Tackhead Banjos by Jeff Menzies

The so-called “tackhead” banjos appeared in the 1800s, either along with the fancier minstrel banjos or perhaps a bit earlier.The tackhead banjo gets its distinctive name owing to the tacks which fasten the head to the hoop. It has no tension hoop, shoes, hooks or nuts for adjusting the tension on the head. The tackhead represents a stage of banjo evolution where we begin to see an instrument resembling the modern banjo. Tackhead banjos were generally unfretted, but many were retrofit with tied gut frets. A favorite among Civil War Re-enactors.