I Think I Need One of These (Gold Tone Banjola)

Subject: I Think I Need One of These
From: JedMarum
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 09:13 AM

What the heck does this thing sound like??? I really think I need one!

Mick - or any of you close enough to Elderly Mudcatters - you owe it to yourself to go out to the store and try this thing out!! Then, you might want to report back to this thread and let us knw what you think!!

Click

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: JedMarum
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 09:14 AM

... and it's only $700 (US) too. What a bargain. Of course the divorce would cost me much more ...

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: nickp
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 09:16 AM

For those in the UK I think Hobgoblin are/will be stocking these or something similar.

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 10:11 AM

HOT DAMN!!!!

These Gold Tone folks are taking some very esoteric concerns quite seriously.

They've made an excellent frailing banjo at a very reasonable price (just under a thousand bucks)

They've got two six string banjos on the market now. Neither is very good but they're tryin'.

I almost bought an original August J. Pohlmann five string "lute" last year. It looked beautiful and was in good shape considering it was from the early part of the (last) century. Took too much time pulling the trigger and it was gone when I went back to the store.

These are probably BETTER though (same design exactly) simply 'cause they look a bit 'solider'

Good for Gold Tone. Thanks Jed.....and YES...I AM gonna get one!

Cheers

Rick

P.S. Hi Mick, could you go to Elderly and get two for Jed and I? Just put it on your expense account. Thanks mate!

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: Mark Clark
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 10:24 AM

At 60 I probably qualify as being close to an elderly Mudcatter.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: Big Mick
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 10:31 AM

Way the hell too cool!! I will see to it that I am in Elderly sometime soon and check this out. I am curious as hell to hear its sound.

Sure Rick, now..............where did I put that damn card???...............HMMMMM, can't seem to find it right now, but as soon as I do................Hey Jeri, you want one too?....where is that thing?..........

Mick

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: Jim Krause
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 10:52 AM

I guess I better get in line & learn to fingerpick the banjo some. Doubt that that Whateveritis would sound quite right being played clawhammer style.

Now I wonder if the Goldtone folks would be interested in reproducing the 18^th century wire strung guittar? Now there's an instrument with possibilities.
Jim

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: Wesley S
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 12:33 PM

A divorce would be inevitable if I brought home another instrument this soon. But it does look like fun. My 000 Collings arrived last week so I'll have to lay low for awhile.

Jed - Did you ever get the octave mandolin/cittern/whatever you were talking about ? If so are you happy with it and using it on gigs yet? Curious minds want to know.

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: Jeri
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 12:42 PM

I think Jed needs a 6 string banjo, but nobody asked ME.

So it's a banjo that looks like a mandola. "Banjola" sure sounds better than "Mandjo," "Bazoukijo" or "Banzouki." It looks like fun anyway. Mick, if you're buyin'...

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: Glen Reid
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 12:58 PM

I Remember a few years ago,chatting with Rick about building one of these mando-thingies. He suggested exactly what Goldtone has since produced. My suggestion was similar,only a 9 string version(double the strings, with a single 5th string).played Scruggs style. Any thoughts, Glen

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: X
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 01:14 PM

Here we go again, trying to make a quite banjo. Stop it! ;-)

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: Jeri
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 03:24 PM

We'll have to wait to see what Rick will sell so he can buy the mando-thingie.

Anyway, the local music store didn't have any mandojos. They had a Gibson harp guitar and a 1920's Gibson BASS mandolin! Neither for sale.

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: GUEST,Leadfingers
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 03:35 PM

Got one from Music Room at Sidmouth after an ego trip with one of the pro musos booked to the Marlborough. Its great fun and a lot quieter and more refined than any of my banjos.If you want to play gentle banjo this is the beast.

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: JedMarum
Date: 01 Sep 02 - 10:22 AM

play gentle banjo? Hmm, that wasn't my goal - but I am damn curious about the sound.

Have you tried it yet Mick?

