Banjotuning

Quite some time I was thinking  about putting a natural hide on my Karsten-Schnoor-Banjo (which had a Renaissance head). Finally I managed to order a John Balch head (no pun intended). Changing the head was no big deal. 

I put on the Super Nylgut strings from Aquila. Now the instrument is sounding mellower and I think I now got rid of  the piercing overtones which are so typical for many banjos. I now like my KS banjo  even more than before.

You may compare the sounds here:

Renaissance head, Nylgut strings

John Balch head, Nylgut strings

Perhaps there´s little difference due to technical issues like recording equipment, speakers used and so on. But in real life I (and even the most trusted banjo freak I know) hear a significant difference in sound. 

I love my "new" banjo!