181 RSW Gibson Mastertone Tone Ring Replacement

This is quite an extensive setup of the Earl Scruggs model Gibson mastertone banjo. You will see how I fitted and aluminum tone ring to lighten the Banjo by more than two pounds.

[@BLOVECU]

to modify that aluminum tone ring and do a masterful job on the setup, was a pleasure to watch.

[@JimmyMitchell-Lucky]

Jerry, the fact that you can do so much at home in your own shop is incredible. DON'T TAKE THE NEGATIVE PEANUT GALLERY TO HEART. your overall ability with a true concern for cost is amazing. Your the kind of guy that made America GREAT!

[@100amps]

Your customer clearly sent his banjo to the right guy. Well done, Jerry.

[@RosaStringWorks]

100amplifiers thanks.

[@johnthomas2255]

Very impressive work on this old banjo.

[@mrvn52]

I'm learning things I never knew watching your channel, I especially like the way you never run from a challenge, great job as always.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Lyle Marvin thanks.

[@1980bwc]

Good video Mr. Jerry. I had no idea that a banjo had that many parts to it. I've never been around many banjos before. I learn so much from watching you work. I'm glad there are people like you on here that gladly share your knowledge with us. Thank you Bro. Jerry!

[@RosaStringWorks]

Bryan Wayne you're welcome. Thank you for watching.

[@geneedwards5639]

I know next to nothing about banjos, but I am super impressed with the way you put this Gibson banjo together. Probably the most impressive part was watching how you chucked up that tone ring to round and took off enough of the aluminum to make a nice fit. Thanks for making this video.

[@antoineguerin5102]

Thanks to you, I finally managed the right setting of the tone ring on my Ibanez Banjo. I could disassemble the rim and all the gear to take the tone ring off and correctly sit it back down on the rim, as it previously did not exactly fit. Thanks a lot for this video and for many other ones. I wish french Luthiers were that welcoming as you are and as generous as you are, too. I had an issue with a guitar and now i fixed the height of the strings, so that ther is no more buzz with the frets. Thank you a lot ! Keep on showing us your skill and knowledge and all those tips and tricks that i am sure save a lot of musicians ! Thank you Monsieur le Luthier ! Antoine Guerin from Paris, France.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Antoine guérin thank you for the note. Glad you found it useful. Good luck to you. Thanks for watching.

[@jimpage601]

Hey, Jerry. Most informative and fun to watch. I hope I never have another banjo, but I enjoyed watching you do all that fine work and problem-solving. In my work, I think 90% of why they keep me around is to solve wacky graphics or print-production problems that crop up. We old guys can usually remember something similar from long ago and that guides us to a solution that works. At least, that's my theory.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Jim Page that just about sums it up. Thank you for watching.

[@kempenglish]

One time, a guy parked in downtown Atlanta with his banjo in clear sight in the back seat. When he came back, he realized somebody broke into his car and left 2 more banjos!

[@richardthacker]

I know some purists don't like to see a classic instrument modified - but I say that the owner can now play it rather than look at it! And anyways, he has the original tone ring, so it can always go back in again. No harm done. Another cracking video, as ever.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Richard Thacker my thoughts exactly. Thank you for watching.

[@edwardpetersen4309]

Fabulous fix and fun to watch. Thanks for another one, Jerry.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Edward Petersen you are welcome. Thank you for watching.

[@springy-2112]

Wow that's what's in a banjo! I have an ancient one in a case from my great grandfather which I never touch don't know why I keep it but maybe one day one of the youngsters will take up banjo and keep it in the family...👍💟

[@Weird_Old_Uncle_Kenny]

Being a guitar guy who plays mostly rock, I had never seen how a banjo is put together, not to mention machining a tone ring for one. But I've watched you fix a lot of guitars, a couple mandos and basses, thought I'd check out this here banjo. Not disappointed, love your "stuff". I hope your customer is happy with his lightened, polished and assembled instrument. Looks pretty swell from here!

[@jeffrey3498]

Great to see you back in action on video sir.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Jeffrey Prokopowicz thank you very much.

