vellum which is next to the hoop/pot and not exposed to the air, to dry out  before  finally fitting it, is very important. In really excessive wet weather its a good idea to keep the banjo in its case as much as possible and only take it out in an already warm room.  In the past, electric heaters, consisting of a pair of electric light bulbs were available (I think Grover manufactured them) and you sometimes still find them installed on pre WW2 banjos, I was never brave enough to use these as the wiring always looked very dodgy on the banjos which came my way which were fitted with these devices. If I remember correctly (78 years old) one or two of the Van Eps banjo which I have handled/played over the years had these heaters installed. Houses, work places, places of entertainment, public transport etc.used to be very cold and damp in winter so there might have been more of a need for banjo heaters in those days. Keep your banjo wrapped up and warm, don't  hang it on the wall, don't play it whilst you are in the bath or shower, or in the garden when it's raining.

[David Clapp]

Thank you for all that. I have the nylon strung CE Professional banjo in a case all the time when not playing it. The humidity is often as high as 70% when reading with the hygrometer inside the case (!) and 55% (with the dehumidifier running) where I store it in my kitchen, which never makes any sense to me!

I always find a blast in the sun helps a lot, but I never seem to get any consistency. Some days it's really sweet, bright and lively, other days the brightness sounds a bit rolled off. I am sure its also me as well, always over analysing it. 

Richard William Ineson said:

I've been playing banjos fitted with natural vellum for over 60 years and never had any serious problems. I wrap the hoop/pot of my banjo in good quality plush velvet cloth which remains in the banjo case when not in use. The cloth prevents moisture getting to the vellum and the banjo should be in its case when it is not being played which prevents the vellum being exposed to excessive moisture. Modern vellums tend not to be as hard as the old Rogers vellum of yesteryear and consequently are not as resistant to the absorption of moisture. Taking time to fit the vellum in the first place, making sure that it is tightened very gradually over a week or so and then removing it from the hoop to allow the portion of the vellum which is next to the hoop/pot and not exposed to the air, to dry out  before  finally fitting it, is very important. In really excessive wet weather its a good idea to keep the banjo in its case as much as possible and only take it out in an already warm room.  In the past, electric heaters, consisting of a pair of electric light bulbs were available (I think Grover manufactured them) and you sometimes still find them installed on pre WW2 banjos, I was never brave enough to use these as the wiring always looked very dodgy on the banjos which came my way which were fitted with these devices. If I remember correctly (78 years old) one or two of the Van Eps banjo which I have handled/played over the years had these heaters installed. Houses, work places, places of entertainment, public transport etc.used to be very cold and damp in winter so there might have been more of a need for banjo heaters in those days. Keep your banjo wrapped up and warm, don't  hang it on the wall, don't play it whilst you are in the bath or shower, or in the garden when it's raining.

[Joel Hooks]

Those lights are easy to rewire.  Modern insulated lamp wire that is braided over is pretty easy to get on Amazon or similar. 

It is usually just a few screws to loosen and tighten, no different then rewiring a table lamp. 

They were made by Elton or Elkington Co.

[Jody Stecher]

I've never had problems of the effects of humidity causing a slack head and dull tone. But I have had a vellum explode due to excessively dry air in an air-conditioned venue. 

David, yes you may be paying more attention to the changes than necessary. Changes of humidity and temperature affect all musical instruments that are made of different materials which expand and contract at different rates.  I have never met a mandolin, guitar, etc that did not sound different not just from day to day but from hour to hour.  Even in consistent weather the strings are steadily wearing out as they are played and this produces a change in timbre and a change in feel under the fingers. I have found it best to accept what I've got at the moment, knowing that it will soon change again.

Richard, I had a banjo with those warming lights. These were of various colors and  flashed on and off. That was by design. You are right about dodgy wiring. Along with the deliberate flashing was sparks, smoke and fire. This was a Ludwig tenor. 

Richard William Ineson said:

