Smakula

Fretted

Instruments

PO Box 882, Elkins, West Virginia 26241

304-636-6710

Phone Hours; 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Eastern Time, Monday through Friday and occasionally on Saturday.

 

Banjo Heads contact us...

Page Updated 3-7-2024

Please Visit our Home Page for links to our banjos, guitars, fiddles, mandolins, and more.

For On-line Ordering, Please go to our new website; smakulafrettedinstruments.com



Banjo Heads

 

 

We stock thousands of banjo heads in many different sizes. We normally welcome orders for custom size heads or film types, but currently Remo is not accepting custom banjo head orders. We will update here as their production catches up.

Remo Fiberskyn heads are closest to calfskin in appearance and sound. Tyvek is fused to one side of the Mylar head making the vibrating surface thicker. Old time banjo players often prefer the fuller sound. Fiberskyn banjo head thickness averages .014"

Remo Renaissance banjo heads have a semi transparent amber color, similar to "slunk" calfskin banjo heads. They are the thinnest of Remo's banjo heads, with a thickness of .008". Though thinner than standard Mylar, the tone is fuller and is a popular choice for Old Time Banjo players needing a slightly brighter sound in a band situation.

Frosted Mylar is cornerstone of the Remo banjo and drumhead line. The Weatherking line offers a classic look and consistently bright tone. There is no wonder these heads have been popular for more than 50 years. Thickness is .009"

Remo's "cloudy" style of head is made with a semi transparent unfrosted Mylar. Tone is similar to frosted heads with a little added brightness. These heads are very popular with 4 string banjo players. Thickness is .008".

Black Suede is a black color film with it's texture and tone similar to Remo's Renaissance film. Thickness is .010".

White Suede is a white color film with it's texture and tone similar to Remo's Renaissance film. Thickness is .010".

Calf Skin. A traditional look and sound made from calf skin. Thicknesses range from .007" to .022". These heads come unstretched and need to be soaked, then mounted to your rim. Order 3" to 4" larger than the diameter of your banjo rim.

Goat Skin. These skins are natural color with plenty of character. Thicknesses range from .003" to .015". These heads come unstretched and need to be soaked, tben mounted to your rim. Order 3" to 4" larger than the diameter of your banjo rim.

Many banjo players like traditional calfskin for the warm tone that can not be reproduced by any synthetic. There are two down sides to this traditional head. One is it is affected by changes in temperature and humidity. High humidity will make the head sag. Low humidity will make the head tighten, risking breakage if the tension is excessive. The other negative aspect is installation of a calfskin head is more time consuming than Remo's pre-mounted plastic heads.

To order a banjo head you need to know the diameter of the rim. Most of the time measuring inside the tension hoop (the ring that holds the head down) will give you the rim diameter. Many vintage banjo rims become out of round over the years. If you get different measurements when you measure the diameter in different places on the rim, measure the circumference and divide by 3.14159

Crown height refers to the distance from the top of the flesh hoop to the top of the head and will determine how high the tension hoop rides above the top of the rim. Most banjos need a high crown head. Banjos with archtop tonerings or short tension hoops will need either low or medium. These measurements are Remo's standard crown heights; High; 1/2", Medium; 7/16", Low; 3/8"

If you need help determining the banjo head size you need, please call. We'll be happy to assist you

The initials TOS after a banjo head size indicates it is Temporarily Out of Stock.

 

New Old Stock Banjo Heads
We recently acquired the never used, older stock banjo head accumulations of two music shops. Many of these listed sizes are diameters that Remo is no longer interested in manufacturing. As we have a reputation of supplying the odd size heads not available elsewhere, we purchased these and selling them to anyone that wants them. The quantities are limited. When they're gone, they're gone. Click HERE for complete list.


