The skin on my Lyon and Healy tenor has loosened to the point that my bridge is sinking, causing some fret buzz. Is there an easy fix for this? I thought of wetting the skin and letting it dry out but I'm not sure. I have virtually no experience with calfskin vellums, but I understand they're pricey andI don't want to replace it unless necessary. Any advice wouyld be greatly appreciated.

I'm certainly no expert on natural banjo skins, but it does seem to me that you are experiencing a humidity related loosening of the skin. My primary instruments, wood flute and concertina, are loving this humid summer we have been having, but I know the higher humidity is not universally appreciated by instruments. The method you are suggesting sounds a little extreme. I would consider loosening the strings, then taking the banjo into a fully air conditioned space (lower humidity) to see if the skin tightens up first. Following that, attempt to keep your banjo in a space with lower humidity to preserve the tension on the head. I know that my 5-string used to have a large number of bolts that could be tightened around the rim to adjust the tension on the head. Does yours?

The C&F is probably not the best place to get info on banjos. Why not check here: http://www.banjohangout.org/forum/.

Good luck.

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"Your reality, sir, is lies and balderdash and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever."
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If you don't want to use the tension bolts (or don't have them) to tighten your skin, try fitting a taller bridge. Then, if it is humidity causing your problem, you can change back when things dry out

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"I'm playing all the right notes—but not necessarily in the right order."

Instruments with natural skins often have to have two or more bridges to use as wheather changes.

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The crwth will set you free!

Tim Smith
Kindred Spirit
www.kspirit.info