| It's time for the first law of banjoism: The head is the most important part of the banjo!!! Yes, that's right. It's the head that actually produces the sound you hear, so a good one gives a good tone, a bad one a lousy tone. That doesn't mean the other parts of the banjo don't affect the sound. Especially good strings are important too, but the head is still the major factor - and it's also one of the easiest and cheapest to improve. It seems most banjo manufacturers today fit their instruments with Remo Weatherking heads as standard. The Weatherking is a fairly good head, but you better have a look anyway, your banjo might not have it, it may not suit your style, I have a sneaking suspicion at least some manufacturers use cheap second choice heads, and - above all - you can be sure it's not set up right! Most banjoists today prefer a synthetic head. Natural skin heads does give a better tone, but they tend to give less volume and are also very sensitive to changes in air moisture.
Usually natural skin is not worth the bother. There are some synthetic heads that try to emulate the sound and feel of a natural skin as closely as possible. These can be worth trying if you want the natural sound without all the hassle. Have a look in the Buyer's Guide for short presentations of some of the most common banjo head brands and types.
| 