GTS Instructions

Thank-you for purchasing the GTS head. Skin heads have long been the preference of banjo players for many styles of music. This genuine skin head replaces plastic heads and provides the true tone of skin. One crown size fits all, as simply wetting and stretching the head will increase crown size. It is pre-stretched, treated, and stays tensioned much better than a normal skin head. Since the design of this head requires a slightly thicker aluminum rim, it is possible you may need to do a bit of filing on the aluminum rim. This is not always the case, and if filing is necessary it will not weaken the structure of the head.

Installation Instructions

Remove the resonator (if there is one). Remove all the strings and the tailpiece. Using the proper wrench, loosen all the hex nuts from the hooks. Remove the counterhoop and the banjo head.
Place the GTS head on the banjo. Make sure the aluminum splice is not under the neck. Make sure the rim of the head will fit under the neck. If it is touching the neck, that is ok, as you want a tight fit. If it does not fit, the head must be filed under the neck. Mark with a pencil this area (on the aluminum rim) under the neck. Using a fine to medium flat file, file the top of the rim within the neck space so it is a bit thinner. Be gentle and the first sign of the skin on the edge means you've gone far enough. It should now fit under the neck.
Install counterhoop and begin installing hooks. The hooks may touch the outside edge of the head and that is fine. The counterhoop may be a bit high so it may be best to install the first hooks at 1, 4, 7, and 9 o'clock to get started. Now install the remaining hooks and nuts. Tighten each nut consecutively starting at the neck until you reach the other side of the neck. Make sure the counterhoop is centered around the head. Keep this sequence until the head is fairly tight. At this point the counterhoop may not be low enough. Using a sponge or wet rag, wet the outside and the inside of the head quite thoroughly. Using your thumbs, press on the center of the head and work your thumbs out to the edges to gently stretch the wet head. This will loosen and stretch the head. Tighten again until counterhoop is in proper position. The head should now be relatively tight but still feel spongy. If counterhoop is not in proper position you may wet again and retighten until the counterhoop is correct. As the head dries (2-12 hours) it will tighten and after drying may be tightened or loosened by adjusting the nuts like a normal head. This completes installation and you may now complete banjo assembly and wait for the head to dry.

On some banjos (not many) the hooks may not fit properly because they hit the side of the aluminum rim. In this case you need to use the "notched method" of installation.

Tools needed: Masking tape, 3 corner file, vise, rat tail file.

Use the counterhoop as a template to mark the GTS head for filing notches. Place the head under the counterhoop and tape the hoop and the head together (off of the banjo of course). With a pencil, mark the outside of the GTS head on the exact location of each hook (figure 1). Using the 3 corner file (or the edge of a flat file) score each mark vertically so the rat tail file will have a guide. Place the head in a vise as shown in figure 2. With the rat tail file "notch" each mark. File until you see the very edge of the skin (approximately 1/8" - 1/16"). Complete notches for each hook. Once notches are all completed the head may be installed.

The inside of the head may also be sanded with 220 paper in order to thin and/or smooth the head. Sand all irregularities to a smooth finish.