Help: Long neck banjo and Autoharp

Subject: Long neck banjo and Autoharp
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 12:56 PM

I shall be in NH and Vermont possibly also in Toronto and Quebec in September. I want to find second-hand, both a long neck banjo and an Autoharp. Please can anyone give me names and addresses to suit.

Jock

Subject: RE: Help: Long neck banjo and Autoharp
From: bill\sables
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 01:25 PM

This is one for Rick, He knows all the instrument dealers in Toronto.

Subject: RE: Help: Long neck banjo and Autoharp
From: chip a
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 01:26 PM

I don't know what you'll find in the frozen north. Why wait that long? Have you looked at Elderly Instruments? I just checked and they have a Vega longneck in stock.

Hope this helps.

Chip A.

Subject: RE: Help: Long neck banjo and Autoharp
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 01:46 PM

I found a great old autoharp on eBay

Subject: RE: Help: Long neck banjo and Autoharp
From: Hollowfox
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 03:20 PM

I'm with Gioc. I'd much rather examine the thing before buy it.

Subject: RE: Help: Long neck banjo and Autoharp
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 03:32 PM

Hi Jock. Dial up The Twelfth Fret Music store in Toronto immediately. They've got one nice used long neck in the store. It won't last long.

Rick

Subject: RE: Help: Long neck banjo and Autoharp
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 03:11 PM

I think Ricks advice on the long neck is probably correct, thought I found my Vega Folk Ranger in a pawn shop. If that doesn't work out I would try for a day in Boston while you're in Vermont/NH. They have several good music stores in the area and ususally a good supply of banjo's.

As for the autoharp, the further south you go the higher the prices, but the better the selection. Just a good knocking plywood box without the chord bars will fetch $50 below the Mason-Dixon. Schimdts will go for up to $600 (special models higher) while custom harps will go for $600 up to a couple of K. While you may get some face time with the banjo, (depending on a bit of luck), your chances for examining several used autoharps at once may be slim, and Elderly's or ebay your best chance. Good Luck!

Subject: RE: Help: Long neck banjo and Autoharp
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 04:05 PM

I got an Oscar Schmidt on eBay that I thought was pretty good. It does have a nice sound, but Night Owl told me someone had done weird things to chord bars. It is okay, because she can fiddle with it and make it better, but she made me promise not to judge all autoharps by my first encounter.:-) At any rate, I didn't spend very much on it, but I've noticed they can run pretty high on eBay unless you watch carefully.

kat

Subject: RE: Help: Long neck banjo and Autoharp
From: GUEST,fortunato
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 07:20 PM

My advice on the autoharp is to order a new Oscar Schimdt from The Washington Music Center online. Get a price quote and have it shipped to your contacts in the US. You will get the best price available on an instrument with no problems. Try a spruce topped, Appalachian Model. Our experience has been the used ones are not worth the money or the effort. PM me if you want more info and I'll hook you up. cheers, Fortunato

Subject: RE: Help: Long neck banjo and Autoharp
From: GUEST,Extra Stout
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 07:31 PM

Elderly will send you an entire used instrument catalog. Good luck.

Subject: RE: Help: Long neck banjo and Autoharp
From: TNDARLN
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 09:39 PM

I would not advise anyone to buy a new Oscar Schmidt autoharp. Ebay can be a good place to look, but keep in mind that the ones that "go high" are going [usually]to folks who know which old ones to buy. And plan on new strings and felts. You might join the cyberpluckers list and check out autoharp.org for pointers.

If you really want a new harp, you might consider getting the OS 1930s reissue; and then have the action, etc. tweaked by one of the guys that does that kind of work.

"Appalachian" model OS harps tend to go higher on ebay, as do the 21 chord models. Depending on what you want to do with the harp, you might do just as well with 15 bars.

There are also luthier-made bars available to put on older OS harps. I've done this with two of mine, and have been pleased. Holler' if you need names, etc.

T

Subject: RE: Help: Long neck banjo and Autoharp
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 11:17 PM

I've just been given a one of a kind, longnecked 25 fret banjo, by a friend (In his 90's and going blind) who's moving to florida to live with a newice, since his wife died. I'll ask him if he has any more long necks available. He's a world renound luthier named Todd Farnham, of Tiverton Rhode Island. The banjo he gave me has a pot made by F.J. Bacon HIMSELF before he formed his partnership with "Day" (B&D Banjo Co, Groton, Connecticut) Todd made th neck. It was the firwt musical instrument he ever had a part in making. What a sound!!! I used to have a B&D "Silver Bell" (lost ) and often wondered what a Bacon would sound like with a "Weather King " Head. WOW!. Anyway, I'll ask Todd about another long neck. (I'm giving my Gibson Mastertone to my son) My Silver Bell had a Rogers 3 star calfskin head. It was before Plastics.

regards, Jody

Subject: RE: Help: Long neck banjo and Autoharp
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 01:06 PM

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