Folklore: play an original ODE longneck banjo?

Subject: Folklore: play an original ODE longneck banjo?
From: Boulderfolkie
Date: 25 Aug 11 - 05:06 PM

I'm curious about how many folkies out there still play an original ODE longneck banjo and, if so, what your history with that banjo is. I live in Boulder where Charles Ogsbury still builds OME banjos and this is the 50th Anniversary of ODE banjos. Chuck loves to hear about the originals out there. Does anyone have number 1? A friend of mine has number 9 and I have no. 10 and a few others.

Subject: RE: Folklore: play an original ODE longneck banjo?
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 25 Aug 11 - 06:15 PM

I have played one for 20 years. # 1838 A    Model 43.

I have cleared more than one waitress's drink tray with it's long handle. A great instrument. I play it in two bands and at an open mic where I'm off to right now. Bye

Don

Subject: RE: Folklore: play an original ODE longneck banjo?
From: kendall
Date: 25 Aug 11 - 08:09 PM

My friend, Ed Trickett has an ODE but I don't remember how long the neck is.

Subject: RE: Folklore: play an original ODE longneck banjo?
From: GUEST,Songbob
Date: 26 Aug 11 - 01:05 PM

My first banjo was a Gretsch-made "Bacon" banjo, but I fairly quickly swapped that for a basic Ode long-neck model. I don't know the model or number, since I sold it when I happened on a Vega 12" Whyte Laydie banjo a friend was selling.

But I loved that Ode, and did the bulk of my larnin' on it. I sold it to Don Rusnack, who went on to open a banjo shop in northern Virginia, catering to the upper models the bluegrassers all like. I don't know where the Ode is now, or Don, for that matter.

Bob Clayton