026 RSW Deering Banjo Fret Job Recording King Banjo

Deering Banjo fret job and re-cutting the neck on a Recording King Banjo to allow for more adjustment.

[@prwpt]

I've been enjoying your videos for some time now, and learned how to fix up an old Aria Pro II mandolin I've had since the mid 80s. Today I stumbled on this video. As you were removing that section of wood from the neck heel by the bolt, I thought, "It's going to change the action." And sure enough when you put it back together, the action was too high. So when you tightened the lower rod and it brought the action down, I went, Eureka!!!! I grabbed my old Washburn 5 string, whipped off the resonator and tightened the bottom rod as you did and, Boom, the action improved substantially, the firmness of the connection made the neck more stable, and the whole banjo played with more snap! It's like a new instrument. Thank you for your videos. - WPT

[@colinricgmailcom]

The definition of perfect pitch, is throw a banjo down a well without it hitting the sides!

[@robinengland5799]

I like that, I also heard it was when you throw a banjo into a dumpster and it lands on a pile of accordions!

[@RandySchartiger]

I wonder if someone may have installed the wrong crown height head on the Recording King? For instance if the banjo was built for a medium crown head and someone put a high crown head on it that gap you are talking about would be much less than it should be, of course if a low crown head was installed the gap would be much larger and give you more space to tighten the head. Good info, really enjoy your vids. Cheers!

[@RosaStringWorks]

As far as i know, this was a factory "new" instrument. Don't think it was altered. Though, with banjos, you never really know... ha! Thanks for the comment.

[@brasspick]

Randy, I use a Remo low-crown head, because less of the head and the tension hoop overlaps the tone ring when the head is tight. I get a slightly "freer" tone that way.

[@kpnorkin]

@@RosaStringWorks The RK may have been factory new, but that doesn't mean the good folks at Recording King made the right choice in which crown height head to install on a banjo with that depth of neck notch. Also, it looked to me that before the repair, the head was so tight that the top of the tension hoop was almost down to the level of the head. If the owner needed room for even more tightening (so the head's flesh hoop didn't bottom out on the heel) he should have just switched to a medium crown head, a faster and less costly fix. The Deering is interesting. That's a Deering Maple Blossom neck. But the flange is a Gibson style. No way for us to know from the video if the owner has merely swapped the flange (which is not easy to do on a Deering) or if the whole pot is something other than a Deering Maple Blossom.

[@banjomaniac]

Agree, different crown height should have been an easy fix.

[@lrstaf6]

Another great video. Just a note of information, I've watched a great deal of your videos and every time you have said, "I'm not sure if the camera will pick that up." the camera has picked whatever your referring to or focused on it. That includes the little tip on your sound post wire.

[@steby123]

Hey hey , easy on the driving sound in bluegrass!!

[@joemcgraw5529]

they make good wall hangers ,I have heard some great banjo players ,god bless thier patience because the one I bought just frustrated me to no end trying to get it tuned in only to find that I didnt so its a wall hanger ha ha ha,on a serious note you banjo players are 1 of a kind not easy to play

[@abelincoln95]

Them banjo players!! LOL!!! I love a six string, "claw hammer" style!!!!

[@RosaStringWorks]

Thank you very much for looking.

[@timpaul8888]

????????I’m curious to know why the customer wanted you to alter the original state of this banjo neck?

[@mikefinley4367]

Nice quality control there in China. R.K. states they have such great control on Thier production but I'm not impressed finding multiple complaints of workmanship. Dressed up models have looks but I honestly don-t see the justification of the prices on any made in China.

[@kennethcdavis7842]

I have two of these elite banjos for my sins. I play very little bluegrass, mostly malodic - like two hear all the notes of the tunes (I play fiddle) both of my banjos have the same problem as yours but putting a low crown will only make matters worse as the ring will sit too high on the top. I bought the second recording King because it was and is new and half the price of one from a shop. So if any one once one here in the Uk, make me an offer, Ken from across the pond.

[@merlynschutterle7242]

I'm not sure by warping the rim to adjust the action is a good Idea. I change mine by shimming the neck. In my opinion, in the lower priced Deerings the Goodtime two isn't much of a banjo, but the Goodtime Special is just awesome. It has a tone ring. Unfortunately, they are mangy dog ugly. About 6 years ago in the park in Ocala, Florida, a good Gibson was playing. Then a Deering played. The Deering didn't sound like the Gibson but it had a much sweeter sound. I'm someone who can love two different things at the same time. I built an arch top banjo from spare parts. I turned the rim form some old maple blocks that the kindergarten teacher was going to throw away. I made it a full inch thick and eliminated the "coordinating" rods. It competes well with my Jim Rae banjo which is essentially Huber HR 30. Jim Rae designed the HR 30 (R for Rae) He just gave it to me. He was an engineer here at Mayo Clinic. He is a Phd. scientist. You should see his basement! All kinds of sound research stuff there. He has one of the first Stellings ever made. I was shocked to see it was an archtop! He also has a Deering top of the line gold plated, engraved, mother of pearl fretboard, special order banjo. That cost him several grand. I love your practical approach to instrument repair. Nothing has to be perfect. It just has to be good. Love your videos. Ps. I forgot to mention that I left the tone ring on the arch top a few thousands off the rim and the tone ring only rests on skirt. Sometimes by violating all the rules something turns out good!

[@zikirsholawat]

I have problem on my Banjo...There is out of tune (little flat) if the second string fretted on 15th fret, and first strring fretted on 21st fret. I have replaced all the old string with brand new string, but it still happened. Why this is happened?What should I do? I live in Jakarta - Indonesia.... Can you help me....please...

[@RosaStringWorks]

It usually means your bridge is in the wrong place. Flat = bridge too far back, Sharp = bridge too close. You may have to angle the bridge to get it right.

[@zikirsholawat]

I am not realy sure about that sir.. Because, the tone on 12 harmonic is match already with the 12nd fretted This occur happened just only on 15th fret (second string), and 21st fret on first string.

[@RosaStringWorks]

+Ros Banjo if you are absolutely sure about your testing technique, then the fret slots are not cut correctly. It is a black and white science. There is always a lttle bit of error, but if it is consistent, and you are positive you have tested it correctly, then the frets have to be in the wrong place.

[@strongbow5746]

Q.Whats the difference between a banjo & a trampoline. A. You have to take your shoes off to jump on a trampoline.

[@Keefterdam]

Banjos have high crown and low crown heads. There is nothing wrong with the neck joint. It looks like it has the wrong size of banjo head to me.

[@leonreihana488]

This is not a professional approach to these issues. Those two things you did to the Recording King should never be done. It now has less neck contact to the pot which transfers sound and the forced coordinator rods affect the tonering fit and stress the rim.

[@Keefterdam]

NO.