1. Neck Adjustment

This time of year (Spring), banjo necks tend to change shape because of the increase in humidity. The usual manifestation is a tendency to flatten out or even back-bow. The usual remedy is loosening the tension on the truss rod in the neck. The majority of modern banjos have an access cover in the peghead. Once that cover is removed, the truss rod nut can be turned with the appropriate tools, usually a nut driver or sometimes an Allen wrench. Turn counter-clockwise to loosen and clockwise to tighten.


2. Tarnish

Hello again banjophiles! Is your banjo getting tarnished because of fingerprints and smudges from being handled a lot in the hot, humid weather? A nickel-plated banjo will smudge easily, but, if the smudges are wiped off before the metal becomes permanently etched, it usually can be restored to look like new. For tarnished nickel, we recommend Simichrome polish, available from some motorcycle shops and us for $7 a tube. Do not use polishing compounds on gold-plated banjos or the gold may come off. A soft damp cloth should be adequate. A window cleaning spray like "Glass Plus" or "Windex" works well to remove anything on a gold banjo that won't wipe off otherwise.

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