Gibson Mastertone Banjo Setup - 5 Star vs. Remo Head

Here we have a 1995 RB-250 Gibson Mastertone (with upgrades/modifications) that came in through the shop this week for setup. I walk through some of the process of a simple setup, and the differences in sound between a 5 star and Remo brand plastic head for banjos. I’m not necessarily saying one is always better than the other, just showing you all what I prefer and why.

[@davidlee-vm9ub]

After banjo playing for 47 years I have always been able to get a 5 star tighter, and more "crack" than with a Remo...but very cool video!!

[@oldmanfred8676]

You Sir, are a mechanic in the art of Banjers!

[@davidlee-vm9ub]

Keep the videos coming please!

[@adirondackcomposer]

My Clancy Mullins "Dixie Belle" (Green Hornet) has a Remo head and I'm perfectly happy with it. It's one of the best Remo heads I've ever played. Nice video, Lincoln. Thanks for posting.

[@lincolnhensley3501]

That’s a fine banjo Fred. Hope all is well.

[@luvbgrass]

Been playing the 5 for 42 years now. I have always preferred Remo heads myself. But, variety make everyone happy. Thanks for the video, nice job.

[@paulmeilahn3274]

Very good demonstration. I still have a Ventura 5 string banjo purchased in 1976 while at college. I agree with you about the REMO head and have used it exclusively ! Keep up the good work !

[@steveday9823]

Nice! A very noticeable difference in sound. The Remo head has the sound I prefer.

[@stephaneg9591]

Setting up banjo head is a very interesting subject. I used REMO for my 1970 Fender Artist, but when I changed it to 5 stars and lowered the tension a little, it turned into a very crispy sound and I liked it. Since then, I've been playing in that condition. Each one has different sound tastes, and there are individual differences in musical instruments. It's one of the pleasures to make trial and error in the setup.

[@flatiron53]

I love that Florentine Special inlay!

[@RudysRhythmandRevue]

The five star head needs to be cranked way more to get the sound out of it, that’s what they were meant to do. The Remo sounds tubby with more sustain and over tones. The five star cuts off the resonance which leaves room for clarity but the five star will always have a thicker sound, that is the difference. It is a matter of preference and who’s right hand is being used. Thanks for taking the time to compare the two.

[@tommierichardson9070]

Excellent vid, love vids on set up and parts...cant wait for the next one

[@idahoduckhunter]

Click between these to times to compare: 2:51 old thicker head 12:04 new head, new strings Now I need to check what head's on my recording king banjo because it sounds great with the new setup.

[@MrAlembicMan]

He seems to keep the co-rods loose as well to let the rim vibrate more, there's another setup video on the Goldstar banjo setup. Sounds way better of course at 12:04, than 2:51, be nice if he would pull out one of the good banjos to compare it to! Like a prewar conversion or something? Maybe in the next video perhaps. I will subscribe anyways, keep checking back on occasion. Thanks for all the information, I also have an ES 1993 Gibson and I think the tone ring fit was off from the factory, has always sounded weak. Came from Elderly and I only paid less then 2K brand new... A few years back I suppose. This video is very much in line with getting that ESS (Earl Scruggs Standard) to sound better.

[@mkgarage510]

Great video, totally agree with all you said and proved. Always like the sound of a Remo head

[@Cwiiis]

Interesting to hear from someone (especially such an accomplished player!) have the opposite opinion of what I'd consider the majority to be... Personally, I prefer a thicker head - 5-star over Remo and goat hide over 5-star even... Similarly, I prefer heavier tailpieces too, I'm a big fan of the clamshell, which I think is kind of unusual, at least amongst the players I've spoken with. Something I don't think you mentioned, at least not explicitly, is a lot of how you play is also going to dictate the kind of sound you want to get out of a banjo... My setup is great for me, but I know several players that would hate it if they played it themselves - and vice-versa too, I'm no fan of their banjo setups for my own playing, but it works for them! The one thing that's a bit of a shame is that there just doesn't seem to be many options now for people with similar preferences to me - there's no equivalent to 5-star on the market right now and synthetic hide heads all sound rubbish... Not too many arch-top banjos getting made either... Here's hoping players like Jerome Brown and Brandon Masur help raise the profile of that alternative sound!

[@sashav.s.9122]

5star голова для масивных tonrig ball bronze ! Ставте чистый poliester из рулонов ! Это лучшее из всех голов ! Только натягивать 10дней что бы не сломать крючки ,потом пластик усядиться и Banjo будет звучать много лет !

[@goofoffbert]

I would entrust my banjo in your care. Interesting videos and attention to detail.

[@jenskruger3385]

I think the Ludwig head sounds great on that banjo.

[@whatposterman1222]

I’m surprised this pulled up in my suggested videos, for I recognize the name. Lincoln I sent you a PM thru BHO system regarding Sonny’s passing. I know he was a big influence on you.

[@sashav.s.9122]

В 1991 году Я был в USA на FanFest IBMA Owensboro (RRVB Band) Deering подарил Мне Golden Era banjo и до сих пор головка не растенулась и отлично звучит ! И Gibson подарили Мне Mastertone "Earl Scroogs"model ln series #1 , голова Remo, Я постоянно натягивал эту голову пока можно было .Потом Я установил голову 5star - проблема в том что tonring не работает если сильно натянуть голову 5star,поменял tonring на более масивный и толстый из Колокольной бронзы -(Я делаю сам banjos) и натянул голову на максимум ! И звук стал очень крутым ! 5star работал 3 года ! Ну а потом установил голову из чистого полиэстера ! И до сих пор работает и больше не приходиться менять голову ! Я живу в России и у Нас poliester можно купить в рулонах . Я думаю всё зависит от конкретного banjo! REMO для менее крепких Rims. Saga head =Scrugs saund.