I've been playing banjos fitted with natural vellum for over 60 years and never had any serious problems. I wrap the hoop/pot of my banjo in good quality plush velvet cloth which remains in the banjo case when not in use. The cloth prevents moisture getting to the vellum and the banjo should be in its case when it is not being played which prevents the vellum being exposed to excessive moisture. Modern vellums tend not to be as hard as the old Rogers vellum of yesteryear and consequently are not as resistant to the absorption of moisture. Taking time to fit the vellum in the first place, making sure that it is tightened very gradually over a week or so and then removing it from the hoop to allow the portion of the vellum which is next to the hoop/pot and not exposed to the air, to dry out  before  finally fitting it, is very important. In really excessive wet weather its a good idea to keep the banjo in its case as much as possible and only take it out in an already warm room.  In the past, electric heaters, consisting of a pair of electric light bulbs were available (I think Grover manufactured them) and you sometimes still find them installed on pre WW2 banjos, I was never brave enough to use these as the wiring always looked very dodgy on the banjos which came my way which were fitted with these devices. If I remember correctly (78 years old) one or two of the Van Eps banjo which I have handled/played over the years had these heaters installed. Houses, work places, places of entertainment, public transport etc.used to be very cold and damp in winter so there might have been more of a need for banjo heaters in those days. Keep your banjo wrapped up and warm, don't  hang it on the wall, don't play it whilst you are in the bath or shower, or in the garden when it's raining.

[Joel Hooks]

Jody, the flashing lights were not for warming, per se, but were a spawn of "Shakey's Pizza" showmanship.  I recall seeing a FIGA News article showing how to make these flashers to add some "flash" to go with your styrofoam hat and striped vest with sleeve garters.

Some time ago I put out a "wanted ad" for banjo lights.  I got many emails from tenor/plectrum banjoists trying to sell me these flashing light concoctions despite me specifically saying that I wanted "Elton factory lights, not homemade pizza parlor flashers". 

[Joel Hooks]

Somewhat similar, this weekend I was playing a Weaver that I have not had very long.  I got it in parts at the last ABF rally. 

I guess the humidity dropped significantly around sunset (windows were open) as my 4th string peg suddenly detuned itself.  This happens to me this time of year.  I keep my pegs adjusted just tight enough to hold and no more.  Any slight drop in humidity and they will slightly loosen up do the seasonal wood shrinkage. 

Storage, I also keep all banjos in cases.  While I have a few banjos with "vellum" or calf heads, frankly, frosted Remo work just fine for me.  I do not have the canine hearing that many claim to have. 

[Jody Stecher]

I think the lights may have been for both warming and visual effect. Of course the colors and flash were for entertainment but where did the idea of lights inside a banjo come from?  Maybe from drying/warming lights.   This was a banjo from the 1920s that I bought at a yard sale ( I think I paid $2 or maybe $3) in 1961 or 62.  Shakey's does predate that, but this was small town Wisconsin and I think Shakey's had not yet arrived in the midwest.  At any rate when I bought the banjo the wiring of the lights was well worn and frayed. 

Joel Hooks said:

Jody, the flashing lights were not for warming, per se, but were a spawn of "Shakey's Pizza" showmanship.  I recall seeing a FIGA News article showing how to make these flashers to add some "flash" to go with your styrofoam hat and striped vest with sleeve garters.

Some time ago I put out a "wanted ad" for banjo lights.  I got many emails from tenor/plectrum banjoists trying to sell me these flashing light concoctions despite me specifically saying that I wanted "Elton factory lights, not homemade pizza parlor flashers". 

[Trapdoor2]

Here in South Carolina, the RH in summer rarely gets below 80%. I just don't play my vellum headed banjos out on the porch. The A/C keeps the inside of the house at 60%.

I forgot a few weeks ago and trotted the 12" CE Pro out to the porch. It took just a few minutes to slacken the head and drop the action to unplayability! I had to wipe the condensation off too. Back inside!

If it was a problem in the house, I'd simply mount a plastic head. Easy peasy. I prefer vellum though.

[Joel Hooks]

As far as I have found, there were only one make of factory lights, Elton.  They did not flash, but they did come with colored bulbs.  I have not seen any off the shelf flashers, but I have seen a number of DIY, obviously from the post WW2 era.

[Jody Stecher]

Ah. Well the DIY would explain the amateur wiring. This particular set had normal un-tinted bulbs but they were set in translucent casings of different colors, something like the red chili pepper lights we saw in Mexican restaurants and soon after hung in our kitchen. They also didn't flash.  Steady light was festive enough.

Joel Hooks said:

As far as I have found, there were only one make of factory lights, Elton.  They did not flash, but they did come with colored bulbs.  I have not seen any off the shelf flashers, but I have seen a number of DIY, obviously from the post WW2 era.

[David Clapp]

Really interesting conversation - I personally seem to find the humidity in my hard case is higher than the room it’s stored in. I got a cheapo hygrometer and a Dadarrio one. The cheap one can go wildly out, whereas the Daddario is way more stable.

I have two humidifiers and they have been full, (pulling a few litres) every 12hrs out of them. I’m really surprised. 
I live in a 1850 Victorian house with high ceilings, so it’s always been slightly colder / damper as there is little in the way of modern construction, but it’s well ventilated.