banjo

Subject: RE: banjo
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 02:32 PM

For years I only had one banjo, a Vega with the extra long neck (Pete Seeger style). Somehow my life felt incomplete even with all the other instruments around the house. Then I got a chance to buy an old Vega 4 string for $125. It was then I discovered that a person really needs at least two banjo's. The four string is great for Celtic tunes and tunes of the ragtime era. The five string is great for Old Timey music, frailing, drop thumb frailing, clawhammer, melodic style and blue grass picking. My advice would be to get one of each as it takes too long to change necks, strings, especially during a 45 minute set. Better yet would be to have three banjo's with a third being the regular short neck 5 string mainly for blue grass. Well, er... let's see .. possibly a fourth five string banjo would be nice have around especially if you are plan to use modal tunings (you wouldn't have to continually change tunings).

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: banjo
From: chip a
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 02:16 PM

Bonnie I have a Bart Reiter with a Bacon tone ring. I have a couple of Dwight's tapes which I enjoy. I play a two finger style but I find I can use a lot of calwhammer stuff. I just have to do it sort of upside down! I hadn't played with others for years 'till I got married again. My wife is a guitar picker and whistler so we're working on stuff together. I love the fiddle tunes and ballads. She's getting me to play some newer stuff. Doc Watson is a banjo hero of mine. Looking forward to going to Clifftop for the first time this summer!

Chip

Subject: RE: banjo
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 02:04 PM

Chip I play old-time style. I play on a Bart Reiter tubaphone and I have a Goodtime that I use for travelling.
I was studying under Rick Fielding for about 1 1/2 years and then went to see Chris Coole because I wanted to focus soley on old-time tunes. Currently I am picking up whatever I can from Dwight Diller who teaches West Virginia old time tunes from the Pocahontas County. I am listening to music of Edden Hammons, Tommy Jarrell and whatever old-time recordings I can find of that area.
I've only been playing the banjo for about 2 years so I am not sure where my focus will settle but for now I sure do enjoy the old-time music and learning how to back up a fiddler.

Bonnie

Subject: RE: banjo
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 01:57 PM

Of course we have to leave a few tenors unconverted for Jon. Jon, don't want you to start buying up old five strings and putting tenor necks on them. By the way, I've heard that the rod of Aaron was actually a discarded tenor banjo neck although I have no proof of this and it may not be true.

Chip

Subject: RE: banjo
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 01:38 PM

I don't know chip, I play Irish style tenor.

Jon

Subject: RE: banjo
From: chip a
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 11:59 AM

That's better! Some beautiful old pots out there with 4 string handles on them. Conversions are common. Mudcatters---do most of you play old time styles or bluegrass?

chip

Subject: RE: banjo
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 11:18 AM

That's me chip a as guest. Tried to reset my cookies twice to no avail. anyone know what i'm doing wrong?

Thanks, Chip

Subject: RE: banjo
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 10:46 AM

Heard some good old time banjo at Brasstown N.C. last nite. Also (earlier) heard Betty Smith sing. A pretty good night! What banjo styles are you all playing and what songs are you working on? My wife and I are working on "Devil Take The Farmer" & "Long Hard Road" this week.

Subject: RE: banjo
From: zander (inactive)
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 09:47 AM

Barney McKenna is so good he can make a tenor banjo sound like a musical instrument. Blessings, Dave

Subject: RE: banjo
From: black walnut
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 08:08 AM

Oh, no. Not another thread about banjos.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: banjo
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 08:07 AM

murray, conversions from one neck to another are fairly common. If you found a 4 string with a good pot, it could even be worthwhile considering finding a luthier who could make and fit a 5 string neck.

Jon

Subject: RE: banjo
From:
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 07:25 AM

Five stringers are rare here in Australia, but one sees four stringed banjos. I am not ready to start learning to play one. I am spread too thin as it is; but for some future time, is it impractical to add a five-string neck to a four-string body? (Don't ask me where I will find the five-string neck.)

Murray

Subject: RE: banjo
From: old head
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 06:17 AM

how do you know when a bango has perfect pitch? when it goes down the toilet bowl,it doesn't touch the sides. by the way,i play a 5 string.

Subject: banjo
From: GUEST,terry
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 12:53 AM

lets talk banjo! Jokes about same are welcome. Terrt