And speaking of 6 string banjo, I believe there is a place for a real 6 string banjo NOT the 6 sting guitar on a banjo body thing that Gold Tone and Deering make - but a 5 string banjo with the normal configuration - but with a 6 string added on the low end. I guess it would be another G in the G tuning. It would give you some more room to play melodies out of the first position - and allow bass note-style playing. BUT then I'm a guitar player, what do I know about playing banjo!

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 01 Sep 02 - 11:11 AM

Hi Jed, if you want to hear a six string banjo (the way YOU describe it) played by a virtuoso, check out Sonny Osbourne (no relation to Ozzie) and a number of recordings the Osbourne Brothers did in the seventies.

Sonny tuned the low string to G. His complete tuning was:

gGDGBD

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Sep 02 - 12:53 PM

It is a beautiful instrument, isn't it?

It there's now a "quiet banjo," can someone turn next to the invention of quiet bagpipes?

;-D

SRS

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 01 Sep 02 - 01:02 PM

Hey Rick,

The Twelfth Fret is a Gold Tone dealer, although they aren't showing this instrument on their site. Maybe they have one in the store.

You probably don't have to trade anything for it, I would think that you've saved at least that much by not buying smokes.

I'm with Banjoest though, who wants a quiet banjo?

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: nickp
Date: 02 Sep 02 - 04:33 AM

The news from Hobgoblin, for those in the UK, is that they are expected in stock at the end of September, are similar to those shown in the clicky, and will PROBABLY be between £300 and £350

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 02 Sep 02 - 07:16 AM

A number of years back I wanted an instrument which was a bit different so designed and constructed something with a banjo neck and a body the size of a mandola/cittern. I was very plesed with the final result and ended up calling it a Bandola (ban-citt didn't have quite the same ring to it!). One friend used to refer to it as the Banjaxed!
I don't know what the one on Elderly instruments would sound like, but my instrument has a tone which reminds me of an Appalachian Dulcimer.
Jed - I once happened across a 7-string banjo on a second hand instrument stall run by someone I knew in Cardiff. It was a full 6 strings plus a peg on the side of the neck. We didn't get it playing as it was old and worse for wear, plus we didn't really know what to string it up as. My recollection is blurred as it was about 1980/81 when I saw it. I have a feeling that it was nylon strung rather than metal strings, and probably dated from the 1920's or '30's.

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: JedMarum
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 12:44 AM

Did I already tell ya?

I bought one. I restrung and low tuned it (to E) and its ounds great! I put a Pick-up-the-World model #27 on it ... and I'm having a great time.

Life is good!

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 04:16 AM

Just as a point of interest I have a 1900 ish Temlett seven string
banjo , which has a brass body (Silver plated when it was new) and
some nice inlay up the neck . I bought this beast in the sixties and took it in to Clifford Essex for a rehead etc . The old guy who ran C E 's shop told me it should be tuned the same as a five string with a low C and G for bass runs for song accompaniment .

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 04:48 AM

Joe Stead has been playing a similar instrument for years, he calls it a bandolin.

eric

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 06:09 AM

Gold Tone also makes a banjo bass! Tried one. Sucks swamp water.

Somebody a ways back mentioned a Gibson mando bass. Someone brought one to a folk club a few years back. Giant ungainly beast. Player stood at the back of the stage, put on an archery glove (!?) and proceeded to (unplugged) overwhelm the singer/guitarist who had the benefit of playing through a mic! Utterly glorious!

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 11:20 AM

I'll bet you're still married too!
The local music store did get one in, and I liked it, but I didn't buy it. I tried some other things, too. Jed, maybe you need one of these. I think I liked that puppy more than the banjolin thingie.

I'm seriously wondering if I could take one of my cheap fiddles and stick a resonator in/on it. I'm not the sort of person who tries to play loudly all the time and overwhelm everyone, but there are times when I'd like to be able to at least match the volume of people with fiddles from hell.

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These (Gold Tone Banjola)
From: JedMarum
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 10:54 AM

I've been playing this instrument for a while - well it looks, from this thread I've been playing it since May of 2004 (I bought it when I played the Chicago Gaelic Park Irish Fest in May 2004).

