eko banjos

Subject: eko banjos
From: lillyruben
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 05:20 AM

Hi everyone i am keen to take up banjo but not sure where to go to ask the right questions as to what would be a reasonable one to start on, saw an eko banjo going cheap are they worth the bother. also saw a fender, the type of stuff i want to learn are simple pieces also want to get away from relying on my guitar. quite like the flailing sound

Subject: RE: eko banjos
From: banjoman
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 05:32 AM

Good luck with taking up the banjo - its worth the effort. I am not too sure about Eko banjos but its important to make sure that it is in reasonable condition. Make sure that all the tuners work properly and that the action is reasonably low ( a lot of cheap banjos have action set high to eliminate buzzes) and that the skin head is not damaged.If you are interested in Frailing then I seggest you get a copy of Pete Seegers book on how to play the banjo.

If you need any more info then get back to me - if you are in the UK I would be happy to getin touch as I have made quite a few banjos myself
Pete

Subject: RE: eko banjos
From: Bernard
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 06:09 AM

An Eko banjo would be fairly old, circa 1970. They were fairly well made so shouldn't have any problems (though it's wise to check as per Banjoman's advice), but they weren't particularly special, either.

As I recall, the main four tuners were single guitar-style, so would be cheap and easy to replace. It's fairly straightforward to fit a Schaller geared 5th string tuner, too.

Did you actually mean 'frailing' when you wrote 'flailing', or was that just descriptive prose...?!

Pete Seeger's book is good, and so is Earl Scruggs' book (but not if you prefer frailing) if you can get it. A friend of mine couldn't find a copy and wrote directly to Earl himself, who duly sent one to him!

Subject: RE: eko banjos
From: Seayaker
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 06:39 AM

If you are in the UK have a look at Andy Perkins' website at www.andybanjo.com He will give good advice and is good to deal with.

Subject: RE: eko banjos
From: lillyruben
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 07:43 AM

thanks guys yeah i meant frazzling i think it is old timey style would that be correct

Subject: RE: eko banjos
From: lillyruben
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 07:44 AM

frailing

Subject: RE: eko banjos
From: lillyruben
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 07:47 AM

I have found a book of pete seegers how to play banjo so will be grabbing that and then checking up on this eko i have spotted

Subject: RE: eko banjos
From: GUEST,Larry
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 10:07 AM

It's always a good idea to get someone who knows something about banjos to have a look at it or at least recommend a shop to you. The biggest problem (here in the UK) seems to be that guitar shops don't sell many and so have only one, which is on display and gets knocked about anf the nech warps. Similarly 2nd hand banjos have to be checked for warped necks.
Good luck with the banjo. I started a couple of years ago.

Subject: RE: eko banjos
From: olddude
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 10:28 AM

also look at a tyler mountain banjo
I have no idea how they can make a banjo of that quality for the prices they sell for. Mine is a top of the line and it is comparable to any deering ... and that is not me speaking but a blue grass buddie who plays professionally

Subject: RE: eko banjos
From: BanjoRay
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 10:55 AM

If you're in the UK I would recommend this one from Eagle Music as an excellent value starter banjo. Several friends have one and are very pleased with them. I've played several, and they're always well set up and sound fine. I don't get anything but satisfaction from recommending banjos!

Subject: RE: eko banjos
From: Bernard
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 01:50 PM

I've got a very nice 'starter model' Barnes and Mullins (resonator back) that a friend of mine bought a couple of months before cancer finished him off last year. I'm trying to sell it on behalf of his widow if anyone is interested (before it eventually goes on eBay).

I can email photos... PM with your email address. It's easily worth 120 GBP, as it really hasn't seen much use.

There's no case or cardboard box, though.

Subject: RE: eko banjos
From: GUEST,Davetnova
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 04:03 AM

BanjoRay - Strangely enough I've just taken delivery of one of these(ten minutes ago), opened the box and tuned it. Great little banjo,well set up, cost £140 new, quiet(I play with bare naked fingers) but a nice feel and sound and light enough to drag around festivals. Seems really good value to my inexperienced hands and ears. Dave T

Subject: RE: eko banjos
From: lillyruben
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 05:43 AM

i have flagged the eko banjo, i asked an instrument repair and builder acquaintance and he said better off trying to find something else quite hard when you are left-handed might be easier to learn tenor banjo

Subject: RE: eko banjos
From: Seayaker
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 05:42 AM

Left handed banjos aren't that rare, try being a left handed fiddle player.

Subject: RE: eko banjos
From: lillyruben
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 04:31 AM

I already play a fiddle lefthanded

Subject: RE: eko banjos
From: Seayaker
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 09:32 AM

That's good to hear, so do I. It should be encouraged.

Subject: RE: eko banjos
From: Nick
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 11:30 AM

If you are in the UK and north at that you could try The Left Handed Guitar Shop run by a left handed banjo player. I'm sure Chris would be able to help

Subject: RE: eko banjos
From: Bernard
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 01:33 PM

In the past when a friend has wanted a left-handed banjo I've found a good second-hand G-banjo and added a 5th string peg. It's not too difficult to replace the nut and the bridge, and a strategically placed round headed screw carries the 5th string.

Fitting the 5th string peg involves careful notching of the neck to allow it to be slightly recessed.

For those who didn't know, the G-banjo is identical in scale to the 5-string, but with only four strings - in fact, some people mistakenly refer to a 5-string as a G-banjo!

The fact that G-banjos aren't as popular as 5-strings and tenors these days means there are more good, cheap ones around.

An old mate of mine,Malcolm Povah, who I haven't seen for years is a G-banjo champion - I used to do his repairs for him, including re-fretting a Paragon.