 

REMO FIBERSKYN BANJO HEADS

High Crown Remo Fiberskyn
11", $22
12", $23
8", 10", 10-1/16", 10-1/8", 10-1/4", 10-5/16", 10-3/8", 10-7/16", 10-1/2", 10-9/16", 10-5/8", 10-11/16", 10-3/4", 10-13/16",
10-7/8", 10-15/16", 11-1/16", 11-1/8", 11-1/4", ; $25
11-7/16", 11-1/2", 11-5/8", 11-3/4", 11-13/16", 11-7/8", 11-15/16", 12-1/8"; $27
9"; $55
12-3/16", 12-1/4", 13", $14; $55
12-7/16", 12-1/2", 12-3/4"; $70

Medium Crown Remo Fiberskyn
11"; $22
12"; $23
8", 10", 10-1/2", 10-5/8", 10-3/4",10-13/16", 10-7/8", 10-15/16", 11-1/16", 11-1/8"; $25
11-7/16", 12-1/8"; $27
12-3/16", 12-1/4", 14"; $55

Low Crown Remo Fiberskyn
11"; $22
12"; $23
8", 10", 10-1/2", 10-3/4", 10-15/16", 11-1/16", 11-1/8" : $25
12-1/8"; $27
12-3/16" (TOS), 12-1/4", 14"; $55
12-3/4" 13-3/16", 13-1/4"; $70

 

REMO RENAISSANCE BANJO HEADS

High Crown Remo Renaissance
11"; $22
12"; $23
8", 10", 10-1/16", 10-1/8", 10-1/4", 10-1/2", 10-5/8", 10-11/16", 10-3/4", 10-13/16", 10-7/8", 10-15/16", 11-1/6", 11-1/8", 11-3/16", 11-3/8", 11-7/16"; $25
11-1/2" 11-13/16", 11-7/8", 11-15/16", 12-1/8"; $27
7", 8-1/4", 9", 9-7/8", 12-3/8", 13" (TOS), 14"; $55
12-1/2"; $80

Medium Crown Remo Renaissance
11". $22
12"; $23
8", 10", 10-1/2", 10-5/8", 10-3/4", 10-7/8", 10-15/16", 11-1/16", 11-1/8", $25
11-1/2", 11-5/8", 11-15/16", 12-1/8" ; $27
9", 12-3/16", 12-1/4", 14"; $55

Low Crown Remo Renaissance
11"; $22
12"; $23
8", 10-3/4", 10-15/16", 11-1/8", $25
12-3/16", 12-1/4" (TOS); $55
12-5/16"; $80

 

Remo Top Frosted Plastic

High Crown Remo Weatherking Frosted Top
11"; $19.
12"; $20
8", 10", 10-1/8", 10-1/4", 10-5/16", 10-3/8", 10-1/2", 10-5/8", 10-11/16", 10-3/4", 10-13/16", 10-7/8", 10-15/16", 11-1/16", 11-1/8", 11-3/16", 11-1/4", 11-7/16", $22
11-1/2", 11-5/8", 11-3/4" (TOS), 11-13/16", 12", 12-1/18"; $24

Medium Crown Remo Weatherking Frosted Top
11": $19
12"; $20
8", 10", 10-1/4" 10-1/2", 10-3/4", 10-13/16", 10-7/8", 10-15/16", 11-1/16", 11-1/8"; 11-1/2"; $22
12-1/8", 11-1/2; $24
12-3/16"; $45

Low Crown Remo Weatherking Frosted Top
11"; $19
12"; $20
8", 10-3/4", 10-7/8", 10-15/16", 11-1/16", 11-1/8"; $22
12-3/16", 12-1/4"; $45

Remo Top Frosted Plastic, Crimped.
Unlike the standard Remo heads that are glued, the film of these heads is crimped around a square steel wire. Similar to the now discontinued 5-Star banjo heads.