[@thomastommy1192]

Wow you really did a great job on the banjo. It looks & sounds amazing. Many thumbs up to your video. I enjoy the videos where you build an instrument from start to finish. I have learned a lot on the workings of a banjo. Thank you for sharing. I hope you are having a blessed summer.

[@douglasmorrison9098]

My brother in law (killed in a BAD FIERY TRUCK WRECKIN 1968) had 1 of those that had the gold rings and gold keys on it beautiful banjos

[@douglasmorrison9098]

Picture of the 1 he had GIBSON 70'S MASTERTONE BANJO 5 STRING GOLD HARDWARE RARE FIND IMMACULATE

[@douglasmorrison9098]

Cant get it to copy and paste butits on Ebay almost 6000 dollars

[@peteleoni9665]

I am 68 as of yesterday. I still know how to get to point. I am so glad. I was afraid that would happen to me. Not that it is irritating when people do not. (-:

[@kdzereglihristiyan3813]

I’ve missed your videos. Great work

[@RosaStringWorks]

Kdzeregli Hristiyan thank you very much.

[@TerryMcKean]

Nice!... years ago I had a 1935 Gibson Mastertone banjo... it was very heavy, and supreme-sounding...had two necks that came with it...it's original 4-string tenor neck, and a perfect duplicate of that tenor neck's designs and inlay, etc in a 5-string neck... it had the 5-string neck on it when I got it...that was an awesome, awesome banjo... I got it for some cash and a Martin D-41 trade-in and had the honor of owning and playing it for some time and eventually had to sell it to help get up the $$$ to get a place to live for me and my new wife and our new baby girl way back then. :-)

[@RosaStringWorks]

+Terry McKean thanks for sharing the story. Sorry you had to sell it. Thank you for watching my videos.

[@TerryMcKean]

You're welcome.... yep, it was a bit of a bummer selling it, but it had to be done... family takes precedence over possessions, and the old Mastertone went out the door to someone who knew what he had and appreciated it, and myself and new family went in the door of our first new home. :-D

[@greatreset3]

Great work! You have what seems to be missing in society today, Problem Solving Skills. It makes your videos more interesting to watch that process. 🎸🎻👁

[@RosaStringWorks]

Edward Wunder thank you very much.

[@leonp5289]

Jerry, really enjoyed this one. You are now a master Mastertone builder ! Would have loved to have heard the before and after sound from the Al tone ring effect.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Leon P yeah it would have been nice to hear the before and after but it was too much work to put it together the way it was.

[@arthurogle7581]

A friend of my son living in Finland, Ben Fodstad, needed a banjo and I bought a Yates Skillet head from Ron Stewart. When my son arrived in Ft Worth Texas he hand carried the Yates to Ben to Finland. Ben plays for a Finn singer and mando player. Jussi Syren. Jussi opened the IBGMA convention the last year it was held n Owensborogh, Ky. He opened with the Pete Rowan song "I'm knocking on your door again my darling". BTW my fave Bg tune is "When you are lonely" by Big Mon.....Art

[@AMStationEngineer]

This was a great 'chill-out' video; and is the maraschino cherry placed atop the cool-whip, which tops off a rather crappy week. I needed to watch as someone thought through a combination of problems - knowing there would be a successful conclusion at the end. Thanks!

[@RosaStringWorks]

AMStationEngineer you are welcome my friend. Thank you for watching.

[@henryhunter5026]

Great video! I now know a lot more about the workings of a five string banjo which I always think of as an American invention. You really do an amazing job on any instrument be it very expensive or just a run of the mill one. We have a similar chrome polish in the U.K. Called "Autosol" which I find useful when restoring Strat tremolos etc. Love your videos and music, I look forward to the next one.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Henry Hunter thank you very much my friend.

[@dino_j]

Now I know why banjos are so heavy! Look at all the parts! Great job as usual Jerry,! I enjoyed watching, I've got to get some of that simichrome polish now...

[@RosaStringWorks]

Dean Jarvis thank you Dean.

