How much larger than the rim diameter should I size a new flesh hoop to mount a modern hide head?
I want to rehabilitate an old Paramount banjo to use a vellum head. After all, they were designed for vellum. The head size is 11 1/8" Better old heads came with 1/8' square brass flesh hoops. Many lesser heads used what appears to be round steel wire, about 14 gage. Reproducing the old hoops should not be difficult. I have been told that modern vellum is thicker than prewar. One source even recommends sanding the head thinner after it dries post mounting. Thus the question regarding flesh hoop sizes.