What are the points to consider about banjo construction?
Tone ring A tone ring can take many forms but basically it is a metal ring that sits between the rim of the banjo and the head. As the name suggests it has a major bearing on the tone of the banjo. The composition of the tone ring can vary from die cast metal in cheaper banjos through to special combinations of brass and alloys which produce a metal similar to that used in bells hence the name “bell brass tone ring”. You would expect to pay from $1000 up to purchase a banjo with a proper tone ring. Vellum or plastic heads The head is the skin or plastic which forms the soundboard of the banjo and is similar to a drum skin. Early banjos used various animal skins (also referred to as vellums). These had to be fitted (or lapped) to suit the individual banjo so the size of the vellum was not critical. Vellums give for want of a better word a “plunky” sound, which is o.k. for some styles of music but not suitable for modern bluegrass. The tension varies due to changes in humidity and temper