[@budandbean1]

So interesting Jerry, kinda like playing with an erector set with strings. You sure did some nice work on this. I was wondering what you were going to come up with, since you just got a bunch of parts. I really liked watching this video, thanks so much for your time. I really look forward to see a new video from you!

[@RosaStringWorks]

Buddy Martin thank you very much.

[@neillconnor]

Excellent, really enjoyed watching your work

[@redlinemando]

I've played banjo since I was 11. I'm now 36 & have played professionally in the recording studio & on the road for several years. If you are familiar with The Cumberland Highlanders TV show, I was on several of the earlier shows taped around 1998-2000. In my opinion, G or G# works for head tension. My preference is G# just to minimize overtones & still give the sharpness in tone. I recommend a drum dial to bring most of the guess work to a minimum. You'll find that the sweet spot is between 88-91. However, a lot of that is picker preference. It all depends on what tone your looking for & as you well know from your experience, different hands produce different tones also. You just have to experiment to see what works best for you. Great video!! Very informative. You are a great craftsman & very inventive problem solver. Keep posting great videos & keep up the great work!!!!

[@RosaStringWorks]

+redlinemando thank you for the note. Thank you for watching.

[@redlinemando]

No problem. You make great videos. I wish I lived closer to you. I would definitely have you do my repair work.

[@redlinemando]

Do you have any videos showing the process of a complete neck reset on a Martin or similar dovetail style guitar neck joint? I have a couple vintage Martins that I'm looking to have someone do a neck reset for in the near future.

[@tihomirkolarek]

You make it all seams so darn easy... Great one again Jerry... Wish you had time to put a bit more fotage, but i know the time is a big enemy... Greeting from Croatia

[@RosaStringWorks]

Tihomir Kolarek thank you very much for watching.

[@cjc4765]

Jerry, Is there anything that you can't fix? You are amazing and that's an understatement ( I'm in awe as usual) Thanks for passing on your knowledge ( now if I only had your hands and problem solving mind)!!!!

[@RosaStringWorks]

carm4765 thank you very much. I really appreciate it.

[@RandySchartiger]

that semi-chrome polish works well on banjos, when I played banjo a friend told me about it over 30 years ago and I've used it ever since. wouldn't it be nice if guitar neck angles were as easy to adjust? :) nice work on this banjo Jerry!

[@RosaStringWorks]

Randy Schartiger thank you very much Randy. Yes it would be nice if we could have just guitar necks that easily.

[@antonyking3652]

The customer wants what he wants, but the brass is where the sound comes from. I owned a Gibson RB75 for years and wouldn't upon pain of death change the ring lol ... but that's me.

[@EmbelekoBand]

You're a PRO. Great job. I really mean that.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Gil Lamb thank you very much.

[@samuelbarham8483]

I wonder why you didn't consider a wood tone ring? They're much not common than aluminum tune rings, and they sound lovely. Deering makes their John Hartford model, I believe, with a grenadillo-wood ring. Sounds lovely! In any case, this video was a complete delight! Thank you so much for your hard work editing these so we can watch them and learn!

[@RosaStringWorks]

Is the customer ask for an aluminum tone tonering that's all that counts

[@samuelbarham8483]

@@RosaStringWorks Oh sure -- the customer's wishes are paramount! But the letter he'd written said "wood and/or aluminum and/or carbon fiber"

[@luminawarren8132]

Yes aluminum is a great replacement ring they have a good tone and pretty good volume and much lighter

[@robertnewell5057]

Thanks, Jerry. Always interesting to see a banjo vid. I had a Stelling which whas just shy of 13 lbs so I'm wondering if you ever got any feedback from the client thqt the 2lb weight reducion helped with his arthitis. I definietly hope so. I had terrible back problems till I switched to a different strap designed to spread the weight - not perfect, but it did make a difference and did not involve structural alterations and possible tone change. Inve also tried a harness similar to the ones used by accordinal players, but no luck and very fiddly. Finally, I wonder if 2 lbs makes such a differece, given the totl weight of the darn things!

[@jeffgrier8488]

Nice job on the banjo Jerry!

