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08 Nov 09 - 06:00 PM (#2762371) Subject: help to identify a Banjo From: GUEST,Bryan Can any one tell anything about this Banjo. I picked it up at an estate auction this weekend. It has no name or markings on it that I can see. The pot(?) is about 7 inches and the head is about 5 inches. It is 1.5 inches deep. The back is a closed back with wood which has a 1.5 hole in the middle. This banjo is all wood. Frets seem to be sanded down, like a fretlees neck. It is a five string and tuners are the friction type and made of some sort of black wood. Banjo appears to be very very old and is in poor shape{missing 2 tuners, head is split and no bridge) Any ideas about this one. I have pics but can figure out how to post. Thanks Bryan |
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08 Nov 09 - 06:34 PM (#2762387) Subject: RE: help to identify a Banjo From: Dan Schatz I imagined it looked something like the banjo pictured on this page. This type of banjo is called a mountain banjo - yours either was made originally to be a fretless, which is very common, or has become fretless through the playing of the years. They enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in the 19602 after a Foxfire article gave instructions from Stanley Hicks on how to build them. The most well known purveyor was Frank Proffitt, who was a master of the instrument and built many - although some that were built with his name were actually by Clifford Glenn, whose link is above. I imagine it would be very difficult to determine the actual origin of yours - could be very old, as you say, or could be from a kit and treated badly. To hear a master play, you can go to the Frank Proffitt page on the Folk Legacy Records website and click on the mp3 - that will give you clips of three of Frank Proffitt's songs. Then buy the album; you won't regret it. I hope this helps! Dan |
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08 Nov 09 - 08:04 PM (#2762440) Subject: RE: help to identify a Banjo From: Dan Schatz That is, they enjoyed a resurgence during the 1960s. Not 19602, which is the zip code for Reading, Pennsylvania. Although they might have resurged there too, I really don't know. Dan |
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08 Nov 09 - 08:31 PM (#2762451) Subject: RE: help to identify a Banjo From: GUEST Thanks Dan Thanks for the quick response That is the banjo that i got. Now I have a place to start researching. Thanks Bryan |
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08 Nov 09 - 08:49 PM (#2762464) Subject: RE: help to identify a Banjo From: Charley Noble Bryan- Not bad for posting a question without a picture. The Frank Proffitt style banjo is a classic, one favored by Frank Warner, collector and singer of Appalachian ballads. There was a time when I lusted for one myself. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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08 Nov 09 - 09:53 PM (#2762496) Subject: RE: help to identify a Banjo From: deadfrett Bryan- I heard that one of Frank's banjos sold on EBay recently for close to a thousand dollars. Can this be true? Dave |
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08 Nov 09 - 10:00 PM (#2762498) Subject: RE: help to identify a Banjo From: Rapparee I was going to say that it had a round end and a neck with four or five strings, but that wasn't what was wanted. Oh well. |
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08 Nov 09 - 10:13 PM (#2762504) Subject: RE: help to identify a Banjo From: Tim Leaning Just had to giggle when I saw the thread title. Banjos get a lot of stick on here,so I was expecting to see "Police published cctv footage of a masked banjo ,that was at the scene of ......" Well ok it seemed funny before I read the thread. sounds like a good find and just shows how much free advice you can get on the cat. |
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08 Nov 09 - 10:46 PM (#2762513) Subject: RE: help to identify a Banjo From: DonMeixner I have made a number of small fretless banjos similar to this one. I have also made wooden top banjos with an octagon body which are my favorites to play. I have strung them with wire, fish line, used harp strings but my favorite was weed eater chord. Bryan will have fun with this banjo. Don |
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09 Nov 09 - 07:00 AM (#2762632) Subject: RE: help to identify a Banjo From: alex s For us Brits, tell me what weed eater chord is, Don! Nice website, by the way. Alex |
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09 Nov 09 - 07:13 AM (#2762640) Subject: RE: help to identify a Banjo From: GUEST,BanjoRay I assume Weed Eaters are what we brits call Strimmers. Ray |