How to Care for a Banjo

Video Transcript

"Hi I’m Fred Wilharm on behalf of ExpertVillage.com. and in this segment we’re going to talk about proper care of the banjo. A banjo is like any other stringed instrument made of wood, it’s number one enemy is temperature extreme. The number one rule is to never leave you banjo in a hot car for an extended time. Treat it like a child or a pet, if it’s too hot for them, it’s too hot for your banjo. Disobeying this rule, could cause warped neck, which can leave your banjo unplayable and almost worthless. Keeping you banjo in a quality hard shell case can protect it from almost anything including heat for a short time. If you’re traveling and must leave your instrument in the car while having lunch, throw a white towel over the case and put the case out of direct sunlight. This should protect it for up to an hour, especially if you have tinted windows. If the weather is cold or humid, and you’re coming into a warm building, leave the banjo in the case for an hour or so to let it stabilize. Opening the case right away could cause cracks in the finish as the warm air inside hits the ice cold banjo. You’ll find that when you do open the case, the banjo will usually need retuning because the temperature extreme effects the tension on the strings. Clean the wood finish periodically with a soft cloth and change your strings every two months or so, this will maintain the bright clean sound you’re looking for. Remember that keeping the banjo in it’s case will extend the life of the strings and the banjo in general."