[@ijosef]

Brilliant as always. I feel for those folks who have a difficult time playing due to disabilities such as arthritis. Anything one can do to keep them able to play is good work in my book. I wonder if the customer has looked into some of the open-backed banjos out there. For example, the Deering Goodtime is an affordable USA made 5 string banjo and it doesn't weigh much at all (5-6lbs at most).

[@RosaStringWorks]

ijosef thank you for watching.

[@GarnettM]

I use my cordless drill the 1/4" magnetic extension set the drive tension on 1set all even and move up to about 3 then fine tune the hooks some guys say to take out the sag under the bridge , Love the comment I hear Banjo Run - Looks good Jerry.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Garnett M thank you very kindly.

[@BoudreauGuitars]

That's a hell of a laundry list, Jerry

[@RosaStringWorks]

Boudreau Guitars yeah you would be amazed at some of the lists I get. Thank you very much for watching.

[@donaldholman9070]

You can be really funny. I love your work. Thank you for sharing.

[@shartne]

Nice work. I have never touched a banjo I would like to mess with one someday but I dont know the first thing about them.

[@ebbo51]

Great job jerry, you never fail to amaze me, had the wife watch this one, wants to know why l have not got your skills.

[@RosaStringWorks]

ebbo51 Tell her, all it takes is about $100,000 worth of equipment. LOL. Thank you for watching my friend.

[@videosfromoldvhstapes7367]

Jerry, you didn't mention if the bridge effected the intonation or not. I just wondered. Always enjoy watching your video productions. This one was especially nice since I do thump around on a 5 a little.

[@michaelfuller2153]

I had an Alvarez banjo with an aluminum tone ring...and clear head! (I would have preferred bell bronze). Have you seen the Deering John Hartford model banjo with a (I believe) tropical hardwood tone ring? Sweet, mellow tone. Mary Z. Cox on KZbin plays one on a few clips..."Sally Ann".

[@msapostle]

Informative and interesting.....GJ..PS Bought the song " I cant be your fool" from your website......well done.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Mark Swint thank you very much for watching.

[@blkjckgtr3075]

Great job,Jerry you are Masterful,have a good weekend,Cheers

[@RosaStringWorks]

blkjckgtrnut thank you.

[@ronhammar1154]

A while back I mentioned that I was trying to learn banjo at a bar. When I went to leave I noticed someone had broke into my truck. Nothing was taken but there were 4 banjos and a 120 bass accordian inside. Just kidding. If you are trying to learn banjo I recommend a surgical procedure where they disconnect the left side of your brain from the right side. LOL YOU DO NICE WORK.

[@RosaStringWorks]

+Ron Hammar thank you Ron. Do you know what you get when you drop a banjo down a mineshaft? A flat minor. Merry Christmas.

[@ronhammar1154]

Heres one more. Definition of perfect pitch. When you throw an accordian into a dumpster and it lands of 4 banjos.

[@RosaStringWorks]

+Ron Hammar you can tell the stage is level when the banjo player drools out of both corners of his mouth

[@ronhammar1154]

I think I saw the movie. Deliverence?

[@dennismason3740]

Man KZbin is puttin' me through boot camp again or I'd send you a video of my impersonation of Ray Charles doing your song. Ray on keys and Floyd Cramer right next to Ray on grand piano as well. I'll do the harmonies cuz I know all the intervals even the dim 5, a George Harrison thing. Whenever George Harrison went out and about he would bring two ukuleles - one for himself and one to give away to a mate or a street person or a kid. Summer is ukulele time. Ray Charles, ladies and gentlemen, singing "I Can't Be Your Fool" Have you heard "Born to Lose"? No offense - I come from blues to mountain music. More yodeling, please because people go nuts over it specially the babes y'knowhut I mean. Yeah were all married. I just like to flirt because I'm old and ugly. What freedom for a singer. Bloody good song.

[@theeaskey]

You do nice work..for a guy that professes to not been to sure .

[@theeaskey]

Reminds me of a joke...what's a good sign of perfect pitch...when you can Chuck a set of bagpipes into a garbage bin at twenty yards..

