Your Favorite Banjo Maker

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Fortunato
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 10:15 PM

http://www.buckeyebanjos.com/

Greg Galbreath of Buckeye Banjos, Blacksburg Va made the 5 string neck for Susettes '20s Orpheum #1, it's exquisite.

Next time you see her take a gander.

cheers,
chance

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 10:10 PM

Hello Ommombanjo ; His wood pot is related to the great James Ashburn who made banjos in the 1840's and 50's not 12 miles from my pottery !!! All the best , Guy

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 10:02 PM

Sory another try


http://www.romerobanjos.com/

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 09:59 PM

Here is a message Oombanjo sent to another thread . I thought it added to the information here .. All the best , Guy

Hi Guy Check out www.romerobanjos.com he made my last banjo. It is on his 12" open back banjos with traditional rim page .Mine is the one on its own on the third line down with a Dobson 5th.I have been in love ever since I got it Cheers Oombanjo


www.romerobanjos.com

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: GUEST,Arnie
Date: 28 Sep 08 - 04:56 PM

I have a Vega Deering. The tone and response is quite good. The pot construction is excellent. The neck is a fairly simple one piece -very slim profile and not stable enough in my opinion for a professional. It is not nearly the same quality as original Vega tubaphone banjos.   A better deal can be had looking up a modern maker such as Chuck Lee banjos for example - much more value for the money in a tubaphone.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: oombanjo
Date: 28 Sep 08 - 04:39 PM

Romero banjo Check his web site . nuf said

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 28 Sep 08 - 11:07 AM

Well obviously my favourite banjo maker would have to be Geoffrey Gilday!

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: kendall
Date: 28 Sep 08 - 09:41 AM

When someone says, "Gibson banjos or Martin guitars are the best in the world", the obvious problem is, no one can say that as a fact, only as an opinion, because, no one has ever played every banjo or guitar in the world.
It's like McCain saying that America is the greatest country in the world; I've never heard a European say that. It's a matter of opinion, no more.

For many years the Cadillac company had an advertising claim that Cadillac was the "Standard of the world." Sounds good, but what does it mean?

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 28 Sep 08 - 08:43 AM

refresh : This is a great recourse . Have a look .. all the best , Guy

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: JedMarum
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 10:06 PM

I'm getting in late on this conversation - and I see lots of great banjos listed. I've played soo many different kinds at the music shops, and played lots of great ones. I like the Mastertone banjos, but I prefer the Stelling bluegrass banjos. I'm not an expert on bluegfrass banjos - so maybe I have odd tastes but I wouldn't prefer a Gibson for bluegrass.

But I have to say I love Deering banjos. They make a bunch of models and they make great products at each level.

I owned one of their "Tubaphone remakes" - a Vega longneck and it was truly a beautiful instrument. The sound was superb! I kick myself for letting it go a few years back ... but I will have another one of their top of the line banjos soon. Very likely this model with an open back - and I am not sure about the tone ring yet. I will not get a long neck again (don't use it) and I need one fitted with good electronics, so the Vega Tubaphone combination is probably out.

If you play all the Deering models, I believe you'll be impressed with the beauty of each one. I am particulalrly talking about the sound of each instrument. They just don;t make a bad banjo, even their cheap little Goodtime banjo is a serious instrument at the price of a toy!

I have come across a lot of old banjos that I love, the old Fairbanks and others. I had a very old Fairbanks for a long time, years ago.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 09:00 PM

Hello All
                  On looking back at this thread I noticed I never made a link to Bob Fleshers amazing site .. Eye candy of the best sort !!! We had a thread started on Bob Fleshers work .      
Incredibly beautiful banjos :      
http://www.flesherbanjo.com/


All the best , Guy

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Jan 06 - 11:16 AM

ignore above posting alert

CN

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jan 06 - 05:51 AM

I find Martin Gibson's blind allegiance to Martin guitars and Gibson banjos very touching.

Bless ....

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: GUEST,Banjoman
Date: 08 Jan 06 - 09:53 AM

Great thread - however, having owned & played most of the banjos mentioned, I decided to have a go at making my own. After a few (expensive) efforts, I finally produced an instrument which I was able to set up to play just the way I wanted, which is something none of the others have done.
Of the ones I have owned, TheMartin?vega rates about the best but caused me serious discomfort and subsequent neck & spine disorders because of its enourmous weight.
Nobody seemed to mention Gold Tone banjos - I have owwned several and have recomended them to others as a relatively cheap but well made banjo. I also own a very old John Grey and a couple of Savanas which play pretty well.
Keep on picking
Pete

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 10:29 PM

Well, someone ought to mention S. S. Stewart banjos. They are still available on eBay, even some of the higher quality Model 2 and 3's. I'm particularly partial to the heavy duty Orchestra model, nice deep mellow tone.

