Your Favorite Banjo Maker

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Jan 06 - 11:16 AM

ignore above posting alert

CN

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: oombanjo
Date: 28 Sep 08 - 04:39 PM

Romero banjo Check his web site . nuf said

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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: GUEST,Mason Brown
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 10:53 AM

I'd like to call your attention to Brooks Masten, who makes wonderful old-time, minstrel, and tenor banjos, and is a great player as well.

http://www.brooksbanjos.com/

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: oombanjo
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 04:13 AM

Although mentioned in Banjo Ray's thread, it is a bit obscure. So check out. Dave Stacey Banjos

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Stringsinger
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 12:29 PM

I like Ome banjos. Ogsbury makes the best jazz banjos today. They are as good as Bacon and Day or early Paramounts etc. They don't break up at high volumes.

I like Chuck's five-string as well. I don't know if he makes a 6-string, but if he does, it should be good.

I like the old Gibson trap-doors. You don't see them much.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: oombanjo
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 12:46 PM

Hi Chance are you over in the uk this year? cheers oombanjo

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Musket
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 01:04 PM

My first banjo was a Windsor.

They were a UK manufacturer and all their banjos were pre war or so I am told as the factory was bombed in the war and never reopened under that name.

The action was excellent and had a wonderful fifth string capo that may or may not have been original but worked better than any other I have used before or since.

Wish I still had it. Google Windsor banjos and a history page tells you all about them. It flattered my playing, which is more than can be said for the Sherwood I am playing these days.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: topical tom
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 04:51 PM

As my favourite banjo player I would have to vote for Eric Weissburg, not merely for "Dueling Banjos", but I have heard him play such tunes as "Back up and Push" and "The Clinch Mountain Backstep" as well or better than others.
I haven't been able to find much of his music on the computer, but here is his well-known "Dueling Banjos". Sorry about the commercialism!

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Art Thieme
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 05:21 PM

I never had enough cash to be a collector of instruments. But for years I only needed to have ONE BANJO; it was an old Vega Tubaphone open-backed banjo. That instrument spoiled me. All the others failed to give me what I needed.

Art

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 05:23 PM

There were some wonderful English banjos - Windsor made gorgeous instruments at the top of their range, many of which survive. Clifford Essex produced real quality too. I have a very shabby but wonderful Abbott from the 1890s. Looks totally unremarkable, but I just love the sound for accompanying songs.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: olddude
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 05:46 PM

How about an old Washington?

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: topical tom
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 12:00 PM

Re my earlier post to this thread: obviously I misread "maker" for "player"! (and I wasn't even in my cups at the time! tired, I guess.)Anyhoo, could someone delete my post? I would but I don't know how.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: olddude
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 08:33 PM

I have to tell you, I am really impressed with this high end Tyler Mountain. I don't know how those guys can make that quality at that price. It is a dandy for sure, love it

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Fortunato
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 08:46 PM

OOMBanjo,

Greetings (and Hallucinations)

No, more's the pity. Have good festival and pick one for us.
cheers,
chance

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 09:14 AM

I just heard a wonderful young clawhammer player on YT named Alison Williams who had a beautiful hand made banjo by a maker in Brattleboro Vt I had not heard of before . He has a new website coming .J.P Harris . All the best , Guy

http://bigbottomspecial.com/

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 09:10 AM

Here is a new one .. I have made friends with a great banjo player on Youtube and he has stared building great banjos out of locally grown materials and milled by the luthier . His name is Richard Brown and he is in Laredo Tx.. All the best Guy

http://bordertownbrown.com/

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 09:12 AM

Here is a youtube clip of Richard's work .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6KOFunt6Xc

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Nov 09 - 05:44 PM

can anyone please tell me where i can buy a merlin long neck banjo? money is no object.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Stringsinger
Date: 15 Nov 09 - 10:33 AM

Dirk Powell mentioned a banjo maker that he likes and plays that banjo.
Anyone know what it is?

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: deadfrett
Date: 15 Nov 09 - 11:58 AM

I've played Vegas for about 35 years. Tried Gibsons but went back to
the Vega, they seem to have a sweeter tone for Oldtime styles besides bluegrass playing. Since I got the big C., I can't lift a heavy banjo, so I made a Saga open back kit. After a little tweaking it has played and sounds quite well. It's a lot better banjo than some I've tried. I still have my old Paramount Troubador. Dave

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 15 Nov 09 - 01:23 PM

Guest, you might better post your inquiry at . Otherwise, just keep googling at regular intervals... looks like they're hard to find.

~ Becky in Long Beach

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Stringsinger
Date: 15 Nov 09 - 08:30 PM

Most tenor and plectrum players like Ome or B and D's.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 15 Nov 09 - 08:39 PM

Sorry, try that again:

Guest, for Merlin long necks, you might better post your inquiry at banjohangout.org. Otherwise, just keep googling at regular intervals... looks like they're hard to find.

~ Becky in Long Beach

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Banjo Maker
From: kendall
Date: 16 Nov 09 - 05:46 AM

If I had to rate them from my own experience I'd say,
1. Vega whyte layde for clawhammer
2. Vega Fairbanks
3. Stewart.

Bluegrass
1. Cox
2 Gibson
3Ome