[@ScottoftheSahara]

Did the curved bridge intonate out? Good job with the rebuild.

[@Keefterdam]

Gibson Mastertone Tone Ring is the most sought after tone ring. I play banjo and would never change a Gibson tone ring. I think now Gibson gets then from First Quality Banjo. I still would never change it.

[@robdilley5976]

Hi jerry.really enjoyed seeing this'video cheers rob

[@RosaStringWorks]

rob dilley thank you very kindly.

[@GeorgeCampbell1964]

Jerry, do you happen to have one of those archtop tone rings that were made to fit a flat head banjo?

[@philbrown6787]

Your mandolin playing always reminds me of Dave Grisman

[@RosaStringWorks]

phil brown thank you very much. My mandolin playing reminds me of someone who can't play. Lol

[@rtesimpson]

I bet the customer is really pleased with what you've done to that... I would be...

[@RosaStringWorks]

Rob Simpson he called me. He said he really loved it. He also said he will be sending me more instruments. Thank you for watching.

[@vololibero8330]

One thing I have noticed when you put new small slivers of wood to fill small gaps they are of course always lighter because they are new. Have you ever tried staining them with tea?

[@RosaStringWorks]

volo libero thank you for the note. I did try using tea one time, a long time ago. To be perfectly honest with you, I don't remember what the result was. I'll have to try it again thanks for the reminder.

[@jonahguitarguy]

Banjo in a basket. Fantastic getting that back together. I was scared to death that tone ring was gonna blow out of the lathe chuck.

[@34672rr]

a tip from a drum tuning "expert" (at least I have done years of research on drum tuning) you can tune the head to a true note. I used to play banjo, but have never tried it on one, but since the banjo is kind of like a one key instrument, at least it sounds best to me using the open drone string, I think tuning the drum head to that key or a related pitch might sound good/better. you can't really do this by ear, but thankfully we have electronic drum tuners, specifically the "tunebot" to do this. I would love to try this though. And i noticed in another video you tuned the top of a mandolin, which is very cool, so perhaps this may interest you. For banjo players, if tuning the head is not of interest, i'd use an "earthtone" calfskin head, would make it look better and it would probably sound beefier. about double the cost of the plastic head though. BTW, I am addicted to your videos. edit: sorry I posted before seeing you tune the head. However, you are tuning the center of the head's note, which is muted by the bridge. in order to tune the note I am talking about which is all that you would hear), it would be the rim note, which is usually about a seventh above the fundamental. Even if not to a "true" pitch, the tunebot would give you an extremely accurate reading, allowing you to get the head perfectly balanced.

[@kpnorkin]

Jerry was correct in the video when he said he thought it was a good idea to tune the head to a note other than one of the open strings. Among banjo players who have a preference in head note, the vast majority seem to prefer G#. A and B-flat are probably next in popularity. Some like the looser sound of G. Many players can in fact tap-tune a head note by ear. They can hear the note and match it to a note on the instrument. I've lost the ability to do it reliably, so now I use a DrumDial. Banjo players tend to like a range of 89 to 92. My banjos sound best to me at 91, which seems to be an A. At least on my banjos.

[@craigjacob3704]

That semichrome is some good stuff. I made my 1968 BSA aluminum engine cases look like chrime. With that and toilet tissue

[@luminawarren8132]

Yes that Gary Price tailpiece is best for the aluminum tone ring the minimal amount of copper in that tailpiece will help and amplify the tone.

[@smolville]

I rebuilt my old Harmony banjo with two steel rods. It required a lot of counter boring and drilling.

[@RosaStringWorks]

+smolville yeah modifications of that nature are tough. Thanks for watching.

[@micheloderso]

This time it is a home game with "only" assembling, or? Nice done as always.

[@RosaStringWorks]

micheloderso I'm not sure what you mean with "only assembly" did you not see that I had to turn the tone ring down on a lathe? I also did a fret Job. Thanks for watching.

