Banjo & Regular Ukes ???

Subject: Banjo & Regular Ukes ???
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 11 May 01 - 12:25 AM

I've been thinking about getting an instrument that is easier to travel with than my banjo or gut bucket is, and really like the sounds of banjo ukes, and as a close second regular ukes. However, I also tend to like instruments that are tuned lower than the Soprano Uke.

So...

Do banjo ukes only come in similar size/tuning to Soprano ukeleles? Did anyone ever make them to replicate a Tenor or Baritone ukelele?

Also, What are the differences between a Soprano, Concert, Tenor, and Baritone Uke? Has each traditionally been used for a different type of music or style? Do you play them differently?

Last, are there any good banjo uke makers today? Is it still possible to find a good used banjo, tenor, or baritone uke? What should I look for to make sure that I'm not getting taken advantage of?

Thanks

JAB

Subject: RE: Banjo & Regular Ukes ???
From: M.Ted
Date: 11 May 01 - 12:01 PM

The first question is, why do you want an instrument tuned lower than a soprano ukulele? The soprano, concert, and tenor are tuned the same,A-D-F-#B(the a is a fourth higher than the D, rather than a fifth lower, as you would expect) though lately, people seem to favor tuning a step lower, G-C-E-A. The Baritone is tuned to the same pitches as the highest four strings on a guitar D-G-B-E),unlike the others, the D string is the lowest, (though some people tune it high so as not to lose that effect)--

I tend to play the tenor most of the time, because it has a somewhat more mellow sound, and the neck has a bit more room to maneuver--The little ones cut through better when playing with other instruments though--

The banjo-uke, is basically a soprano ukulele with a banjo body, and then there is that thing that George Formby used to play, which had eight strings, tuned as a ukulele, about the size of a tenor, but the strings were metal--I would have to look it up, but I think it was a mando-uke--

No doubt that the banjo resonator is louder, but the sound is also much more harsh--the ukulele blends really well with the voice (it was popular with college singing types before the guitar was) and when you move to a banjo resonator instrument, it tends to overpower the voice-- Formby's instrument worked well for the music hall stage however--

Subject: RE: Banjo & Regular Ukes ???
From: M.Ted
Date: 11 May 01 - 12:17 PM

Send before I finished, sorry--

To be honest, I don't know if the banjo-ukes were really very popular instruments--I do know that among the old time ukulele players, the Martin was considered to be the instrument of choice. The Martin tenors are hard to find, and it seems that every guitar collector now has got to have a Martin ukulele or two as well, so they cost quite a bit. Several years back, I had a luthier in the Islands make me a pair of tenors, but the price has gone up considerably since then(at the time, it cost less to have them made than it did to buy them used).

I think the best place to go would be to Elderly Instruments, who feature a range of decent instruments in their catalog, an carry vintage instruments as well--

Subject: RE: Banjo & Regular Ukes ???
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 11 May 01 - 01:19 PM

Thanks M. Ted

I have a baritone/bass voice, and just like the sound of deeper instruments. I also wondered how I could get my big fat fingers on that little bitty neck of the Soprano Uke. However, since I haven't been able to play and compare them yet my preferences are more theoretical than anything else.

The loundness of the banjo ukes may be worhtwhile if I ever start playing with others in a jug/string band (one of my longer term goals).

thanks

JAB

Subject: RE: Banjo & Regular Ukes ???
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 May 01 - 05:44 PM

At a boot-fair in Standon (Hertfordshire) on Bank Holiday Monday I picked-up an old banjo-uke for a couple of quid. It needs some attention to get into a playable condition, but seems a pretty fair instrument. It's got a little metal label shaped like a shield on it saying "Keech", and it has friction pegs and a brass tone ring, and the remains of gut strings.

Anyone able to tell me anything about it? And if possible point me in the direction of somewhere I could get a couple of brackets that might fit, and advice on strings etc?

Subject: RE: Banjo & Regular Ukes ???
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 11 May 01 - 08:59 PM

Quite a few years ago I bought a banjo type uke that had a wooden tone ring made up of two types of wood glued together forming the circle. It has a resonator and a three piece neck. Apparently a lot of work went into making the thing, however it has a lousy sound and if it had strings when I bought it I probably would have saved my money. Of course seven bucks wasn't a bad price.

