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Post by alexkirtley on Jun 1, 2014 13:01:05 GMT
My banjo is a 20's Clifford essex 'Popular', it sounds good however the head tension brackets stick out, and it being an openback an quite heavy means that it hurts to hell when playing it because these stick into your legs! The brackets are original to it, or at least most of them are so heres what I can do: Either try to find some new brackets that are shorter Or take the hacksaw to the ones on it to shorten them. I can also sell it and buy a nice 20's/30s banjo with a detachable resonator that took my fancy that is hanging in a local music shop which is quite cheap because of a slight bend in the neck past about the 14th fret, although it has a nice low action. What do you think? Attachment Deleted |
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leoroberts
C.O.G. 
Posts: 26,120 
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Jun 1, 2014 13:55:31 GMT
I'd wait for someone like Martin to comment - I know nowt about banjos and the lad's always been very helpful with his advice and encouragement when I've dared to ask! |
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Post by alexkirtley on Jun 1, 2014 16:42:27 GMT
I think I've decided to sell this one and buy the other one.
The other one WAS an openback Windsor banjo but it was retrofited with a detachable walnut resonator, it sounds like a vintage banjo should.
Mine is nice with an ebony fretboard, mother of pearl inlay all the way up the neck and in the febony headplate, mahogany pot with a metal shell ebony tuner buttons etc but I've found myself shying away from it recently, not so much because of the brackets but I think I bought it in the heat of the moment, then realised it is not what I want
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Jun 1, 2014 16:49:24 GMT
Wear trousers when playing?  More seriously, I wonder if the banjo could be fitted with a head with a lower crown? |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jun 1, 2014 20:43:14 GMT
Sounds like it's not just the discomfort that's putting you off, Alex.
My advice is to get the banjo you enjoy playing the most, simple as that. Yes you could try fixes for the hooks or even buy shorter ones, but if you prefer another banjo's sound and can sell yours to finance that, then that seems a good idea.
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walkingdecay
C.O.G.
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My main instrument is: brownish and rather small.
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Post by walkingdecay on Jun 2, 2014 8:00:06 GMT
I think you're right in moving on, Alex, for all the reasons you cite.
I'll add that I once had a mate with a big Tennesseean electric who mitigated the discomfort he felt when playing sitting down by resting it on a towel that he carried in his guitar case. This was a boon to humanity in general, as he had once dropped his trousers to show the angry weal on his leg. Nobody who witnessed that wanted it to become a habit.
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pegleghowell
Strummer
Posts: 32
My main instrument is: martin 000 28
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Post by pegleghowell on Jun 4, 2014 15:20:02 GMT
Probably right to sell it if you can`t get along with it.CE banjo`s are very good mind you.Glad you never took a hacksaw to it!.I think I would have just rested a rolled up beer towel/tea towel on my knee.Good luck with the Windsor banjo-also a very nice instrument.
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ujb
Strummer
Posts: 18
My main instrument is: 1976 Taylor 855
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Post by ujb on Dec 7, 2014 16:04:44 GMT
I'd trim the length of the hooks and keep on strumming. Ideally, no threads should be showing. I the head is up to the tension you like, just mark the lengths and trim accordingly.
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Jo whoever he is.
