Earlier this year I swapped out my Nechville banjo's bronze tone ring with a Timber-Tronic (wood) tone ring and I LOVE it. For me, however, where the Timber-Tronic ring really shines is when I install heavy-gauge strings (first string to fifth: 012 / 014 / 020w / 024w / 012) and tune the banjo low ala John Hartford. I've got my Nechville banjo setup as such and there are literally days when I cannot put it down, it sounds THAT good... not to mention the considerably lighter weight of the Timber-Tronic ring is easy on the back!
Both sound lovely. The Timber-Tronic ring sound is warmer with rich mids and seems to sustain a tad longer (and even a bit louder) than the Pro Bronze ring, which has a classic bluegrass sound - bright on the attack with even response between the highs and mid. Both have great punch! I look forward to the day I'll be able to hear them side by side in person, and the only option may be to get one of each tone rings and swap them out as needed!
That was........different.....I am not sure what I think of it. It is like having two real good singers beside each other. One male and one female. It is just two different things, but both are good. Obvious the metal one has a clear real good classic bluegrass sound. But the wooden one does not wear out your ears as fast to put it that way. I think the real high tones are better with the wood, the metal becomes like thin. The same can be said on the plunck that is important in a banjo tone. After this I like to hear more banjos with wood tone rings
I have really nice monitors, and something about the sustain on metal tone ring it just has like almost a reverb quality that the wood doesn't. One of these days I will get me one of those beautiful creations of yours. hope you had a blast in Brevard this year I wish I could have made it, maybe next year!
Johnny Plott thanks Johnny. I think having both a wood and metal ring gives the best of both worlds. There is a special expressiveness available on that lighter weight wood ring that is addicting.
I like the sound of the wood tone ring better , it sounds sweeter and mellow. I have a Prescott banjo with an East Indian rosewood tone ring and maple rim. I like the sound of the East Indian rosewood a little better than the wood you're using.
you prolly dont care but does anybody know a way to get back into an Instagram account? I somehow lost my account password. I would love any help you can give me
@Dexter Kash Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site thru google and Im in the hacking process atm. Takes quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
i love my deering eagle 2 its strong on the low and mid range but suffers in the treble or bright area but that's why i purchased the eagle 2 for the sweet mid range and low ends for the bright i play my MORGAN banjo tuned to d minor chord
I have a John Hartford “Grenadillo” wood tone ring in a Deering Black Diamond configuration, and Walnut and Chrome...less heavy, but can be set up very bright or subtlety warm..
I am very confused about the construction of this banjo. I’ve never heard of a banjo full of ball bearings before. Does this style construction have a name?
@@mittcrocket5942 I believe Gibson experimented with a ballbearing tone ring interface way back in the day, but it was a bit different than this setup. Other than a few experimental plans I've seen floating around the internet, I don't think anybody but Nechville is doing it today.
Hello Tom , Guy Wolff the potter near James Ashborn's shop ... The Timber-Tronic is a bit rounder and warmer for clawhammer is my guess ... :) I love the idea of jumping over to a John Balch head and back to a Renaissance head in the high humid summer ... A Moonshine and a wider neck for Nylgut is on my wish list . You made a 6 string with an 1.5 inch at the nut (Now for sale at Elderly) ... Nylgut playing likes a 3/8 inch between the strings at the nut so your 6 string neck and 4 wider set strings.. If the neck is wider can it still take the Flux Capacitor ?
I have a Gold Tone BG250-F, very strong sounding banjo, I also use a Mikes banjo mute that works awesome to where I can play after every one goes to bed
I have the same one. It sounds like banjos that cost a lot more, rarely goes out of tune, fit and finish is excellent; I use GHS PF135 J.D.Crowe light stainless & Snuffy Smith bridge 5/8".
@@garykaufman8128 awesome, I use the Elixir polyweb lights, I also love the integrated bridge, I always went back to it so I just stayed withit, seems to not let that 3rd string go out of tune as I TRY to play up the neck
The point is you can achieve the same sound without that three pound sinker in your banjo. Different banjos and woods achieve different tones and sounds. I love both brass tone rings and wood tone rings also.
Earlier this year I swapped out my Nechville banjo's bronze tone ring with a Timber-Tronic (wood) tone ring and I LOVE it. For me, however, where the Timber-Tronic ring really shines is when I install heavy-gauge strings (first string to fifth: 012 / 014 / 020w / 024w / 012) and tune the banjo low ala John Hartford. I've got my Nechville banjo setup as such and there are literally days when I cannot put it down, it sounds THAT good... not to mention the considerably lighter weight of the Timber-Tronic ring is easy on the back!
The wood one sounds slighly warmer, which makes sense due to being softer, but frankly, both sound equally good!
Both sound lovely. The Timber-Tronic ring sound is warmer with rich mids and seems to sustain a tad longer (and even a bit louder) than the Pro Bronze ring, which has a classic bluegrass sound - bright on the attack with even response between the highs and mid. Both have great punch!
