Now THATS a Banjo!

Subject: Now THATS a Banjo!
From: JedMarum
Date: 23 May 03 - 01:47 PM

You gotta see this.

I think I need one of these!

Subject: RE: Now THATS a Banjo!
From: clansfolk
Date: 23 May 03 - 02:16 PM

I'm sure Pamela will sell it you - she gets some great instruments in and at very good prices -


Pete

Subject: RE: Now THATS a Banjo!
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 27 May 03 - 07:56 PM

It's about 20 years back when I last saw a proper fretless 7-string. That was in Cardiff, Wales. We weren't certain how it should be strung but we assumed nylon guitar strings would probably do an approximate job. It was on a stall belonging to a friend who used to buy and sell instruments. It didn't stay there long enough for us to play about properly - somebody bought it.
These days, I would find it an interesting instrument to experiment with! Oh Well!!!
Quack!
Geoff the Duck.

Subject: RE: Now THATS a Banjo!
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 May 03 - 09:56 PM

Please forgive my ignorance but the left hand picture seems to show lines where the frets would be. Did they mark the correct locations but not use the frets?

Subject: RE: Now THATS a Banjo!
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 27 May 03 - 09:58 PM

Yes, flush frets were, while certainly not the rule, not too uncommon on early instruments.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Now THATS a Banjo!
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 27 May 03 - 11:46 PM

From the looks, it's a Dobson. vintage ca 1880. I recently acquired a similar, but slightly earlier 5-string fretless model. Fret markers (not frets) are inlaid contrasting wood.

Fine old-timey plunky sound.

Subject: RE: Now THATS a Banjo!
From: Leadfingers
Date: 28 May 03 - 02:47 AM

Looks almost as much fun as my circa 1900 Temlett seven string fretted
banjo which I bought for a tenner in the late sixties.

Subject: RE: Now THATS a Banjo!
From: JedMarum
Date: 28 May 03 - 10:01 AM

When I was visiting Rick Fielding last summer, and we did our rounds of his favorite music store haunts, I spotted an antique (I think German made) 6 stirng banjo ... It had frets. But it was a six srting BANJO, not a guitar on a banj body. It had the fifth drone string, like a five string, and the four G tuned strings, but it had an additional lower string. I loved it! Being a guiatr player converted to banjo, this instrumenbt made snse to me! It allowed me to do some bass lines that I always want to do but can't because I run out of scale!

'course the instrument was pretty well beat and suonded like sh*t - but I liked the idea!

I know, I know; learn to play the banjo, fool!

Subject: RE: Now THATS a Banjo!
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 28 May 03 - 10:52 AM

Jed - you could always find an old banjo with a warped neck but sound body, then persuade somebody to make a custom-built new neck for it. A new neck is not a major task to somebody who already has the equipment and access to suitable woods.
There are already mudcat threads concerning banjo construction, including links to websites which explain how to "do it yourself".
Quack!
GtD.