How much should I expect to spend on banjo?

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: guy wolff
Date: 15 Jun 99 - 10:43 PM

Thanks Gargoyle For the link to the Pre war gibson stuff.I have an old ball bearing 1926 TB/3 with a new five string neck and did'nt quite know it .I'm sure Tony at the fretted workshop would have told me what I was getting when I bought it but I liked the sound of it so much I never asked him what you called the thing> I just knew I liked the sound of the Ball Bearing modle. I've taken the resonater off and put it away with the tenor neck till after my demize. A mastertone played open-back...Is that unhaerd of? It sounds great and what the ball bearing mastertone was meant for. Anyway thanks >>>>I'm in love!<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 15 Jun 99 - 11:09 PM

Guy,

Open back is the way to go. I play an ODE longneck five string that was an archtop originally. Took out the interior ring and added a Waverly Fyberskin top. Just the accoustic sound I like. Now if I can only solve the pickup dilema.

Don

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 15 Jun 99 - 11:28 PM

Hi Don >>>I forgot to say I put on a Fiberskin head too!A friend of mine told me to get one of thoughs little vedio mikes at radio shack and stuff that in the back of the thing. I've always liked the shure 57{? the straight one without the ball} on stage. Miking is the reason I gave up on my Bacon Profesional. It has such beautifull tone in a Parlor but is enpty on a mike.It looses all thoughs under-tones and everything.Anyway thanks for the feed-back.....Guy>>>>>>>

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 16 Jun 99 - 09:47 AM

Well...see, uh Mick.. uhh, the Dylan connection was that in an interview he told Irwin Siber (who had asked why he didn't credit his sources) that he didn't really steal songs. They were all just out there floatin' around and he just reeled them in to use with his poetry. So I was just kind of makin' a little joke about your reference to the "mountains of Mourne" tune. Same thing with Clancys etc. I don't ACTUALLY think they're authentic. What I want to know is who first brought the Greek Bouzouki to a session?
See what happens when you ask a simple question, Mary?

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Jun 99 - 10:27 AM

Almost sent you a note last night Rick. I wanted to ask how you were gonna' explain that one and that I wasn't going to touch it with a Vega longneck (nice guy,huh?). But you've acquitted yourself well...hopefully. Good Luck.

catspaw

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 16 Jun 99 - 02:09 PM

Well Rick, sometimes the simplest questions can go on and on and on...(I remember asking a new friend a question a year ago, "So, how did YOU get into Irish Music?"...The ensuing conversation hasn't ended!)

Mick, thank you for that explanation of shall I more accurately say "Celtic" diddly music...or is that term going to open up a new can of worms? You should have pursued a carreer teaching history at a University me thinks! An integrated course: History of the British Isles coupled with/made more interesting by the addition of historical themed songs....

AND WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CLANCY BROTHERS??? They (well the ones I can speak for: Paddy, Bobby, Liam and their nephew Robbie) are all very nice fellows!!!! Yes, I've a soft spot...but NO my Irish music collection isn't entirely of them...

Okay, I've come up with another question or two, but perhaps I'll have to start a new thread.

I, years ago, drove my gradeschool best friend crazy with a song lyrics I wrote to the tune of Stars and Stripes Forever...soooooo, I guess we all reel in the borrowed tune now and then.....hmmmm--reel--makes me want to go fishing!

I'm outta here.

Mary

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 16 Jun 99 - 08:33 PM

Mary
A new friend may go on and on and on, so be warned.. (an even bigger smirk).. as for lecturing perhaps the Prof ought to set up a special page on his web site solely for that purpose, though I feel I may have clouded things somewhat in gettinf reels and jigs mixed up.
Need I say what is wrong with the Crappy Bros once you've heard Kelly's Heroes?... and not an Aran Sweater in sight..
A thought has just occured to me.. in that I wonder how many people "tune in" to the mudcat from Ireland and if they do, whether or not they understand/agree with all of our ramblings..the reason why I hear you ask... well someone told me the other day, that the only place you will hear "traditional" Irish music is anywhere other than Ireland.. makes you think..
I will pass on the Bob Dylan references.. have always prefered Paul Simon as a much more original/intelligent songwriter..
Now I'm definitely outa here.. with or without Robert Zimmerframe..
Mick

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: Max
Date: 16 Jun 99 - 08:43 PM

The Clancy Brothers! Weren't they the guys who stole "Still I love him"? And now everyone thinks it's an Irish Song.
Bert.

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: gargoyle
Date: 16 Jun 99 - 10:32 PM

THANX...

I found that the Pre-War site answered several of my own questions. Would not have found it without Sings original question.

To: Sings, Mick, Don, Guy

This sadly appears to be a "flashback" to the later CB-Radio days. There is so much channel noise it is difficult to follow the thread.

What is a Fiberskin ???, never heard of it.

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: Songbob
Date: 17 Jun 99 - 04:18 PM

Fyberskin is a specially-designed plastic banjo head with many of the characteristics of calfskin heads. That is, it's not so ice-pick-in-the-ears shrill or sharp as regular heads, and gives the plunkier sound that old-time banjo players seek. It doesn't react to humdiditty the way a real skin head does, though, which is why people developed 'em in the first place.

And "Mountains of Mourne" is the form of the parody used herein, but "Bendemeer's Stream" is the tune, and a very good tune it is. One of my favorites (see favorite tune thread). One of these days I'll get off my duff and look up the lyrics to "Bendemeer's Stream" and see if it matches the tune for singability.

Tenor banjos, as played in modern Irish settings, is actually a poor choice, since the tuning makes tune playing harder. The better choice would be a plectrum banjo, but they're rare birds and not often found.

Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: reggie miles
Date: 17 Jun 99 - 06:04 PM

Someone just the other day gave me a long neck Vega. From what I could research it's about a 1930's Vegaphone Professional. It's in excellent original condition with the original case again in quite fine condition. A plectrum length neck, 22 frets. The tuners though original slip too much to be functional. Now I don't know the first thing about how to play in any traditional methodology but I fingerpick some on my guitars and figure I could just tune it as I do my open tuned guitar and do some of the same material. That's the plan anyway. Once I get the tuners to work or get some others on it that will. I've always wanted a good banjo and after years of looking and never finding one, here one comes and almost falls into my lap as a gift. One of the nicest things anyone has ever given me. I'm speechless, almost.

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: guy wolff
Date: 17 Jun 99 - 11:14 PM

After looking at the pre-war sight it makes me want to have a matching RB 3 style five string neck made for this wanderfull old lady. {I mean the 1926 mastertone I was talking about above} Any faverite banjo neck {Luthyers?}crafts-persons out there or opiniuns? See how much we SPEND on these Loved ones!!!!!!!!!!!!>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>CHEERS G.W.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 17 Jun 99 - 11:26 PM

Guy,

Bart Reiter at Elderly, Bernhard Lehman on Elton Ave, Rochester NY.

Don

Subject: RE: How much should I expect to spend on banjo?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 18 Jun 99 - 06:47 PM

Thanks Don. I'll look into them both. I've always liked the feel at Elderly. Thier shop is so friendly...Have you ever visited them?I love how meny instroments you can get in your grubby little hands in an hour or two.It's the same at Tony's in Anherst{FRetted Instroment shop}. An hour and you've played $50,000.00 worth of instroments . Cheers Guy>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<>>>>>>><<<<<<<>>>>>><<>>><><