Then there are George Wunderlich's wonderful fretless Civil War minstral replicas

And Bart Reiter's find banjos available at Elderly Instruments.

And if you run across an old Fairbanks & Cole you won't go too far wrong.

And then there are the various Dobson banjos.

Soo many banjos, soo few dollars to spread around!

You just have to prioritize. Who needs food? Who needs a car? Who needs to pay the rent? If you can only get one or two of these banjos you'll be set for life!

Cheerily,
Charles Noble, who has one or two Stewarts

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 04:06 PM

I think this has been linked somewhere else on the 'Cat, but it seems pertinent reading for the banjophiles on this thread:
Old Time Herald -- Musical Affairs of the Heart Part Two: Banjo Stories

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: GUEST,Another Banjer Nut
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 02:45 PM

Somebody mention Sullivans from FQMS? Also didn't see Deerings show up but I scanned down pretty fast on some. I think the Gibsons of old were the standard but lately there's a whole lot of great banjo makers out there and it's really a matter of taste and subjectivity once you lay down a couple of grand for a banjo. Heard some great Stellings, Huss & Dalton and a Prushka (sp?-Eastern Euro I believe) at a fest last year, in addition to the requisite Gibson Mastertones, etc.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Once Famous
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 10:55 AM

Traditional English folk music sounds great on the Air guitar, especially on their top of the line model, the Blowhard 200 with the natural finish made in the mid 1960's.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 10:11 AM

Richard Bridge asked is anyone had invented a silen one (banjo).

Yes, they are made by Air, the people who make the ever-popular Air Guitar.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Madeleine
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 09:45 AM

mike ramsey makes beautiful open-backed banjos that're reasonably priced. sometimes there's a long waiting list unless you can find a used one. there's lots of those available. avoid gruhn's.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: burntstump
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 09:22 AM

I have one of the Liberty Banjos made by Bob Flesher, it's called a Buckdancer, beautifully made and sounds great. I understand that Bob now makes the same model under his own name.A true craftsman.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: cool hand Tom
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 11:27 PM

My Fav Banjo is my all metal Merlin banjos,great sounding,rare as hens teeth and so unusual and idividual.Tome all banjos have there own character i learned on a framus long neck as well as others and they all had there good points and bad.But for me its the Merlin longneck.i visit the banjo hangout and so many folks are upgradin this, goldplatin that,addin this removin that,this tone ring in,that tone ring out.DO THEY EVER PLAY THEM ?????? or just make em pretty.

         Regards Tom

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 08:12 PM

http://members.cox.net/keithyoungdulcimers/fretlessbanjo.htm


heres a nice frettless with a pot like frank Proffits .. Made by Keith Young

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 07:34 PM

Eric you know me and spelling . ....Though a sandwitch dose sound good right now . Great additions here all around . Thanks everyone . All these links make me want to go play some banjos . Thank
         Not to digress but dose everyone know these :
      
         QUESTION : Whats the difference between a banjo and a chain-saw??
         ANSWER: The chainsaw has more dinamic range .

         Question :What dose a banjo player in a three piece suit say ?
          Answer ; Not guilty your honor .

          SORRY . ALL THE BEST , Guy

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: kendall
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 02:53 PM

Guest, have you ever played a Cox/Fairchild banjo? I guarantee thry will stand toe to toe with ANY Gibson.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Jon W.
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 12:58 PM

I've got to say that while a Mastertone has the "right" sound and volume for bluegrass, which I certainly respect and enjoy, there are other banjos out there that have different "right" sounds for different types of music.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Stu
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 09:01 AM

Tony 'Sully' Sullivan makes excellent banjos (and he plays quite well too):

Tony Sullivan: Halshaw Music

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: GLoux
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 08:45 AM

Here's another fine maker of both Bluegrass and Old-Time banjos:

Huss and Dalton Banjos

-Greg

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 08:42 PM

My Uncle is a tenor player. He recently sold his Archtop Gibson to get a Richelieu, it seems like a great banjo (although I can't play it).

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 07:57 PM

You know we still need to hear from some tenor players !!!!

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 07:53 PM

Steve Latimer ,Thanks for chiming in here .( Sorry almost a pun ) ... We needed some blugrass banjo input . I respect Mastertone loyalty as much as anyone but it is great to hear other voices as well. And to get to look at some eye candy as well . Thanks for the input All the best , Guy

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 03:37 PM

Oops, forgot one.

Ome

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 03:29 PM

Here are some links to some other top quality Bluegrass banjos.