[@micheloderso]

Yes Sir, i saw your whole video and all of your videos. The speech marks on "only" means that there was a lot of fine metalwork while it looked easier to assemble at the beginning of the project. I hope you understand me a little bit better. My english is not as good as it should be, so it comes sometimes to misunderstandings. I hope not. I like your "art" of working all things out. I learn from every video and i am looking eagerly anticipate to the next.

[@RosaStringWorks]

micheloderso thank you my friend. Now I understand.

[@Mycroftsbrother]

Another masterful job sir! Although I have to admit, as a person afflicted with the banjo disability, my first reaction to the tone ring change was "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" For folks who suffer from excess weight in a banjo, they may want to first consider the crossed strap design for distributing the weight a little more evenly on the shoulders. Of course, if you play like Uncle Dave Macon, that type of strap would interfere with your banjo twirling and fanning the strings with the brim of your hat... but then, we can't have everything.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Mycroftsbrother thank you very much for watching.

[@rustyaxelrod]

I’m not surprised only banjo people bring you parts. Banjo people are weird..😉 good video and nice instrument👍

[@texasdeeslinglead2401]

Lol

[@cliveporter6076]

Brilliant as ever thanks

[@RosaStringWorks]

Clive Porter thank you very much.

[@robertrosenfield405]

Great job. Slow the lathe RPM down if possible on large diameters to reduce chatter. That was a hairy operation!

[@phooesnax]

Nice job

[@RosaStringWorks]

phooesnax thank you.

[@teodelfuego]

Will the polished aluminum oxidize over time? If the answer is "yes," could you wax it or seal it somehow? (I'm asking because I want to buff out some aluminum parts on a vintage scooter.

[@RosaStringWorks]

It probably would oxidize after a long. Of time but using the buffing compounds and the polishes seems to make it last a very long time before oxidation.

[@melaniebrown6659]

Hello Jerry: I know that you are holding off on people sending you instruments for a while. I just got an unmolested Martin D18 from 1972. I would like to get you to setup the action as I find it a bit high and hard to play. Let me know when you are able to start up receiving guitars again. ( after competing your projects and doing a little hunting) Thanks John

[@RosaStringWorks]

Mel Superable congratulations on the find. Thank you for the interest in the setup. If you would please send me an email I will put you in file and notify you as soon as I start accepting estimates again. Thank you very much. My email address is [e-mail]

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thank you for your patience. Hope you had a wonderful Holiday season. This note is to inform you that I am once again accepting instruments for repair work. Sorry it took so long. Hope we can do business in the future. Jerry Rosa

[@TheCookofthehouse]

Well, you've nailed it one more time but I got the impression, by the end of thr video that I would probably prefer the banjo with the brass chromed tone ring. I felt that for such a fine banjo the sound was too "thin" and not really clear but a little "pasted" with litle separation between the notes (probably the sustain may have been affected by the replacement. I don't really know. A banjo is an instrument that we don't really listen to frequently this side of the Atlantic. So, my opinion is worth nothing in this matter. It's just a feeling and we all have our ones. A Banjo's sound, no matter how good the banjo is, doesn't make me happy, anyway.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Mario Tulio yes it would definitely sound better with a heavy tone ring. But the customer seemed very pleased. Thanks for watching.

[@philbrown6787]

At least the song 'Travelling Wayfarer" (?) you were playingYour "Dawg" was coming through on that one :)

[@RosaStringWorks]

phil brown thank you for watching.

[@kpnorkin]

You were lucky that tone ring (1970s, made by Kasuga in Japan) was 11 inches and fit the Gibson rim with only minor adjustment. I have two Kasuga pot metal rings in my parts collection and both are more like 10-15/16. Anybody want them? I like the flanges (such as on your parts banjo) for their non-Gibson look. Anyway, if the customer is happy that's what counts. But I agree with others that a wood tone ring would have sounded better and would have been plenty easy to obtain.Might have sounded similar to Gibson's ringless pre-war RB-00 sub-Mastertones. Other lightweight options were a rolled brass hoop style tone ring, which I think is under $50 at Stew-Mac, or a genuine Gibson pre-war tube style tone ring which comes up on eBay or Banjo Hangout classifieds from time-to-time, never for much money. You did a great job, but I think it's a shame that the owner didn't know enough about banjo to understand the actually available options.

