 sj |
||
|
||
Your Favorite Banjo Maker
|
|
|
Subject: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 01 Nov 05 - 04:37 PM As always I apologize if this thread has already been started in a slightly different form . I thought it would be fun to have a thread that talked about lots of different banjo makers and what they are up to . My interest is in clawhammer so I will talk in that area myself but I hope some bluegrass and Tenor players might add to this their favorites!! . My hope is for this thread not to be who is the "best" but just here celebrating that we have so many great people making great banjos to talk about . I have a wonderful banjo from Mike Ramsey's shop . His set up work has made me sound better then I ever thought I could. http://www.ramseybanjos.com/ We had a thread started on Bob Fleshers work . Incredibly beautiful banjos : http://www.flesherbanjo.com/ I just found this incredible maker when I was looking for old John Ashborn banjos . Kevin Enoch's banjos are as Classic a looking banjo as I have ever seen !! Just beautiful .I cant wait to hear one . http://www.enochbanjos.com/ For the historian in all of us James Hartel's Banjos look perfect . I am hoping my local Historical Museum will get one of these great remakes of Ashborn's banjo .. http://www.minstrelbanjo.com/index.html With all the interest in Dwight Dillers teaching and his following I have heard a lot about Lo Gordon's wonderful banjo's . They look great and the few I have played they are great to frail .http://www.cedarmtnbanjos.com/ In Harrogate Yorkshire England a year or two ago I tried a very beautiful banjo made by a man named James Bowen . Just beautiful work His banjos are called Griffon banjos . Anyway all the best for now . To support all these makers ,wouldnt it be great to buy one from each !!! Happy playing , Guy |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: GUEST,Martin Gibson Date: 01 Nov 05 - 04:48 PM Why Gibson Mastertones, of course. Most bluegrass players settle for nothing less. |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: GUEST,Stewart Bacon Date: 01 Nov 05 - 05:17 PM Most bluegrass players settle for nothing less. At a local bluegrass festival, I wouldn't even to have heard any music or see anything telling what the festival was. The sheer proportion of Gibsons and Martin guitars was enough. Even people who could only play 3 chords had them. It used to amuse me but also make me glad that the music I enjoy most rather than being bogged down with that sort of "must have a ... " mentality is full of people open enough to make their own assesments and select the instruments that fit their needs and tastes the best. |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: DonMeixner Date: 01 Nov 05 - 05:27 PM Ode, Fairbanks, Vega, Bacon and Day. |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Richard Bridge Date: 01 Nov 05 - 05:38 PM Has anyone invented a silent one yet? |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 01 Nov 05 - 05:45 PM I think its great to talk about banjos made in the passed that we love but my interest here was to bring up and talk about makers still breathing and offering instuments in 2005 . . I love old bacon's and tubaphones too so bring them up all you want .. Ritchard Bridge they did invent a bridge clamp in the 1920's that almost silenced the thing but they didnt sell well . All the best , Guy |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 01 Nov 05 - 06:18 PM In bringing up The Mastertone. Are these made in Mantana where the acustic guitars are made??? What style tonering are they using ? Which models are popular and why ? . Anyone have stories on craftmenship of the newer Gibsons. The guitars are great so I would expect the banjos to be wonderful as well. MARTIN GIBSON have you noticed any new mastertones in your travels that you could expound about or know why their owners chose that model ?? All the best to all here. |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: BanjoRay Date: 01 Nov 05 - 08:08 PM I have one of Lo Gordon's Cedar Mountain banjos, and loads of people have told me without prompting that they love it's tone. It's the best buy I've ever made. We have some good banjo makers in the UK. As Guy said James Bowen of Shropshire makes lovely banjos (Griffin) - I've played many of them at our festivals, as James really likes people to play the ones he brings. We also have Dave Stacey of Letchworth, Hertfordshire who makes lovely banjos. I'm looking after the banjo Debby McClatchy uses when she comes to the UK, which was (re)constructed by Dave. It has an old Bacon body, with one of Dave's necks, with