Opinions on Banjos ...

Subject: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: Amos
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 04:11 PM

I have been searching around for a well-made, good sounding banjo which I can use for the rest of my life, I'd like to think, to learn and improve my playing on, both bluegrass and frailing.

I am none too good at either just now, but I intend to become better.

I have seen banjops all over the place ranging from a couple of hundred bucks new for a pretty skimpy looking thing to the $12,000 and 3-years Jubilee (fuggeddaboudit!) shown on Bob Flesher's site.

I am taken by this LOUZEE WALNUT DELUXE beuaty from Elderly, but the price tag is a choking point.

What I want to know is who has found a banjo they love the sound, feel, and look of? What kind and model was it? Where do you know of one for sale second-hand (if you do)? What do you recommend from your experience?

Thanks,

Amos

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: kendall
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 05:03 PM

Consider a Samick. Made in Korea, loud, heavy as a bucket of hog liver. Decent neck yet not over priced the last I knew.

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 05:16 PM

I would advise getting two different ones if you want to do both bluegrass and frailing. The kind of tone and "punch" which makes a good bluegrass sound doesn't usually suit what makes old-timey banjo special. Obviously you can play either style on any banjo, but you wouldn't buy a Rolls Royce for driving through mud if you could swap it for a jeep.
Quack!
Geoff the Duck.

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 05:16 PM

Amos-

You know you are opening up a can of worms with this thread. Banjo players feel very strongly about what banjo is perfect for themselves, and to hell with anyone else!

The first question is whether you are primarily interested in Bluegrass or Old Time. The Bluegrass banjos are generally those with big resonators and a very bright sound. The Old Time banjos are generally opened back models with a more mellow sound.

I'm not familar with the brand you're linked to from Elderly Instruments. I am very familar with the Bart Reiter bajos that Elderly sells and they are very nice banjos, and run from $700 to $1300, I think the best value is the Professional model for about $1000.

My personal preference is the antique S. S. Stewart Orchestra Model 2, and I'll bring one with me to Getaway for show and tell. They run from $1000 to $1500 on eBay depending on your luck. I probably have too many Stewart banjos here at home...

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: Amos
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 05:18 PM

I've seen one model where the resonator just "pops" on and off; is that enough to make the "mellowness" transition?

A

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: BanjoRay
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 05:33 PM

It's very difficult, if not impossible, to find a single banjo that's excellent for frailing AND bluegrass. I have a Deering Sierra bluegrass banjo that I used to use for frailing, and to get a good Old Time sound I had to take the resonator off and stuff some padding inside, behind the co-ordinator rods. With no resonator, the flange used to dig into my leg with 14 pounds behind it. I still have it, and one day I may try and learn some 3 finger picking, but my best banjo now is a Lo Gordon (Ceder Mountain Banjos) openback with a Brazilian Rosewood body and no metal tonering, which is light, manageable with a perfect sound for old time clawhammer. I would suggest that if you want to get GOOD, you decide which style you really want to play and go for it 100%, with a banjo that'll help, not hinder.
A good compromise could be a Wildwood, one of their openbacks with a tubaphone tonering - well made block rim and lots of volume you could use for bluegrass, but manageable, with a tone that would sound good for old time as well.
Good luck with it
Ray

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 05:36 PM

I like banjos.

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 05:39 PM

Not that it's relevant but in the words of S. S. Stewart himself:

If you want to use your banjo as a snow shovel, do so; only don't wonder if it sounds dull afterwards.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: Les B
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 06:50 PM

Amos - Geoff the Duck and others above have pretty well nailed it;   It just doesn't work too well to try and use one banjo for both styles.

I looked at the pop-off resonator solution for a bit, but came to the conclusion that to get the frailing sound you also need medium to heavy strings, a sock stuffed in the back, usually a different type of head - like a skin head, and sometimes a certain type of bridge and tailpiece (mileage may vary).   

Those acoutrements do not get you the bluegrass sound - where you usually want light strings, the resonator, a brighter sounding mylar head, and carefully selected bridge and tailpiece.

I ultimately found an old Vega for frailing, and then, for bluegrass, acquired one of the new breed of Gold Stars (NOT Gold Tone) which Janet Davis Music (on web) had as a special at $995. It required changing out the tuning pegs, which were really crappy, but it has a snap that impressed a friend of mine who plays both a Stelling and a Wildwood. I'm happy with both.

