Pouring Coffee on My Head

You remember how I botched that calf skin head installation last year? Well, I finally replaced it. Because I currently lack the funds and patience to install another natural hide head, I decided to reinstall the Fiberskyn head that came with my banjo way back when. 

It's been a good decade since I've had a synthetic head on my banjo. There was a part of me that just couldn't deal with the bland look of the Fiberskyn, so I decided to try staining it with coffee to give it an aged and mottled aesthetic. 

I took a small glass of water and mixed in two giant spoonfuls of Maxwell instant coffee and applied two coats with a paintbrush, allowing the head to dry between applications. If you want a more scientific measurement, I'd guess it was four ounces of water and three heaping tablespoons of coffee. 

I'd recommend applying a minimum of two coats. I was considering a third coat, but I liked how it looked with two. Keep in mind, the coffee smell stays pretty strong for a while. 

Overall I'm happy with the results. I waited a couple days before installing the head to ensure it was full dried. I consulted the Banjo Hangout regarding the use of a protective clear coat. The consensus was that such protection was not needed. 

Upon switching out my banjo head, I learned just how bad the tear in the calf skin had gotten. What started as a cigarette burn sized hole had grown to about seven inches long, having pulled away from the flesh hoop. Up until recently, my banjo sounded fine, but it was starting to get a noticeable buzz. 

It's taking some getting used to with the Fiberskyn head. To me, it sounds hollow. Also, the crown is higher than on the skin heads I had previously, which has impacted the action. The clearance between the head and strings, especially near where the neck meets the pot, is much lower than it was before. And of course, that's where I like to play. Oh well.