[@RosaStringWorks]

He was just looking for a way to lighten it up. Everything I did can easily be undone and put back to original. He obviously was very happy because he sent me more instruments to work on.

[@PLINKER]

One of the best sounding Banjos I ever heard was one played by Bob Flesher who also is the best Clawhammer player I ever heard in my life, but the banjo did not have a tone ring at all. The head was placed directly on the wooden pot. That banjo rang like a bell and was a banjo players dream. You can look Bob up on the internet. He make some of the most top quality banjos available. All types of models. I took classes from him back in the 1970's a Elkins West Virginia. Bob used to work for LIBERTY banjo Company but now makes his own banjos independently. I personally would not want an aluminum tone ring. The quality of the tone in my view is just not there. If you wipe a little alcohol on the surface of you cut it will smoothen out you cut and keep your tool from balling up with aluminum shavings. I was also a tool and diemaker in my working days. I make banjo to and some guitars. Love your videos!

[@63stratoman]

Cue the banjo jokes!😆

[@63stratoman]

I did the exact opposite with a cheapie “Jap” Banjo I had. Swapped the crap tone ring it came with with a bell brass tone ring from a Gibson Mastertone! As I recall, Deering made a “John Hartford” model with a wooden tone ring. That would be the way to go IMO.

[@robertdeen8741]

I've just started watching but can't the tone ring be "spun" like tea pots were made of silver back in the day? I do recall being a spinner was considered a trade.

[@braydenwilliamsonmusic]

Hello, I have a 1920s banjo that only has the neck and ring and no head or brackets.... I would like to just chat with you about it some time because I have no idea what I need for it.... Are you on facebook?

[@RosaStringWorks]

You can get my contact information off of my website. www.rosastringworks.com. thank you for watching.

[@braydenwilliamsonmusic]

Thank you for replying you are one of my favorite luthiers

[@braydenwilliamsonmusic]

Thank you just fount out what I need I'm just having a little problem finding out what size everything needs to be lol....

[@eddytaylor3697]

Sure did enjoy the song.

[@RosaStringWorks]

EDDY TAYLOR thank you very much.

[@tomdoran5472]

We polish aluminum airplanes quite a bit. Most use Nuvite (www.perfectpolish.com/app_guide.html) and it works very well. Polishing aluminum is work and usually requires several different grades of Nuvite, but with a little bit of patience and elbow grease, you can get a mirror finish. We normally use a random orbital polisher on aluminum, but for small parts or complex shape, hand polishing is required.

[@Vader1957]

Nice work

[@simchadelft8373]

Vader1957 ' o

[@RosaStringWorks]

Vader1957 thank you very much.

[@ianturner6062]

The ring is aluminium. Aluminium is (almost) the most expansive metal when heated. Why not try heating the ring in an oven and dropping it over when still warm/hot? That's how we insert steel/iron liners in alloy casings on two stroke engines. We heat the alloy casing, keep the insert barrel cool and drop one over the other. As it cools, the alloy casing shrinks to fit and grip the liner.

[@richardpaulhall]

A heat-fit like that would make it very difficult to remove.

[@richardmead9225]

Great video.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Richard Mead thank you very much.

[@arthurogle7581]

Thanks to Herbie Remington to writing "Remington Ride" (Wayne Harris nails that tune)

[@BobPegram]

You had an aluminum tone ring that, a while back, had just been laying around the shop! Your guardian angel, or all your banjo customers, are really looking out for you! I know you would have come up with something, possibly by talking to all the good {aluminum) machinists on You Tube. Somebody would have the right kind of aluminum scrap. What did you charge for the tone ring, $100.00, or more or less? Yes, the ring required some tricky machining, but if everything went right, that would be an overload of good luck! What did the replacement brass tone ring for your banjo cost? Banjo players must be the geeks of the stringed instrument world! They have all that hardware to tweek! You can't change a banjo to sound like a guitar or a harp, but in your opinion, do any of the trick hardware pieces significantly affect banjo sound?