Desert Rose

Crafters of Tennessee

Osborne Chief

Huber

Sullivan

Prucha
Fawley Retrotone

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 02:43 PM

Guest a Banjo Player,

I have to disagree with you. There are some excellent banjos being produced by small makers that are at least the equal to Gibsons. Gibson did have some serious quality control issues in the past, although they are making very good banjos now. However, to discount banjos made by the likes of Arthur Hatfield, Jimmy Cox, Frank Neat and many others is doing yourself a disservice.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 05 Nov 05 - 04:56 PM

To Guest, A banjo Player:

My hat is off to you. Some of these folkie types want their banjos to be organic and sold in a health food store.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: oombanjo
Date: 05 Nov 05 - 04:51 PM

My favorite is my ORB banjo. I also have a long neck with a 3"deep Jack hird pot that has no tone ring, excellent sound.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: GUEST,A_Banjo_Player
Date: 05 Nov 05 - 02:29 PM

The worse made Mastertone will out shine the best "Other" banjo on any day. I wouldn't own a Stelling...If they ever become the only banjo I'd stop playing.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 05 Nov 05 - 04:34 AM

A bread unto themselves ? are they collectively ' a sandwich ' or ' a loaf ' ?

eric

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 11:43 AM

Steve and Greg these both look like great finds. High quality and of a character . Banjo makers do seem to be a bread onto themselves . Thanks to both of you for the additions here. . Guy

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: GLoux
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 11:30 AM

Johannes Bonefaas brought some of his banjos from Denmark to Clifftop a couple of years ago. They were amazing instruments.

JB Banjos

They are available with "hairy" goatskin heads!!!

-Greg

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 08:31 AM

Gibson banjos are made in Nashville and use a Kulesh Tone Ring.

These are getting rave reviews over at the Banjo Hangout. I have never played one, but I have bought some items from Arthur including a three ply Maple rim. I wish my furniture looked as good.

Hatfield Banjos

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 04:30 PM

This is so much fun . I just had a very nice talk with Jim Hartel. Jim knows a lot but is very nice about it to boot . We were talking makers and he mentioned Will Fielding in Vermont as one whos banjos he really liked the sound of . You cant get any better recomendation then one maker speaking well of another .
               Will Fielding banjo : http://www.willfielding.com/banjos.html

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 12:42 PM

My first banjo was a John Grey I picked up on Potabello Rd comming up from the pottery I was working at in Ewenny,Glamorganshire Wales (1970) . The banjo sounded a lot better then I did. !!! I did have a huge plaster body cast on because I had broken my neck on a Bonnivile ouside of Cardiff the month before so at least I was memorable to look at if not to hear ! .Sorry they are not still making John Grey banjos any more .. Are they ?? I dont think so ??
                   Jon W great to see your work ! I made 36 dulicmers one year none of them very good but stringing them up was always a very exciting moment .. I know what you mean about being the first person to hear an instrument ..

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Jon W.
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 12:05 PM

Judging by the ones I own, I am my favorite banjo maker. I'm not saying they play better or sound better than anyone else's - they probably don't. Nor do I claim superiority in craftsmanship or any other facet of building. But I have designed and built five banjos completely from scratch, with another in the works, and built two replacement necks for old banjo pots, with again, another in the works. I find it to be imminently satisfying to string up a banjo and play the very first tune it will ever play. And, because I can do whatever I want in the design, these allow me to express myself completely. So I say to any out there who are so inclined - try building your own, you'll like it!

Here's some of my work

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Arbuthnot
Date: 02 Nov 05 - 11:38 PM

I have a John Grey banjo which is as good for bluegrass music as it gets - I don't play bluegrass. I am a member of the Martin Owners Club - I do not own a Martin. I play a Bacon and Day guitar. I know I am deranged, but am I seriously bewildered? Or just averse to the confusion of influences?

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 02 Nov 05 - 09:39 PM

Has anyone gotten the remake of the Tubaphone by Deering ?? I have never heard one . It would be great to have some conversation on these acsesable remakes of the greats . This link wont go directly to the tubaphone just click on the Vega on the bottom right of the home page and your there. http://www.deeringbanjos.com/
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 02 Nov 05 - 09:23 PM

Mike ramsey's "Electric" as promiced : http://www.ramseybanjos.com/Electric.html

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 02 Nov 05 - 09:20 PM

THe tone rings on the early Vega White Lady and Tubaphone have inspired meny of the new makers as have the Bacon and Bacon & Day internal resonator.
            I would love to hear Mike ramsey's remake of the "electric" and his Tubaphone .
            There are meny makers wokring hard at revisiting these great banjos . Any takers on talking about the results .

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: kendall
Date: 02 Nov 05 - 08:37 PM

It's true that at this point in time, Gibson banjos and Martin guitar are in the majority. Old habits die hard. Remember that 100 years ago most ships were driven by sails. Nothing in the universe is static. Change is inevitable and resistance to change is also inevitable.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 02 Nov 05 - 06:34 PM

See now that sounds beautiful and makes me want to hear one up close and personal .. Thanks Spot for the inspiration . !! All the best Guy