Knowledge
A few useful tips for Banjo-Mandolins…
Jul
Dulcetta London and other John Grey & Sons instrument cases had a circular paper panel with “A Few Useful Tips” outlining advice about the cased instrument. In this case it’s a Banjolin, so here’s what they say…
To fit a Vellum Head, the tension hoop should be left as high as possible as the head stretches gradually and then becomes slack.Allowance is made in this manner for the gradual tightening of the brackets. To tighten a Vallum Head give one full turn to each nut in succession and continue the process until the skin is sufficiently taut. The Vellum shpuld be tightened gradually and care shoutd be observed.
To place a Bridge, stop the 1st string at the 12th fret and adjust the bridge until the true octave is obtained. Unless the bridge is in the correct position the instrument will not play in tune. If when the strings are stopped on a particular fret they jar against the next fret a higher bridge should be fitted.
Strings of, uneven thickness frequently cause notes to sound out of tune. Care should be taken to see that all strings are perfectly true.
Keep this instrument in a dry place when not in use.
Useful advice for those with a Banjo-Mandolin or other vellum instrument.