It is beautiful. It has a rich and mellow sound. I tune it to G now-a-days. I have done some work with it tuned low to F, and strung with heavy strings - but now I find tuning to G with heavy strings really gives the instrument a strong and beautiful voice.

I do use it more as a solo instrument - or in the studio, rather then trying to mix it in with the band. The instrument's beauty can get swallowed up quickly in the on-stage mix of a live performance.

I am using a pick-up by K&K these days. It is a good pick-up, but frankly the banjola has such a rich and complex sound, that I use a mic as often as I can.

As for playing, even though you are technically playing a banjo, with all the left hand work being identical to any other 5 string banjo - the sound is so pretty and interesting that you wind up playing more finger picking-style with your right hand, then clawhammer or 3 finger styles.

This has been a grand music venture!

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These (Gold Tone Banjola)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 01:19 PM

This little instrument had admirers last night, Jed. I saw several folks step over to study it on the stand after the concert. (Only in a library could you leave your instruments unattended and know they're safe!)

SRS

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These (Gold Tone Banjola)
From: Allan C.
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 06:15 AM

While the tone might be "interesting", I would think that this instrument more or less defeats the very thing that makes a banjo so unique: no sustain. If sustain is what is wanted, you might as well just play guitar. IMHO

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These (Gold Tone Banjola)
From: GUEST,Bruce Baillie
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 03:23 AM

No, what you REALLY need is a Goldtone Cello Banjo! I bought one a few months back and they are really nice. Wound nylon strings, a much bigger pot and an octave lower than a normal 5 string banjo. They sound GREEEAT! Growls like a pit bull terrier! I've had a go on one of those Banjolas and didn't like it at all, it's neither one thing or the other.
That's my two pennorth anyway!

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These (Gold Tone Banjola)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 03:58 AM

Its different strokes for different folks ! I play a Maya Resonator Five String (Korean Mastertone Copy) , but find it is a bit harsh for some more gentle songs . For these , the Banjola is ideal , and its a LOT lighter and more portable than my guitar . For me , the only drawback is the lack of nice Bass Runs that are available on a guitar .

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These (Gold Tone Banjola)
From: Banjiman
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 04:45 AM

..... I've got one!

I tend to play clawhammer on it (with a bit of picking). As I don't play guitar (or any other instrument apart from banjo) it's great for when I want a mellower sound.

It serves a purpose for me and I like it!

Paul

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These (Gold Tone Banjola)
From: JedMarum
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 01:06 PM

Agreed Goldtone Cello Banjo is a great instrument! I also like the resophonic body banjos. I nearly bought on instead of the banjola.

If you try the banjola and find it a bit delicate, add much heavier strings. You'll find it holds up to the tension increase very well, and really responds with power to them as well.

And YES; Even though it actually is a banjo, with that small wooden body it really is not one thing or the other ... but that is it's charm! Even though you're tempted to play it just like a banjo - because of the beauty of its sound, you end up modifying your style to make the most of it.

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These (Gold Tone Banjola)
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 01:16 PM

I'd think of it as something approximating a tenor guitar
but with the added bonus of a high tuned drone string..

My plans were to eventually add a 5 string banjo neck to a new old stock
late 60's 'thinline' semi acoustic electric guitar body
I bought off ebay a while back..

but it's a stalled project as I don't have the woodworking skills or ££$$ to pay a skilled luthier.

Subject: RE: I Think I Need One of These (Gold Tone Banjola)
From: beardedbruce
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 09:15 AM

Jeri,

"
I'm seriously wondering if I could take one of my cheap fiddles and stick a resonator in/on it. I'm not the sort of person who tries to play loudly all the time and overwhelm everyone, but there are times when I'd like to be able to at least match the volume of people with fiddles from hell."

Well, I took a 15" viola body, modified the peg box, pegs, nut, bridge, and tailpiece and put mandocello bronze strings (.022, .032, .044, .074) on it. Tuned GDAE, down an octave from the violin, and played with a viola bow and bass rosin. NOT a subtle instrument...