How to Adjust Coordinator Rods on a Banjo
The banjo's unique, lively sound derives largely from its unusual construction. Essentially a drum combined with a stringed instrument, the banjo resonates with the brightness of a stringed instrument and the substance of a drum. Banjo drums are held together with a precise system of rods called "coordinator rods," which push or pull on the rim of the drum, aligning the neck and altering string height or "action." If you wish to adjust the action of your banjo, you can do so by adjusting the coordinator rods with care and precision.
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Instructions
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1
Remove the screws around the rim of the banjo holding the back or "resonator" in place. Open-backed banjos do not have resonators and do not require this step for their adjustment.
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2
Remove the resonator and set it aside.
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3
Locate the coordinator rods in the center of the banjo drum. These two threaded rods run from the lag bolts that attach the neck to the nut that attaches the tailpiece.
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4
Loosen the nut on the outside of the rim that attaches the tailpiece bracket with a wrench.
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5
Insert a nail into the hole in the side of the lower coordinator rod. This rod is lower to the ground when the banjo is held in playing position. This will prevent the rod from rotating during nut adjustment.
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6
Tighten the nut inside the rim at the tailpiece end of the lower rod with a wrench. This will raise the action of the strings.
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7
Loosen the inside nut on the lower coordinator rod and tighten the outside nut to lower the action of the strings.
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8
Remove the nail from the hole in the lower coordinator rod.
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Replace the resonator on the back of the banjo drum.
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Insert the screws that secure the resonator in place and tighten them by hand.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not adjust the action of the banjo more than approximately 1/16 of an inch. Any greater adjustment can warp or damage the banjo rim.
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