Frosted Top, Crimped;
11" High Medium & Low Crown; $19

Clear, Crimped;
11" low Crown: $19

Inside Frosted, Crimped;
11-1/8" Medium Crown; $22

 

Inside Frosted, Smooth Top, Popular with 4 string banjo players

High Crown Remo Weatherking Frosted Inside
11"; $19
8", 10-3/4",10-15/16", 11-1/16", 11-1/8"; $22

Medium Crown Remo Weatherking Frosted Inside
11"; $19
8", 10-3/4", 10-7/8", 10-15/16", 11-1/16", 11-1/8"; $22

Low Crown Remo Weatherking Frosted Inside
11"; $19
8", 11-1/16", 11-1/8"; $22

Inside Frosted, Crimped;
11-1/8" Medium Crown; $22

 

Cloudy White, Smooth Top, No Frosting, Popular with 4 string banjo players

High Crown Remo Cloudy White
11"; $19
10-3/4", 10-15/16", 11-1/8"; $22

Medium Crown Remo Cloudy White
11"; $19
10-3/4", 10-7/8", 10-15/16", 11-1/8"; $22

Low Crown Remo Cloudy White
11"; $19
10-3/4", 10-15/16", 11-1/16", 11-1/8"; $22

 

Remo Clear Mylar Heads

High Crown Remo Clear
11"; $19
12"; $20
10-3/4", 10-7/8", 10-15/16", 11-1/8", $22
11-13/16"; $24

Medium Crown Clear
11"; $19
12"; $20
10-3/4", 10-7/8", 10-15/16", 11-1/8, 11-3/16" ; $22
11-5/8"; $24

Low Crown Remo Clear
11"; $19
12"; $20
10-15/16", 11-1/16", 11-1/8": $22
12-3/16"; $60

Clear, Crimped;
11" low Crown: $19

 

Remo Black Suede banjo heads.
11" high, medium and low crown; $22
12" high and medium crown; $23
14" Medium Crown; $55

Remo White Suede banjo heads.
11" high, medium, and low crown; $30
12" high and medium, crown; $37

 

Most of our Remo banjo heads are manufactured with no logo! The perfect look for your vintage banjo.

 

Calf and Goat Skin Banjo Heads

We stock several diameters of flat calf and goat skin banjo heads in different thicknesses for you to soak and stretch on your banjo rim.

The flat, unstretched skin should be at least 3" larger than your banjo's rim. If you are new to stretching calf skin heads, 4" larger will make the job easier.

Our economy calf skins are the best quality we can find in their price range. They are white with a slightly rough texture. The thickness runs from .008" to .022" and is fairly even across the head. Please let us know your preferred thickness and we will do our best to accommodate.

Calf skin heads are mostly uniform white in color. Goat skins are varying shades of tan nnd have character marks.


Economy calf skin, 12" diameter; $10
Economy calf skin, 13" diameter; $11
Economy calf skin, 14" diameter; $14
Economy calf skin, 15" diameter; $15
Economy calf skin, 16" diameter; $18
Economy calf skin, 18" diameter; $20
Economy calf skin, 22" diameter; $27 Because of their shipping length, 22" calf skin banjo heads have to be sent via Priority Mail and require a $4 oversize surcharge in addition to standard postage.

 

Goat Skin Banjo Heads

Goat skin, 15" diameter; $15
Goat skin, 16" diameter; $18


1/8" Square Brass Wire flesh hoops;

We can rough shape almost any size flesh hoop for you. Final trimming will have to be done in your shop. Price is $15 and we include heat shrink tubing to easily attach the ends.

6 foot 1/8" square brass wire rolled about 11" diameter. Useful to make two 11" flesh hoops. Easy to hand bend to make a bigger diameter, or use a fretwire bender to make smaller; $25

7 foot 1/8" square brass wire rolled about 12" diameter. Useful to make two 12" flesh hoops. Easy to hand bend to make a bigger diameter, or use a fretwire bender to make smaller; $27

 

Shipping Cost
Small goods like banjo heads and other parts cost $9 per order for Priority Mail shipping in the US no matter what the order size. One or two heads can be mailed via first class mail for $6. Out of the USA shipments will be quoted before they are shipped.

To Order
Call us at 304-636-6710. For payment we accept checks, wire transfers and MasterCard & Visa. If you prefer Paypal, please send us an email requesting a Paypal invoice.

Email; Occasionally a customer will let us know that the "Contact Us" button will not work on their computer. If you have that problem, please use sfi<at>smakula<dot>com You will have to change the <at> and <dot> to @ and .