beautifully copied Bacon inlays, heel carving and internal resonator, as near as dammit a Bacon FF professional - it sounds like heaven, and I wont want to give it back when she comes in March. Debby says if she ever sells off her banjos, that's the one she's keeping! Dave Bing, a wonderful West Virginia musician and fiddle maker was given one of Dave's banjos when he came over last year, and in a couple of weeks will spend time with Dave learning some banjo-making tricks. Cheers Ray |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: kendall Date: 01 Nov 05 - 08:58 PM Jim Cox of Brunswick Maine makes some of the best bluegrass banjos I ever heard. Equal to any Gibson. Personally, I like my Vega Faibanks. |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Dave Hanson Date: 02 Nov 05 - 04:38 AM I play a short scale Vega ' Fairbanks Whyte Laydie ' tenor, it's 91 years old and it still sounds amazing. eric |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: GLoux Date: 02 Nov 05 - 07:55 AM There are so many fine banjos out there. I play a Wildwood Troubador that suits me just fine. A number of folks I know play Bart Reiter banjos. A close friend plays a Kyle Creed, another loves his Kevin Enoch. -Greg |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: kendall Date: 02 Nov 05 - 07:59 AM The days when the two top makers of guitars and banjos are long gone. |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 02 Nov 05 - 10:34 AM Ray and everyone else if you can get perrmition for contact information or if these makers have websites please put link information in this thread. I think we can make this dialauge a real useful tool for like minded banjo crazed players here at mudcat . I am waiting for contact information from Jim and Judith at Griffon and will add it well given the go ahead. all the best , Guy |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Shiplap Structure3 Date: 02 Nov 05 - 11:29 AM I love bacon banjos with tomato, has to be a good breadcake though |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: GLoux Date: 02 Nov 05 - 11:49 AM Kevin Enoch Banjos Bart Reiter Banjos Wildwood Banjos Mike Ramsey Banjos -Greg |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Dave Swan Date: 02 Nov 05 - 12:04 PM This link will take you to a page of contact information for Hendricks Banjos. It's a pity there's no website, but if you're serious about a beautiful banjo with a great ring, you should talk to the Hendricks brothers. I'm not much of a picker, but I get a lot of enjoyment out of mine. Folks who really know what they're doing have a great time playing it. D |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: BanjoRay Date: 02 Nov 05 - 12:34 PM These people are all extremely Googleable, even if they don't have websites. I found Dave Stacey's and James Bowen's addresses and phone numbers first try. Ray |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Spot Date: 02 Nov 05 - 01:20 PM Hallo everybody.. Geoff Stelling ...end of conversation... Regards to all...Spot |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: kendall Date: 02 Nov 05 - 02:33 PM I find Stellings a bit "Stringy" and not enough bottom. |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Mary Humphreys Date: 02 Nov 05 - 02:57 PM I love the prototype Griffin banjo that James made when I was living in West Yorkshire. He brought it along to a session one evening and I didn't want to let him take it home with him. I bought it the next day and have been playing it ever since. It is a lovely instrument for accompaniments. He also does fantastic bluegrass models and small banjos too, called Grifflets. James can be found on the web using Google, but for those in the UK here are his details as advertised: Griffin Banjos New Banjos combining the best of hardware with fine craftmanship James Bowen, 34 Lydbury North, Shropshire. SY7 8AU Tel 01 588 680 666 Mary Humphreys |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 02 Nov 05 - 04:10 PM Geoff Stelling is http://www.stellingbanjo.com/ THanks everyone for making the blue thingys above. Im not there yet . http://www.stellingbanjo.com/ Ill try some more . |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 02 Nov 05 - 04:11 PM http://www.stellingbanjo.com/ |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 02 Nov 05 - 04:18 PM James Hartel's historic banjos. ! http://www.minstrelbanjo.com/index.htm |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 02 Nov 05 - 04:21 PM Cool here's Lo Gordon's link . Sorry i didnt put these all in the first note . Slow on the up take here. All the best , guy http://www.cedarmtnbanjos.com/ |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 02 Nov 05 - 04:26 PM Spot ,do you own one of Geoff's Stelling's banjos? What are the inlays like. <>><>< the tone . finger-board ? How is it on a mike . Any additional conversation on WHY you like an instrument adds a lot to the disscution and helps people thinking of getting a banjo to look further . Thanks . There are no wrong answers here when your talking about a banjo you love .. |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: GUEST,Martin Gbison Date: 02 Nov 05 - 04:32 PM It's true. Martin guitars and Gibson banjos are played by virtually every bluegrass player because they are the standard of quality and what is expected by the best. that's not to say that there aren't other good instruments. Only one though can be the best, and I will go with the majority obviously chooses. Richard Bridge, loudmouth lawyers need to find a mute much more than the joyous sound of a banjo. |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 02 Nov 05 - 04:41 PM George Wunderlich makes a great historical banjo and is very popular amoung the Civil War reanactors here on the east coast . His website is very intertesting . http://www.wunderbanjo.com/ |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Spot Date: 02 Nov 05 - 06:03 PM Hallo GuyWolff Yep..I have a Bellflower and wouldnt swap it for anything...I've tried loads over the years( Mastertones etc etc etc )and nothing comes close for me!! The inlays are perhaps best described as tulip heads and longish leaves, beautifully made and fitted.I put a Fishman on the rods, which works fine, and have had no probs miking it up.Gorgeous black walnut and quality nickel metal bits..slick and positive machines and Stelling's lovely, elegant headstock...It growls, it's crisp...it's bright ..it's all I ever wanted!! the only criticism is a relatively poor fit of the neck to the body - not quite perfect!! Oh,it's a heavy bastard,too!! Regards to all....Spot |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 02 Nov 05 - 06:34 PM See now that sounds beautiful and makes me want to hear one up close and personal .. Thanks Spot for the inspiration . !! All the best Guy |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: kendall Date: 02 Nov 05 - 08:37 PM It's true that at this point in time, Gibson banjos and Martin guitar are in the majority. Old habits die hard. Remember that 100 years ago most ships were driven by sails. Nothing in the universe is static. Change is inevitable and resistance to change is also inevitable. |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 02 Nov 05 - 09:20 PM THe tone rings on the early Vega White Lady and Tubaphone have inspired meny of the new makers as have the Bacon and Bacon & Day internal resonator. I would love to hear Mike ramsey's remake of the "electric" and his Tubaphone . There are meny makers wokring hard at revisiting these great banjos . Any takers on talking about the results . |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 02 Nov 05 - 09:23 PM Mike ramsey's "Electric" as promiced : http://www.ramseybanjos.com/Electric.html |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 02 Nov 05 - 09:39 PM Has anyone gotten the remake of the Tubaphone by Deering ?? I have never heard one . It would be great to have some conversation on these acsesable remakes of the greats . This link wont go directly to the tubaphone just click on the Vega on the bottom right of the home page and your there. http://www.deeringbanjos.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Arbuthnot Date: 02 Nov 05 - 11:38 PM I have a John Grey banjo which is as good for bluegrass music as it gets - I don't play bluegrass. I am a member of the Martin Owners Club - I do not own a Martin. I play a Bacon and Day guitar. I know I am deranged, but am I seriously bewildered? Or just averse to the confusion of influences? |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Jon W. Date: 03 Nov 05 - 12:05 PM Judging by the ones I own, I am my favorite banjo maker. I'm not saying they play better or sound better than anyone else's - they probably don't. Nor do I claim superiority in craftsmanship or any other facet of building. But I have designed and built five banjos completely from scratch, with another in the works, and built two replacement necks for old banjo pots, with again, another in the works. I find it to be imminently satisfying to string up a banjo and play the very first tune it will ever play. And, because I can do whatever I want in the design, these allow me to express myself completely. So I say to any out there who are so inclined - try building your own, you'll