Demo of Ome Jubilee Deluxe w. head change

This one banjo was demoed here with a Fiberskyn head, so here's the same demo followed by the same banjo with a Renaissance head. I played Shady Grove so I could add both recordings to the ever-growing list of banjos that I've recorded it on! zeppmusic dot com/MP3#10

Category:

Music

Tags:

• clawhammer
• banjo
• frailing
• clawhammerbanjo
• instruction

[SeumasColm]

BTW, pay no mind to folk who seem concerned with whether others smile or not. People make similar remarks to me. Why the fixation with my expression? My face naturally tends to a frown, and even when I AM smiling it doesn't really look like it. And when I am playing, my mouth is usually hanging open with drool pouring onto my instrument! I think most folk would rather see deadpan than that! :)

Anyhow, YOU know you're enjoying it. That's what matters. And your eyes are obviously smiling!

[zeppmusic]

@SeumasColm I really don't worry about it...after all it's true, I'm usually pretty expressionless when I play...always have been. When I do smile, it's usually because I've screwed up. :-)

[sidewindermack]

Is there any difference in the sound that you can tell between the Elite and Remo Fiberskyn heads?

[zeppmusic]

@sidewindermack Elite-branded heads are made for Stewart McDonald by Remo, i.e., they are the same thing. There have been color differences, but the same variation among lots occurs within each brand.

[hunkyome]

I wanted to say something about the smile but figure others may already have. There's an old saw about playing banjo causing one to smile.. I just figured you smile 'inwardly'...

My fiberskin is blistering where my thumb hits so maybe now time to order - I'll swing by your site and place one. Last question though: think the moonbridge (and what weight) would help the Ramsey t- as well? Everything is pretty much stock right now..

[zeppmusic]

I own a Ramsey Tu-Ba-Phone (the prototype, in fact), and I have it set up with a medium Moon and a Renaissance. I love it like this!

By all means call the shop and talk to Marc (I'm at home). It's toll free: 866-365-5189

Cheers!

[SeumasColm]

I hear a lot of difference. I personally like the FS. Has more of the sound that I associate with traditional banjo. I want to make my Gold Tone CC-100R more "old timey," but it's already pretty mellow. I wonder if a FS might be too much for it (also considering NyGut w/ no-knot tailpiece).

Of course, my Cripple Creek can't really be compared to your OME. Maybe if I heard it with a Weatherking head (what's on mine). If I buy a FS from you and it doesn't work out, could I exchange for a Ren?

[MrMikeEdie]

Not a massive difference in my opinion. Renaissance is a little nicer but that could be the slight variation in performance.

Nice playing though :-)

[zeppmusic]

Thanks! I prefer the Renaissance sound--it is a bit brighter, while the bass has more fullness. To me, Fiberskyn is too dull and muted. There is a reason that Gordon, Lee, Ramsey, Fielding, etc. now use Renaissance heads as standard.

The recording setup is exactly the same, except for the shirt, as noted!

Folks have gently teased me about my dead-pan expression when I play, so I'm trying to smile and look as if I'm enjoying it. I mean, I do, I just don't look like it!

Cheers!

[hunkyome]

although sounds like a bit different recording setup (different shirt) I would say the fiberskin is mellower, and the Ren. head quite a bit brighter. Would that be wrong? Judging from your smile at the end and the fact you changed to a ren-head, I would guess you prefer that one? I ask because I may want to brighten up my Ramsey tuba-phone I bought from you several years back.

sure enjoy your playing..