banjo head tension gauge

I adjusted the tension nuts around the head and found that I had to turn them two 1/4 turns before the three legs all touched the head. Whether the note is accurate or not I cannot tell, but what I do know is that this measurement is repeatable and easily duplicated should I ever need to disassemble or repair my banjo. ', 'Looking for white keystone tuner knobs. Then, one day on the hangout, Steve Davis spoke of a stick and quarter method. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to our privacy policy which includes details of cookie usage. This is critical for a banjo to sound up to its full potential. Huber Strings With the strings tuned the Gauge tottered a bit at the bridge, indicating a Head tension higher than G#, or what many consider close to an A note, reading 90-91 on the Drum Dial. I'm a real nubbie of some 5 months playing and frustrated at the lack of real information about how tight a head should be. I thought to myself, "How is this going to do the job?" Because of seasonal changes, a head on an older banjo may even need to be loosened. I guess a further enhancement would be to make the legs adjustable so that it could be used with different types of head and diameter of pots but early days, I'm just thankful that Steve took the time to produce something which I think every banjo player would find invaluable. For us banjo pickers, Drum Dial has got to be the greatest invention since the stone wheel. This gage works as advertised. I don't use the method, but it is useful for someone new to setting tension when they have that "How tight is enough and how tight is too tight?" They are consistant tensions because 11" heads are always the same thickness using a Remo/Weatherking as a benchmark. This is an acrylic device for measuring head tension. Banjo heads have the benefit that this can easily be changed by adjusting the tension bolts or by entirely changing the head. Banjo Lovers Online We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. No matter what kind of banjo you have, this is the one place where you can make the most difference in the sound of your instrument with the least amount of monetary investment. Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more …, © 2020 Banjo Ben's General Store. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to, 'Boil the Cabbage Down bluegrass banjo lesson by Chris Quinn. All you have to do is line up the " B" next to the bridge, and the tool parallel  to the neck. The large, easy-to-read dial measures banjo head tension directly from the head for accurate tap-tuning. Use on any banjo for better sound. My wife, my best critic! There are a wide variety of head materials offered that allow for different tone ranges depending on the preferred banjo sound. We recommend a head pressure of 88 to 89 with the Analog Drum Dial readings and 90 to 91 with the Digital Drum Dial head tension meter. No doubt many new banjo players have and are experiencing such frustration or uncertainty. I ordered the DHTG from Steve after reading the blog about it. Free shipping. My banjo head is set to an "A". Enter the DHTG, the Davis Head Tension Gauge and when used gives an exact measurement of head note (G#) when gauge rests fully on all three legs on the head. You really can't get it wrong unless you tried. Love this little tool , works great , does what it supposed to do ,its the right tool for the job! I would highly recommend the Davis Drum Head Tension Gauge to anyone who wants a simple,quick and accurate way in measuring  banjo head tension.. And you don't have to cut down a ruler, or keep up with loose change in your case. . No coins needed! This is the official Deering Head Wrench. The banjo reviews database is here to help educate people before they purchase an instrument. Course, don't tighten it too much or you'll bust it.' 'Boil the Cabbage Down bluegrass banjo lesson by Chris Quinn.' It is very slim and will fit into any banjo case or bag and in my opinion is a vital piece of kit in the arsenal of any player who wants to get the best out of his instrument without all the guesswork. This simple method opened my eyes to the truth that I was nowhere near tension on the head. Listen for that pitch. The front leg of the gauge when placed on my banjo was over 1/8" off the head. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright 2020 Banjo Hangout. Easy. I took an accurate measurement of how high the front leg was before I started making adjustments so that I could get back to where I started. For correct tension, according to Steve's instructions, all three legs should touch the head. To check your banjo head tension, you simply need to tap it with your fingers and listen for the pitch it makes. For correct tension, according to Steve's instructions, all three legs should touch the head. Improve your tone! It is labeled "T" and "N" on each end (with an extruding leg at these points) , indicating Tail piece and Neck. '. It is very easy to use–simply place it on the banjo head in a few different spots to make sure your head is up to the proper tension and even throughout. I'm really pleased with the gauge and the results I achieved with it. The gauge has three feet, one at each end and a third about 1/3 along which you align to the bridge whilst the gauge runs parallel to the strings. The 9 1/2" archtop is also consistant in the tapped note (a quarter deflection gives a C note) and general bridge load as in string gauge. Since I cannot yet tap notes and hear them I used the DHTG to see where it registered.