As a former shepherd, I have to weigh in to suggest that sheepskins are to thin and soft to make a good banjo head, I suspect that goatskin would be similar. Calfskin is the best. We have an old banjo with a 14" head and real skins were impossible to get in that size, so we got a Remo facsimile that works well.
On Jan 13, 5:16 pm, Linda <[email protected]> wrote: > Topher, > I know it makes no sense, yes there are calves, goats, sheep, llama's, > roos, dogs, cats, people too but they don't seem to do much of the > kind of work needed for drum heads and banjer bits. > > I will check into the local thing more carefully, but for this time, > its all on the train, its going down the track and will just have to > wait till it stops at the station. > > It may be there is a drum in town but at a different supplier, > different from the one the luthier uses, I decided not to go that way, > word gets around and the main man who looks after all the folkies > would and can get his nose out of joint. > > Its small town stuff....can't be helped or changed. > > Thank goodness I am not looking for a can of Dapper Dan. <G> > linda > > On Jan 14, 10:58 am, Topher Gayle <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Hi Linda, > > > Do they not raise lots of sheep in Tasmania? Somebody there must have > > goatskins for your banjo mandolin. Although calfskin is probably what > > you really want. Check at places where leather is sold for crafts, and > > I bet you'll get a lead on a local source! > > > I've also seen them for sale at drum shops, especially where the > > customers play marching drums for drum and bugle bands. > > > Local skins may be from different animals, but they might work just > > fine - mainly look at the thickness of the skins and try to find > > something about the same thickness as the old skin. > > > Good luck! > > > Toopher > > > On Wed, Jan 13, 2010 at 3:27 PM, Linda <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Fine times here in Tasmania. The little banjo mandolin (about 1920) > > > arrived, from NJ after many anxious days haunting the post box. > > > > I dashed to the luthier, to get it seen to. > > > > A few jobs need doing, including head tightened, ie re-stretching. he > > > soaked it in water, put it on and stretched it only to have it > > > disintegrate (so old). > > > > The only way to get a skin head for it is to buy an Irish drum or > > > tamborine, take the head off and ..proceed to soak and stretch into > > > place. Seems our customs won't let us import hides unless they are on > > > things like drums, etc. > > > > Thing is, parts source here had none in stock, waiting now 3 days for > > > the shipment from mainland Australia. > > > > Ok, its not six weeks, but its turning into a long haul from buy to > > > play. > > > > This probably happens other places, what happened to 'at your > > > service', 'we stock what you need'. This island is filled with Celtic > > > bands and musicians...and no drums for sale?? What is that?? > > > > linda > > > > -- > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > > "Taterbugmando" group. > > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > > [email protected]. > > > For more options, visit this group > > > athttp://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en.
-- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en.