like it! Here's some of my work |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 03 Nov 05 - 12:42 PM My first banjo was a John Grey I picked up on Potabello Rd comming up from the pottery I was working at in Ewenny,Glamorganshire Wales (1970) . The banjo sounded a lot better then I did. !!! I did have a huge plaster body cast on because I had broken my neck on a Bonnivile ouside of Cardiff the month before so at least I was memorable to look at if not to hear ! .Sorry they are not still making John Grey banjos any more .. Are they ?? I dont think so ?? Jon W great to see your work ! I made 36 dulicmers one year none of them very good but stringing them up was always a very exciting moment .. I know what you mean about being the first person to hear an instrument .. |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 03 Nov 05 - 04:30 PM This is so much fun . I just had a very nice talk with Jim Hartel. Jim knows a lot but is very nice about it to boot . We were talking makers and he mentioned Will Fielding in Vermont as one whos banjos he really liked the sound of . You cant get any better recomendation then one maker speaking well of another . Will Fielding banjo : http://www.willfielding.com/banjos.html |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Steve Latimer Date: 04 Nov 05 - 08:31 AM Gibson banjos are made in Nashville and use a Kulesh Tone Ring. These are getting rave reviews over at the Banjo Hangout. I have never played one, but I have bought some items from Arthur including a three ply Maple rim. I wish my furniture looked as good. Hatfield Banjos |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: GLoux Date: 04 Nov 05 - 11:30 AM Johannes Bonefaas brought some of his banjos from Denmark to Clifftop a couple of years ago. They were amazing instruments. JB Banjos They are available with "hairy" goatskin heads!!! -Greg |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 04 Nov 05 - 11:43 AM Steve and Greg these both look like great finds. High quality and of a character . Banjo makers do seem to be a bread onto themselves . Thanks to both of you for the additions here. . Guy |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Dave Hanson Date: 05 Nov 05 - 04:34 AM A bread unto themselves ? are they collectively ' a sandwich ' or ' a loaf ' ? eric |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: GUEST,A_Banjo_Player Date: 05 Nov 05 - 02:29 PM The worse made Mastertone will out shine the best "Other" banjo on any day. I wouldn't own a Stelling...If they ever become the only banjo I'd stop playing. |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: oombanjo Date: 05 Nov 05 - 04:51 PM My favorite is my ORB banjo. I also have a long neck with a 3"deep Jack hird pot that has no tone ring, excellent sound. |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: GUEST,Martin Gibson Date: 05 Nov 05 - 04:56 PM To Guest, A banjo Player: My hat is off to you. Some of these folkie types want their banjos to be organic and sold in a health food store. |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Steve Latimer Date: 06 Nov 05 - 02:43 PM Guest a Banjo Player, I have to disagree with you. There are some excellent banjos being produced by small makers that are at least the equal to Gibsons. Gibson did have some serious quality control issues in the past, although they are making very good banjos now. However, to discount banjos made by the likes of Arthur Hatfield, Jimmy Cox, Frank Neat and many others is doing yourself a disservice. |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Steve Latimer Date: 06 Nov 05 - 03:29 PM Here are some links to some other top quality Bluegrass banjos. Desert Rose Crafters of Tennessee Osborne Chief Huber Sullivan Prucha Fawley Retrotone |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Steve Latimer Date: 06 Nov 05 - 03:37 PM Oops, forgot one. Ome |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 06 Nov 05 - 07:53 PM Steve Latimer ,Thanks for chiming in here .( Sorry almost a pun ) ... We needed some blugrass banjo input . I respect Mastertone loyalty as much as anyone but it is great to hear other voices as well. And to get to look at some eye candy as well . Thanks for the input All the best , Guy |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Guy Wolff Date: 06 Nov 05 - 07:57 PM You know we still need to hear from some tenor players !!!! |
|
Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker From: Steve Latimer Date: 06 Nov 05 - 08:42 PM My Uncle is a tenor player. He recently sold his Archtop Gibson to get a Richelieu, it seems like a great banjo (although I can't play it). |
| Share Thread: |