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bublnsqueak - Posted - 06/17/2011: 01:37:39
My Banjo Acquisition Syndrome is getting out of hand; I've just purchased a Windsor Whirle in 'needs some work' condition. 2 of my collection are in that sort of condition and have dowel rods. (The other is very old with lots and lots of tension hooks).
I'm not clear about adjusting the action on these banjos. Surely this question has come up before so could someone point me to a 'dowel rod neck engineering 101' website, thread or similar.
Thanks in advance
Paul
Paul R - Posted - 06/17/2011: 04:47:20
I'm not sue that this is relevant, but I had an adjustment made to my old Orpheum. The neck was skewed ever so slightly to one side, so I simply had the luthier re-drill the hole at the tail end of the dowel stick to better align the neck. I suppose if you wanted to fix the action, you could drill a hole below the existing one to lower the action. There may be instances where one has to re-set the dowel stick/neck interface. I'm sure you know that a different size bridge will affect the action, too,
beegee - Posted - 06/17/2011: 04:51:52
If there is not enough play to relocate the tailpiece-end screw, you have to re-set the dowel in the heel. Someone makes(or used to make) an adjuster that fits on the tailpiece end that allows more up and down adjustment. It would necessitate adjustments with heel shims and clamping device and well.
BDCA - Posted - 06/17/2011: 10:36:12
The shim under the tailpiece dowel bolt increases the action by decreasing neck angle??
Thanks
Bob
bublnsqueak - Posted - 06/18/2011: 00:56:22
Thanks for your input.
I've had a google around and I suspect I will need to reset the dowel in the neck. Modern epoxies make that kind of job a breeze.
I like the adjuster bracket - shouldn't be too hard to make.
It looks from the picture that all the compression loads are taken at the neck rim interface and the dowel rode only controls the angle of the neck. Does that sound right? Or is the bolt through the rim taking some load on its head?
Cheers
Paul
