I have a 1979 Stelling Golden Cross and had Geoff Stelling rebuild the neck new frets etc. I asked him about changing to the Tony Pass rim and he said don't do it. The older rims have been seasoned with age, in the instrument, and the older sound is better according to him. He played mine and said the TP rim would detract from the sound. I guess the the question is whether it is better to age a rim underwater or under a banjo head. I have never regretted my decision to stick with the original.
The Reverend