Pete Seeger's banjo on eBay

Subject: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Frankham
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 11:27 AM

http://www.brinet.com/~ridgrunr/banjo/LNB.htm

Check it out! Alert!

Frank

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 11:33 AM

I'll add a clicky.........

CLICK HERE

Spaw

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Willie-O
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 11:38 AM

oh dear, it isn't just the banjo neck that is warped here...it appears this is an example of "eBay humour".

W-O

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 11:38 AM

Notice the seller ID is invalid.....a real cruel kind of joke to say the very least. E-Bay needs to investigate whoever did the posting for whatever reason.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 11:39 AM

Has anyone sent eBay information on this banjo being stolen property? I will, as I am a seller on there. I will copy the info from the previous thread and see what they have to say. I am sure they have a policy against selling such things.

Thanks, Frank and Spaw.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 11:41 AM

Bad joke, guys.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 11:42 AM

OOps, was posting ardently when you guys noticed the flaws. I did think it sounded a little flippant.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Max
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 12:00 PM

It's just a parody guys, I got a laugh out of it. It's some guys personal page, not Ebay at all.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 12:10 PM

Elaborate damn Personal Page ain't it??

Well I bit 'cause I'm a dumbass and I don't go to e-bay much.......Nice job though.........Well I guess its better to be pissed off than pissed on and better to be pissed on than pissed through...'cause that'd make you a prick.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: GUEST,Phineas T. B.
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 05:14 PM

It doesn't take much to fool some of you Mudcatters, does it?

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 05:16 PM

Hehe, I liked it...

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 06:22 PM

The link to Honesty.com was interesting....

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Frankham
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 09:06 AM

Yeah, it was a hoax. A cruel joke if you ask me.

Takes all kinds.

Frank

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 10:43 AM

I must be warped as I found it funny and thought that the comments were too over the top to be taken seriously.

I must say though that inspite of my weird sense of humour, I do not find theft ammusing and I hope that Pete Seeger's banjo is returned to him.

Jon

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Art Thieme
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 10:53 AM

truly outrageous !

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: GUEST,an ex-firend of Jon Freeman's
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 10:58 AM

On Mudcat Radio this week Max said that the Rat Bastard of the week was the thief that took Pete Seeger's banjo. TOTAL AGREEMENT from me on that.

For this week's Rat Bastard, I nominate JON FREEMAN and all the other Rat Bastards who find humor in making fun of someone's loss.

Imagine Jon that you're 80+ years old. That you have a traesured and lifelong possession that is stolen. Then someone puts up a phony web page to make fun of you so that Rat Bastards can find it funny.

Jon Freeman, I can no longer call you my friend. You should be asahmed of yourself. You are truly a RAT BASTARD.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Jeri
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 11:00 AM

Whatever the intentions, please note that there's a picture of Pete playing it. (The other banjo is a fake, as is the description.)

Joke - funny but sick: "If you are a serious folkie, I can make arrangements to meet you to deliver the banjo, just let me know what color of old Volvo you are driving and at which which political rally you wish to meet (sorry East Coast only.)"

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 11:06 AM

Well ex friend, I trust you noted that Max said in this thread "It's just a parody guys, I got a laugh out of it. It's some guys personal page, not Ebay at all"

Jon

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Jeri
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 11:18 AM

Hey, Jon - I guess I'm a RAT BASTARD too. Wanna form a group and go on the road? I'd rather be a rat bastard than go through life looking for reasons to get pissed off.

What this page does is publicise the theft and give identifying info on the banjo, as well as probable sale location. I don't know if the description of the case is accurate or not. Maybe it was intentional, maybe it wasn't. It was quite clear to me that this page wasn't real.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 11:37 AM

Yes Jeri, you too have become a Rat Bastard.

Anyone who finds it funny to make a joke of the plight of nice old man is a Rat Bastard.

Yes, it was obvious that the web page was not really E-Bay.

I hope that no one ever steals your favorite fiddle, and if that does happen, no one creates an elaborate and cruel joke about it on the Internet.

Should that happen, we'll see how funny it is to you then.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 11:40 AM

Well Jeri, how many groups can we belong to? If I remember correctly, you are already a member of "The Twinkettes" and I am still playing for "The Classical Goons" but I guess we could find the time to form "The Rat Bastards".

Seriously, there are times when I wonder about my sense of humour but that is just part of me that I don't think will change. The daftest thing about it is I know our band to be, "The Rat Bastards" would dearly love to see Pete Seeger's banjo safely returned and have in fact tried to help others get instruments returned after they have been stolen.

Jon

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 12:11 PM

Hey...What is this? A CLIQUE??? I've got the most off the wall sense of humor around here and dammit I want in!!! As the former Prostetnic Leader of the "Gang of 12(00)", I have the credentials for membership at least! I mean on the first thread about the PS banjo I made the first joke......a two word post that said, "Plays nice."

Now dammit I WANT IN !!!! WWAAAAAAAHHHHHHH---WWWHHHHHIIIIINNNNNEEEEEE--- WWAAAAAAHHHHH-----C'mon guys.... PPLLLLEEEEEEEAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEEEE?????