When I started playing the uke there were no nylon strings. I still prefer the sound of the gut strings or the nylon strings that simulate the gut string.

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Banjo & Regular Ukes ???
From: M.Ted
Date: 11 May 01 - 09:57 PM

The gut strings do have a great sound--one of those trade-offs that come with progress--nylon is a lot cheaper, but there is a difference--

McGrath, if you were here, Elderly Instruments has a lot of ukulele and banjo parts--come to think of it, they have a website Elderly Ukuleles Parts and Accesories You can browse around and see if they have anything of use--

I think that I forgot to mention that ukulele players tend to have a number of instruments--a couple that are playable and a few more that need repairs, parts, or just sympathy--

Subject: RE: Banjo & Regular Ukes ???
From: Bert
Date: 11 May 01 - 10:32 PM

JAB, there's an antique store in MudcatVille that has a banjo-uke for 50 bucks.

send me some email if you want me to look anot it further for you.

Bert. [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Banjo & Regular Ukes ???
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 May 01 - 06:11 AM

Thanks M.Ted - I've just had a look at your link. No luck so far though. So if anyone's got any other ideas, let's have them. I think maybe in England the kind of people who go in for elderly ukes don't do the internet much.

Subject: RE: Banjo & Regular Ukes ???
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 May 01 - 08:25 AM

Not a banjo or uke player myself but one of my all time heroes, Lancashire Lad, George Formby, was. This page has a few links and it might give you a few ideas.

Clicky

The other thing is my mate Charlie Carter, luthier of high renown, has aquired a national steel uke! Sounds pretty good as well.

Cheers

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: Banjo & Regular Ukes ???
From: reggie miles
Date: 12 May 01 - 09:52 AM

There's a fellow by the name of Philips in California that has made a friend of mine a very nice metal bodied rezophonic uke, kind of like the ones National used to make. Her's seems to work fine and looks and sounds good. I don't know what he charges but I can ask her and find out more info if you like.

Subject: RE: Banjo & Regular Ukes ???
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 07:32 AM

Finally bought 1, then another....

Thanks for all your help. I finally bought an old noname birdseye maple banjo uke on Ebay ($51.00 + shipping). Then I bought another which turned out to be a Keech ($32 + shipping). It is a real find.

Now I'm listening to Cliff Edwards, Wendell Hall, R. Crumb, Frank Crumit, and George Formby all the time. What other "greats" should I get to learn the sound and songs of this great instrument?

GutBucky

The ukes gave me the disease. I also bought a baritone uke, and a tenor banjo which I am probably going to tune like a baritone uke. And I have a bid on another old Dixie banjo uke. When will it end ? Help!

Subject: RE: Banjo & Regular Ukes ???
From: M.Ted
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 11:13 AM

Johnny Marvin is a good one, but hard to find(there is a British compilation CD of his stuff, but I haven't been able to find it) Ota San is a contemporary player who is very popular among Hawaiian music fans--he plays with a lot of what is called "Aloha Spirit"--also, check out this site for live music broadcasts Aloha Joe Aloha!

Subject: RE: Banjo & Regular Ukes ???
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 06:44 PM

) Then I bought another which turned out to be a Keech says GutBucketeer .

I take it that's good? I ask because the banjo-uke I got in a boot fair on May Day (as mentioned in my last posting) is a Keech, and it'd be interesting to know more.

I still haven't got round to getting it back in shape - the vellum is broken and it's a couple of brackets short of the full set. I'd been thinking of patching the vellum rather than replacing it, since it seems to tighten up well enough even with the split, and I'd appreciate any suggestions. (Also any suggestions for where I might try to get replacements for the missing brackets.)

Subject: RE: Banjo & Regular Ukes ???
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 08:29 AM

The Keech is much better than I thought I was getting. It's a sound little instrument. Check out the banjo uke web site here:

http://freespace.virgin.net/dennis.taylor/index.htm

for more information.

JAB