[@Boysenberr]

Entertaining and instructional video! I, too, prefer the REMO heads.

[@banjomandan7199]

Very fun! And I learned a ton! Thanks very much!

[@davidlee-vm9ub]

OK. GHS Sonny strings ...u ddid tell us...I love the Sonny set!

[@PulpFreePress]

Thanks Lincoln!

[@MrAlembicMan]

I enjoyed the video and the discussion of 5-Star heads vs Remo heads. I have a 27 nohole AT and it has a Remo head, and a fairly new FN neck on it. (Not putting his name here, most people will know...) So I am in the PNW and banjo got shipped out here from Russell Springs, KY, (clue #2), and it sounded awesome but time has passed and we had a cold winter, I keep it in the case, but looks like neck has bowed to maybe .27 or so, and head is higher than a quarter under a straight edge, (I am a cheapskate too!) anyways, where would you put the head tension for an Archie 4 nohole and trying to get more of that flathead sound? Everything I have read says a quarter under a straightedge and about .15 for truss rod at 7th fret. Banjo came with a Sullivan Bridge, think it's a 5/8", just wondering since you're back that way if you know what gauge strings Frank likes to use and how he sets them up, I guess I could just call him as well, but I watched this video and am pretty impressed! You seem to know your stuff, it just needs slight adjustment I am pretty sure. I don't want to mess with it very much. Thanks for putting up this video and the Gold Star setup video, really good stuff. Suppose I should get me a drum dial at some point in time.

[@jamessnoddy4074]

Great video Lincoln ! I have always heard that the best RB-250's that were ever built were the ones built in the 1963-1967 period. What is your opinion of this ?

[@adirondackcomposer]

I'm not Lincoln, but I agree 100%. I have a 1963 Bowtie RB-250 that is to kill for. I had a '61 but like a darned fool, I sold it! :(

[@BulldoggerJK]

I had an 800 that sounded great with a 5 star. I changed to a remo and it sound like a $150 piece of junk. My father in law had a remo, put on a new remo and the same thing happened to his grenada. Not sure if it was a bad batch or what but they were really thin with very little frosting. My grenada has a Sullivan head. It’s great. Vega Scruggs model has a remo. It’s great. That 800 just needs a thick head.

[@kpnorkin]

If the "Sullivan" head is one with the old First Quality logo, that's a Ludwig, same as 5-Star. If it's something else, then Remo.

[@robinengland5799]

Great video!

[@WarrenJamesAcoustic]

You really know what you're doing! Can you offer me advice on my Banjo please, it's a Fender Robert Schmidt Plectrum Banjo. I'm a strummer in a new orleans style jazz band here in England. By banjo weight an absolute tone, I guess that is caused by the tone ring.... The thing is, I think that for jazz playing a banjo sounds better without a tone right. So, can I get my banjo lighter by losing the tone ring? Can that be done? Or should / could it be replaced for something other material? Could you advise? Many thanks, Warren, UK!

[@ryansalterart]

Hey what’s the name of the tune played at the end? Beautiful

[@Banjo63]

Excellent video and very interesting information! How do Huber heads compare to Remo for thickness and tone? I've always heard that Huber's are heavier or have heavier frosting? I have a Huber Work Horse CM3 Deluxe with the HR30 Ring. I've taken the head all the way to 92 to get a tone I'm somewhat satisfied with. Just curious how a Remo would compare. Thanks for posting!

[@kyjoe3403]

I was at Huber's shop in Nashville recently, the subject of their head came up. Steve told me their head is made by Remo. Years ago, and I don;t know how many, Steve asked them to make the frosting slightly thicker for his head. Soon after, Remo made their Weather King head to match. Long story short, they are the same.

[@clawhammer704]

Five star heads make a bottle cap banjo sound a lot better

[@grassshadow1]

I feel like you were a character on Stranger Things that was left on the cutting floor and should've totally been left in.

[@jackorbit7258]

I agree.

[@davidlee-vm9ub]

Oh yeah...the 3rd string didnt sound tubby to me at all with that Remo head

[@MrMattroc01]

I need my Granada setup

[@sashav.s.9122]

Remo ! Remo 10 days work only ,after need new Remo. Deering 20yars work & Saga long worked.

[@thomasnowlin1196]

Sounds great with the Remo! I always have put medium crown heads on my Mastertones. How do you decide whether to use a high crown, or medium crown, on a flathead Mastertone? Thanks!

[@davidlee-vm9ub]

Excuse me...the 3rd did not sound tubby with the 5 star...Thought u had the Remo on it when I first heard the video....To me, real "clarity" is when u have a lack of overtones

[@philipt54]

where is your shoppe i have a rich and taylor needs some work. i live in murefreesboro TN

[@lincolnhensley3501]

Flag Pond Tn

[@daleburke3679]

The very best sound you will ever get on a banjo is around 89 to 90 ,,,,,anything over that it starts gos down hill ,,,,,and them Remo heads ant what they use to be ,,,,,you get 12 heads and only one will stay we're you put it ,,,,,,,,,,who ever came up with the idea to glue them made a bad decision,,,,,,the old cramped heads was the best that's why I never throw away a old banjo head when I change one for some one been setting up banjos about 25 years now and building them to

[@thecountrypressley5265]

I personally prefer a 5 star for an arch top for stanley style

[@ProfileP246]

That’s because the 5 star will tame that son of a gun!

[@thecountrypressley5265]

@@ProfileP246 yessir!!! 100% agreed!!

[@davidlee-vm9ub]

A setup explanation, no matter what head, doesn't mean much if you dont tell us what gauge ecah individual string is....brand doesnt really make any difference