[@BobPegram]

Now I remember! There's a channel, "Johnathan W", on You Tube where he's been casting aluminum from scrap. I don't know if a casting would work for a tone ring, the possibility of voids is high. Then there might be troubles hardening it. The Aluminum casting was done in his "building an old fashioned motor cycle engine" series. That's just a paraphrase of his title. I actually think you might enjoy what he puts on his channel.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Bob Pegram thanks for watching I'll try to check him out.

[@redlinemando]

Most of the hardware is only for solid fitting. There are a few pieces that can change the tone. The tailpiece & tonering are the most significant. The wooden rim is the most crucial factor in the tone. The better the rim quality, the wider the frequency range of the instrument. The lower quality rims often result in a very brittle & thin sounding instrument. There are however, always exceptions to the rules. Especially concerning banjos.

[@whovisionsCGI]

Good job on the fitting. However the customer who wanted his Gibson tone ring replaced with an Aluminium tone ring must be mad.

[@jewsjw50]

I agree

[@richardpaulhall]

@@jewsjw50 His banjo. If it was too heavy for him to play it comfortably, it was right for him to get it lightened. This instrument is for playing, not for sitting in a museum. Nor for a "most original" judging. The next owner can re-replace the tone ring.

[@theeaskey]

Do you have a 5 string for sale.

[@martincurtis2257]

I found a 20$ tone ring im so happy

[@RosaStringWorks]

+Martin Curtis wish I could find one. Thanks for watching.

[@arthurogle7581]

So what's wrong with a kit banjo anyway? Just swapped my Epiphone dreadnaught for a Martin. Now I can quit borrowing Waynes D35.

[@tomsalisbury8376]

Semi chrome works well on aluminum also

[@RosaStringWorks]

tom salisbury thanks. I would imagine it would. Thank you for watching.

[@arthurogle7581]

Isn't tha mando number "El cumanchero"?

[@davestambaugh7282]

Yea that is nickel plate chrome does not stain like nickle does.

[@martincurtis2257]

Great video bud. Learn to play banjo though

[@RosaStringWorks]

+Martin Curtis no time. No interest. Thanks for watching.

[@jefferyboring4410]

It’s believed greatly that a tone ring should have a slip fit so u can turn it over and finger pressure slide the ring off.

[@RosaStringWorks]

There are all kinds of opinions on all of those kinds of things. My opinion is everything that's tight and solid Rings better than things that are loose. Who's to say who's right I guess

[@bb38313]

Did you know, if a B goes over a sharp A you get a flat B. Not much of a joke but it just came to me with your B flat A# comment.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Ray Britt thank you my friend. That reminds me of a joke. Do you know what you get when you drop a banjo down a mineshaft? ... A flat minor.

[@jethrofarmer3399]

tone ring should be a slip fit.....loose is much better than snug....it will tighten in summer from humidity and loosen in the winter

[@henrycross8776]

Head set at G# is what most guys want

[@darrellblanchard2362]

.004" is fairly good for something that thin.

[@falconeddie1masterpicker671]

Just checking prices on that Banjo. Quite expensive. 4-5 thousand dollar range

[@RosaStringWorks]

falconeddie1 MasterPicker yes it's a nice one. Thank you for watching.

[@tablature6121]

And that was a later one at that price range, somewhat later than when they originally started the Scrugg's "signature" series in '84. Those could be had new for about $2500 or so, if I remember correctly. Even the one's personally signed by Earl (that being the first 1,984 produced - commemorating the year). Took way longer for them to sell out the signed ones than they anticipated, however, even at that more modest price. I had a chance to buy one used for $1800 (about '86), but after playing it, decided not to, basically because it sounded no better than my old RB-250 Bowtie, but I probably should have -- for collectibility purposes. No biggie. I do more playing than collecting, and anyway, that's what they're made for.

[@Keefterdam]

Interested in selling the old tone ring???