And Guest........Get a grip. I think everyone feels badly about the whole thing. And since you're obviously a member, why not just state your case? Nobody is going to get too hot over a statement that says, "I can find no humor in this at all and I don't see how anyone can." To that, I'd simply have to say, Yeah, sorry I'm so warped. You're right and its a sad situation." So have some chutzpah and sign your name.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Jeri
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 12:17 PM

LOL Jon - we'd probably have to play punk music. Think you can manage on melodeon. I can probably make do with my fiddle playing without any major changes. You know, this person is just a troll - probably the same person that faked the SandyToes message, (got a pretty good idea who that was) but knowing that, I'm sort of enjoying it.

My Dad once went up a hill with my piano on a truck. The piano didn't want to go, and smashed all over the road in a very musical way. My Dad came home and told me about it through fits of laugher. I got mad about it, then got over it. Eventually I came to have the same sort of sense of humor, and I don't have much say in what I think is funny.

Personally, I think Pete Seeger is far more than a "nice old man." I'm aware that most people don't think this is funny. This song is directed at GUEST, who seems to enjoy telling others what to think.

Maybe GUEST can start a group called "The Hair Triggers." First song:

It Doesn't Take Much
© The Rat Bastards

It doesn't take much to piss us off
It doesn't take much to dump a friend
You must see the world the way we do
Or else you surely will offend

Can't laugh at life's unhappiness
We'll focus on the pain instead
We'll hang on to it to comfort us
And remember every word you've said

The bastards aren't those who do the deeds
Or are the subjects of a rumor
They're the one's who make the jokes
And have a sense of humor

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 12:28 PM

Sure spaw but what are you going to play? We have Jeri on fiddle and me playing Punk style melodeon so far. This could be quite a band!

Jon

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 12:41 PM

Well I'd volunteer on Dulcimer, but considering the group and my position with the NYCFTTS, I think either tiple or noseflute might be more appropriate. I can't play tiple except for "Crazy Words, Crazy Tune" but I think I can hang in with anyone on noseflute.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 12:58 PM

This truly blows. I REALLY though the fake eBay auction was funny, but can't play a damned thing. Can I be, like, the guy who the Rat Bastards send out for beer? Or maybe the guy who keeps the groupies at a safe distance? Anything?

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Jeri
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 01:06 PM

Lepus, we still need a drummer...

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Mbo
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 01:19 PM

Jon, I want to be in your band too! We can duet "Fairytale of New York" with you on melodeon and me on guitar! Merry Christmas my arse!

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 01:26 PM

Well Mbo if you join us, won't we have to be something like the "The Rat Bastard Scum Bags"?

Lupus, if you don't feel confident as being drummer, we have yet to find a lead singer although I think we will all be filling in on vocals from time to time. I will try to get my voice a little lower and attempt bass punk harmonies.

Jon

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Jeri
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 01:29 PM

Additional to what has already been posted, this was in a message (from Joe Kesselman) in rec.music.folk - he was quoting Bruce Taylor:

"...this neck is massive and wide. It is tuned to concert pitch at the third fret, [and] has a shorter scale length than commercially made "long-necks" (which typically are simply today's standard five-string scale extended by three frets). Also, Pete located the fifth string peg one fret closer to the pot than normal which facilitates capoing up to the eighth fret."

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Mbo
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 01:34 PM

Like the name, Jon! We can mix some Old 97's style in there as well for all you Twangcore fans. WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT THE BARRIER REEF?!

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 01:37 PM

Good info Jeri.

And if for no other reason, the "faux e-bay site" gives some EXCELLENT pictures. I posted before that it was also listed as being in a green cloth case. Has anyone seen the case in question? Green cloth could mean anything from a case covered in green cloth, lined in green plush, to a green gig bag.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 01:46 PM

Drummer? Singer? Too hard! Do you guys have a gong?

And I STILL like my 'groupies at a safe distance' idea, muahaha...

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 04:05 PM

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: GUEST,MoohTooh
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 04:07 PM

It could be that this joke helps publicize the loss and thereby helps it be returned...let's hope and pray.

Mooh (from elsewhere than home).

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 04:13 PM

There was an excellent interview of the owner of Elderly Instuments on NPR this morning, talking about the banjo, then they had him play an example of what a short neck sounded like, then the long neck. It was very interesting and hopefully helpful, as they also gave out the phone number of Clearwater and talked about the reward.

I can't believe we haven't heard a song about it, yet.

Jeri, are we gonna be gender specific and go for Rat Bytches, too? Or, The Rat Bytchettes? *bg*

If we don't laugh sometimes at the sorrow of the world, our eyes would float away in tears and our hearts break from sadness...lighten up GUEST.

kat

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: DougR
Date: 20 Aug 00 - 03:52 PM

I have no quarrel with those who found it funny.

I do think the one who posted it has very bad taste though. Trying to gain humor from someone else's loss is not my idea of a good time.

DougR

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: kendall
Date: 20 Aug 00 - 09:48 PM

If I could get my hands on the rat bastard who stole Pete's banjo, I can guarantee HE wouldn't die laughing!

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 12:56 AM

Where has Seeger's banjo gone, few day's passing?
Where has Seeger's banjo gone, from upstate New York? Some Rat Bastard lifted it, hidden now and not come forth
When Kendall catches him, he'll tear him limb from limb

Add a verse?

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 12:24 PM

Where has Kendall Morse gone?
Short time passing
Where has Kendall Morse gone?
For an hour or so
Where has Kendall Morse gone
Sacking pawn shops one by one
Oh when will they ever learn
Oh when will they ever learn?

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 05:09 PM

I believe it has been returned. See the new thread.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's banjo on ebay
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 02:31 AM

Damn, that's good news.

Rick