| Subject: | Re: [RESOGUIT-L]Instrument Stability | | Date: | Saturday, January 28, 2006 22:59:58 (-0800) | | From: | Richard DeNeve <richard_d13132 @.....com>
|
--- James McNab <jimmcnab@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> I've had several banjos and several dobros and I
> don't even have to think
> about it for a second. My banjos would usually get
> out of tune faster than
> the dobros. Given that I live in NC and we see four
> distinct seasons, the
> aforementioned temp. differences between the house,
> car, frozen outdoors
> during the winter, etc. always wreaked more havoc on
> the five string. Don't
> forget, the banjo also seemed to show more tonal
> changes (at least to my
> ear) due to the changes in humidity as well. My .02
>
Jim,
I hope Poob will forgive the lack of reso content in
this comment.
I have seen a lot of tuning problems causes by
instrument cases, mainly by not enough room in the
case. Banjos have a skinny neck and a heavy pot
assembly. If the neck cradle is too high for the
banjo dimensions, it will push the nut into the top of
the case. This causes the disadvantageous situation
where the neck supprot is a fulcrum and the pressure
on the nut is the force attempting to lift the banjo
away from the back of the case. The wood bends
backward under this stress. Then, when the banjo is
taken out to play, the stress relief allows the neck
to straighten out, and the instrument goes flat. Thin
strings, and stretching during playing can also be a
problem.
Likewise, some mandolin players store chord booklets,
festival flyers, uneaten pizza, etc., under the body
of their mando. This raises the instrument body to
the point that the bridge is pressed pretty hard
against the top of the instrument. Take it out of the
case and relieve the pressure, and the instrument will
slowly go sharp, and need retuning.
Either situation of not enough room in a case, over
time, will damage an instrument. Wood will move under
pressure, and the dimensions that are needed for good
string clearance and proper action will change.
Examine the inside of your case. If you see a place
other than the neck cradle where the plush is pressed
flat, something needs to be changed to make more room.
A firm nut impression means that the neck cradle
should be lowered; a bridge impression means that the
case needs cleaning or replacement with a deeper one.
An arch top case might cost $15 more, but is well
worth it, to provide extra room and less pressure on
the bridge, hand rest (aha! reso content!), etc.
Dick DeNeve
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