I look forward to the day I'll be able to hear them side by side in person, and the only option may be to get one of each tone rings and swap them out as needed!
Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
Wood tone ring at 00:34
Metal at 4:56
That was........different.....I am not sure what I think of it. It is like having two real good singers beside each other. One male and one female. It is just two different things, but both are good. Obvious the metal one has a clear real good classic bluegrass sound. But the wooden one does not wear out your ears as fast to put it that way. I think the real high tones are better with the wood, the metal becomes like thin. The same can be said on the plunck that is important in a banjo tone. After this I like to hear more banjos with wood tone rings
I still have the bronze ring, and the wood ring. Like them both. Since Imm 88 years old I don't play as much as used to.
I prefer the wooden one to the Whyte Lady one. The are both great but the wooden one has a shorter ring and to me doesn't get muddy.
I have really nice monitors, and something about the sustain on metal tone ring it just has like almost a reverb quality that the wood doesn't. One of these days I will get me one of those beautiful creations of yours. hope you had a blast in Brevard this year I wish I could have made it, maybe next year!
Johnny Plott thanks Johnny. I think having both a wood and metal ring gives the best of both worlds. There is a special expressiveness available on that lighter weight wood ring that is addicting.
Owning a Nechville is a path of musical discovery that never ends. You owe it to yourself to begin that journey today.
I like the sound of the wood tone ring better , it sounds sweeter and mellow. I have a Prescott banjo with an East Indian rosewood tone ring and maple rim. I like the sound of the East Indian rosewood a little better than the wood you're using.
If you played each one back to back, alternated the rings, it would give a better comparison. Then show how to switch later. My editing opinion
you prolly dont care but does anybody know a way to get back into an Instagram account?
I somehow lost my account password. I would love any help you can give me
@Jameson Harley Instablaster =)
@Dexter Kash Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site thru google and Im in the hacking process atm.
Takes quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
@Dexter Kash It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy!
Thank you so much you really help me out !
@Jameson Harley no problem xD
i love my deering eagle 2 its strong on the low and mid range but suffers in the treble or bright area but that's why i purchased the eagle 2 for the sweet mid range and low ends for the bright i play my MORGAN banjo tuned to d minor chord
I have a John Hartford “Grenadillo” wood tone ring in a Deering Black Diamond configuration, and Walnut and Chrome...less heavy, but can be set up very bright or subtlety warm..
Would be nice to have seen the close up of the parts and as you were taking it apart.
I am very confused about the construction of this banjo. I’ve never heard of a banjo full of ball bearings before. Does this style construction have a name?
Nechville
@@mittcrocket5942 I believe Gibson experimented with a ballbearing tone ring interface way back in the day, but it was a bit different than this setup. Other than a few experimental plans I've seen floating around the internet, I don't think anybody but Nechville is doing it today.
I like the one that is easiest on my back and shoulder.
Bronze has more classical bluegrass sound. Both are nice though.. 😊
Hello Tom , Guy Wolff the potter near James Ashborn's shop ... The Timber-Tronic is a bit rounder and warmer for clawhammer is my guess ... :) I love the idea of jumping over to a John Balch head and back to a Renaissance head in the high humid summer ... A Moonshine and a wider neck for Nylgut is on my wish list . You made a 6 string with an 1.5 inch at the nut (Now for sale at Elderly) ... Nylgut playing likes a 3/8 inch between the strings at the nut so your 6 string neck and 4 wider set strings.. If the neck is wider can it still take the Flux Capacitor ?
I have a Gold Tone BG250-F, very strong sounding banjo, I also use a Mikes banjo mute that works awesome to where I can play after every one goes to bed
I have the same one. It sounds like banjos that cost a lot more, rarely goes out of tune, fit and finish is excellent; I use GHS PF135 J.D.Crowe light stainless & Snuffy Smith bridge 5/8".
@@garykaufman8128 awesome, I use the Elixir polyweb lights, I also love the integrated bridge, I always went back to it so I just stayed withit, seems to not let that 3rd string go out of tune as I TRY to play up the neck
Wow well, that's a first. ball bearings in a banjo
To me, the difference is so miniscule, that in a mix with other instruments, it will be inaudible. ;)
Send us a board of your favorite wood and we will make it into a tone ring. Call for details Tom 612-275-6602.
To my untrained ear the bronze ring sounded better.
They sound exactly the same. Zero difference.
Listen again. Timber is more full and warmer
@@grant5603 If the difference is that small that you almost can't hear it, it's completely irrelevant.
Take your thumbs out of your ears dude. 😂
@@Chrissummerill Still the same. Doesn't matter at all.
The point is you can achieve the same sound without that three pound sinker in your banjo. Different banjos and woods achieve different tones and sounds. I love both brass tone rings and wood tone rings also.