Why are banjos carved ?

Subject: Why are banjos carved ?
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 07:05 PM

I've been fighting Banjo Acquisition Syndrome for a bit, and have been drooling over the niceties of old-time banjos. One of the things I've noticed is vintage banjos often have a carved heel, while guitars (or dobros, or mandolins, or fiddles, etc.) rarely do. Why is this?

I realize guitars generally have a slightly smaller heel area, but is this any reason not to carve? Or is it perhaps that people play more "up the neck" on a guitar and feel that the fancy part will impede their hand movement?

Subject: RE: Why are banjos carved ?
From: X
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 09:24 PM

Because it's pretty.

Subject: RE: Why are banjos carved ?
From: Amos
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 09:33 PM

I think guitars come from a more modest tradition in Europe. Banjos are derived from African instruments and have no "aristocracy" in the Castillian sense. So noone feels reluctant to whip out the ole jacknife and take a chip ior two out of one...

Or maybe guitars are just harder to carve! :>)

A

Subject: RE: Why are banjos carved ?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 10:53 PM

Banjoes are not carved...because they are not fiddles.

IF...Banjoes... were fiddles....and they were carved....

It would affect the resonance of the instrument.

I will allow you to fill in the two missing segments of the double sylogism....since "audience participation" is essence of sylogistic reasoning.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Why are banjos carved ?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 10:57 PM

This is one instance ....where the B.S prefix could have been appropriately applied....

Now, that we are more correctly pointing the forum away from flatuance and wiccans.....other trivia should drop to the wayside....

Why DID you post this???

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Why are banjos carved ?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 11:01 PM

While it is my technique to post, post against post, using a GUEST prefix....

These GUEST prefixes are beginning to annoy be....

Have I been sent to the "hinterland" of Guests....Not a bad idea Mr. Max.....

Until, someone has "registered" they can only access the GUEST threads....

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Why are banjos carved ?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 11:09 PM

That wasn't me that posted the above.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Why are banjos carved ?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 11:29 PM

Hi Les,

I think that banjos may have been carved about the heel because they could be easily enough. And during the banjo Rennaisance at the turn of the century they becam individual pieces of art in both inlay and construction. Very likely a marketing tool as much as anything. The headstocks on Paramount and Orpheum banjos often were laid up from many laminations of Holly and Pear wood (I think) feathered down the neck. In some cases the more laminations, the more costly the instrument.

Also look at a banjo neck and the area they were carved. It was rare that a player got into the carved area when playing, especially on a five string. Altho' some virtuoso tenor and plectrum players might get up the neck that far.

This some conjecture on my part but I think it makes sense and it's at least a polite answer to what is a reasonable bit of wondering.

Don

Subject: RE: Why are banjos carved ?
From: GUEST,,.gargoyle
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 11:33 PM

Gargoyles are heels that are carved!

Subject: RE: Why are banjos carved ?
From: GUEST,Pete
Date: 31 Aug 02 - 09:10 AM

I think you'll find that gargoyles are ugly protuberances which spout waste

Subject: RE: Why are banjos carved ?
From: Les B
Date: 31 Aug 02 - 11:56 AM

I also wonder why fiddle headstocks are sometimes carved, other than with the typical scroll, but rarely are banjos and guitars. And, yes Don, I would agree, rarely do you get that far up the neck playing a 5-string.