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: number 6
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 07:27 PM

The Deerling Old Time banjo seems ok to me, but the purists I know and the opinions posted here at the Mudcat to my thread regarding this model are to the contrary. One model that I hear good reviews and opinions (even from some purists) of is the affordable Gold Tone.

Don't jump into it Amos with a high end model ... some advice from me, the failed banjo player.

sIx

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 08:42 PM

Amos,

How about an Aria Pro? ;-)

These have been getting rave reviews over at the Banjo Hangout.

Hatfield Banjos

Hatfield Reviews

I have had some dealings with Arthur Hatfield. He is a top notch guy. He only builds Bluegrass banjos though. Your buddy Hugh has a few of his bridges on his 'jos. Talk to him about Arthur.

The price difference between it and the Louzee would allow you to buy an open back for Clawhammer. They are two different animals.      



I have also heard good things about the Louzee, but they are a lot more expensive.

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: Amos
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 09:13 PM

Those Hatfields look purdy good, thanks!! I must say I love the beuaty in some of these banjos even though I know I won't be able to play them to any comparable standard for a while, anyway.

I guess there must be a lot of favorites out there. WHo else has one?


A

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: JudyB
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 09:28 PM

I hear you're going to the Getaway - I'd recommend wandering around listening to any banjos that come within earshot - and seeing if you can try the ones that seem most interesting. Seems to me as if you'd get a better assortment there than in the average music store!

Happy Hunting!
JudyB

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 09:36 PM

Oh I have a favourite banjo - my 17 fret Kildare (Sully) tenor but it's nothing like you would want.

From the little I understand, your requirements sound akward as those American styles have thier own "sounds" - hence Geoff's comments. I'd speculate that if you are to go for one, you woud be beeter off looking at one of the many "masterclones" which are blugrass orientated.

I don't know where is where much in US but I believe both you and Deering are in CA (different ends for all I know) and are respected as makers.

Beyond that, best I can think of is find a shop within reach to you that holds a few models and try a few. I think your own judgement learned from instruments in your hands is likely to be as helpful to you in terms of making a decision as opinions offered.

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: SINSULL
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 10:43 PM

I like banjo players.

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: Amos
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 10:46 PM

I KNOW that Sins. That's the whole idea...


A

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: GLoux
Date: 16 Sep 05 - 11:29 AM

Amos,

There are so many fine banjos available that I think you need to find the best (one or two?) that work best for you. I have a Wildwood Troubador open back banjo that I've had for over ten years and I've made set up changes that have it just the way I like it...I've changed the tailpiece, loosened the head, put a new, taller bridge, etc.

I also have a '30s Weyman banjo-guitar (6-string banjo) that has a removable resonator...no flange, it just pops on and off.

A friend of mine who is very accomplished on both old-time and bluegrass styles has different banjos for each style.

Two current makers of old-time banjos that haven't been mentioned here and are quite popular are Mike Ramsey and Kevin Enoch.

-Greg

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 17 Sep 05 - 01:35 AM

Lets face it , you can't have too many.

eric

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Sep 05 - 12:41 PM

eric-

Well, unless you get rid of one or two, now and then, it's harder to justify getting another three or four.

Anyone interested in a 6-string Romanian Balalaika? Now there's an instrument I really don't need, although it's very pretty...

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: Amos
Date: 17 Sep 05 - 02:12 PM

I am gonna try out Charlie's Stewart at the GW I hope. It's a fine looking piece of work!

A

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: jacqui.c
Date: 17 Sep 05 - 02:48 PM

SINS, put that man down!

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: Amos
Date: 17 Sep 05 - 05:27 PM

Just ignore her, SINS, she jes' a tad jalous, ya know....


A

Subject: RE: Opinions on Banjos ...
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Sep 05 - 11:47 AM

Amos-

Sure, I'll bring the 1898 Stewart Special Thoroughbred along. I'll even tune it!

I'll also bring the Romanian Balalaika if anyone is interested.

I'm beginning to feel like Bob Zentz who never travels without at least a dozen instruments, many of them for sale!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble