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| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner | Page: 1 2   |
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| Why me? | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13th, 2006 01:46 am |
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1st Post |
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Philj200 Approved 
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A little over a year ago I discovered this board. I learned a lot. And I used what I learned. Many of you help guide me through the construction from random and desparate parts of a long-neck banjo. (Thanks again) Recently I asked about nut hieght and was again given good advice. So let me share some good fortune and irony cubed. About two hours ago there was a knock on my front door. A woman from my village was there. "I saw you playing a banjo at a garden party. Thought you could use these." She hands me a banjo case. Complete with Vega Pete Seegar model long neck banjo is near-perfect condition. I thought I would burst an artery. The tone, the action. The workmenship...could not be better! I was beside myself. And then she handed me a second banjo. A tenor w/resonator marked Regal of Chicago. It is far from perfect. I haven't taken it apart yet. And it needs a lot of cleaning but the skin is genuine animal. It has friction pegs. Needs a bridge. (I have a tenor bridge someplace.) And strings. That I'll have to buy. Has anyone heard of Regal banjos? Seems like a decent instrument. But really, I can not let the long neck go. And for those who helped me with the nut height thing a few weeks ago: there is no difference or need for a greater string height. The action on the Vega long neck is low and easy. I am still stunned. (I offered her dinner. She declined but accepted a cup of tea.) Was this a visitation from the Banjo Fairy? Last edited on Tue Jun 13th, 2006 01:47 am by Philj200 ____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13th, 2006 02:02 am |
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2nd Post |
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1four5 Approved 
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What an incredable story! Congratulations!!! I'd love to stick around and chat...but I gotta get my butt out on the front porch and start picking!!! What song where you playing when the banjo fairy heard you? 
____________________ These are the good times! |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13th, 2006 02:07 am |
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3rd Post |
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Charlie Approved 
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Wow Phil, what a nice thing for that woman to do, I guess there was a story behind her haveing the banjo's, Maybe her husband had them and no longer was alive or for some other reason or her father had them. Glad you have them now, I had a Regal tenor at one time that I bought on e-bay, but it just never did sound right for me, but ever instrument sounds different and it is a middle grade instrument, kind of like a Harmony ukulele or guitar. Happy for you Phil Charlie
____________________ Yesterdays Tomorrow is Today http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/charlesculbertson |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13th, 2006 02:14 am |
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4th Post |
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Philj200 Approved
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Charlie, you got it. They used to play together. But he passed over twenty years ago. It has not been touched since. She played guitar to his banjo. There is more to this extraordinary person, but without her permission, I'll just leave it at that. I had been out back of my house about 30 minutes before she came over playing my other long neck. Heard some Old Timey music over the weekend and I was exocising it. The closest tune I remember playing was a guessimate of Boneyparts Retreat but it could have been Rakes of Mallow or Devil Dream. Or Foggy Mountain Breakdown. I was rambling. I guess the banjo fairy is as ecletic as I am. Good thing I didn't play any hip-hop.
____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13th, 2006 02:03 pm |
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5th Post |
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Ottawa Freddy Approved 
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Holy (insert 4-letter word beginning with 's' here)! That's quite neat! You should record something for us so we can hear how they sound. Enjoy!
____________________ Cheers, Fred ====================== http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1045/ http://www.ifred.ca |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13th, 2006 04:09 pm |
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6th Post |
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Philj200 Approved
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I never got the hang of recording into the computer and sending it on. Tried and failed a few times. The Vega that entered my life last night is a dream come true. Easy action. Great sound. It has a spike capo four frets up from the 5th string nut. This seems odd because it mandates retuning to play in G. I have a Shubb 5th string capo on both other banjos but am reluctant to touch this beauty. I probably will, but not for a while. The Regal is a lesser instrument. I've spent a little time researching it. Regal was a manufactures of tenors from the 20's through the 50's. I found reference that they never made 5-string instruments.Then found some reference to 5 strings with their name on it. Go figure. In the 50's Fender took over the ailing company. Why a company that makes Strats and Teles would want to mess with mid-level tenor banjos is a puzzlefor a sharper mind than mine. These were the kind of banjos usually sold in department stores. Not bad. Just not very good either. After the Fender people came to their sense and yet another factory in Chicago closed, the name persisted in various Asian brands and may still. They had one historical point worth mentioning. The supports for the resonator were/are a series of cast brackets instead of the more common single-slotted ring. This is interesting and a pain since two of them are broken. And probably not replacable. I might be able to make my own casting out of fiberglass, just for looks. But if I ever say I'm about to try, please tell me to sit down and take a nap. The banjo will work with the broken parts. And it's probably not worth the labor. Another fix that would work but is probably not worth the labor is to build up a block of epoxy on the stubs of the two broken brakets. When cured (at least a week), shape them with a Dremel. I've done this with boat parts and those fixes can certainly take pressure. But its a lot of work for a secondary intrument. Today, I will visit Guitar World on the way home from work and buy a set of tenor strings (assuming the have them) and see what this badboy sounds like. Most likely, I'll get it playable and presentable (it needs a lot of cleaning and polishing) and it will go into the instrument rotation (but as a bench player). Last edited on Tue Jun 13th, 2006 04:15 pm by Philj200 ____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13th, 2006 06:50 pm |
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7th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator 
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I should be so lucky! Brad, who's envy is showing by the color of the post.  Last edited on Tue Jun 13th, 2006 06:51 pm by banjo brad ____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13th, 2006 07:52 pm |
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8th Post |
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Philj200 Approved
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Finding this site has been one of the best internet experiences I've ever had: Since registering these are the good things I credit the board with. Information and advice on building Frankenbanjo (my very nice Vega/Goldtone LN cludge.) Getting a great price on an autoharp. Talking about dulcimers on line, led to talking about them offline. And a colleague gave me a short-scale dulcimer he never had the patience to learn. Lots of small bits of worthwhile information (and I think it was Brad who told me the following); like rubbing a soft pencil into the grooves on the nut. Countless lyrics, links, tabs and downloads, including Audacity which I am still getting comfortable with. The serendipity that happened yesterday was not a direct product of the site. But the more active playing I've been involved with certainly is. And by playing more publically, my benefactor saw me and connected the dots between her departed's banjo and someone who will make it a good home. So maybe I have you all to thank after all. Now if there wre ony more people in Nassau County to jam with...
____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13th, 2006 08:22 pm |
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9th Post |
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jeanadriane Approved 
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Phil, I like the fairy tale as much as your reaction to it all. Great! Wish you lots of pleasure with your instruments and on this site. Jeanette
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| Posted: Wed Jun 14th, 2006 01:20 pm |
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10th Post |
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Philj200 Approved
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Thanks Jeanette. I have visited your wonderful country and plan to do so again. Are you familiar with the song The Dutchman? A whistful tale of aging love. I perform with a singer/songwriter and we do that piece. He sings and plays guitar. I add a little vocal for the chorus and but mostly play banjo behind him. I play it with a bluegrassy-role but without much syncopation. It adds a gentle tone that is very easy for an audience to grasp.
____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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| Posted: Wed Jun 14th, 2006 04:54 pm |
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11th Post |
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HowlinHobbit Approved 
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Philj200 wrote: Are you familiar with the song The Dutchman? A whistful tale of aging love. By Michael Smith. A poignant tune that never fails to bring tears to your eyes. It's very popular amongst the folkies here in the Pacific NW. I mention it during the intro to another M. Smith song that I perform... "Dead Egyptian Blues." DEB is not a poignant song, it's hilarious. It makes a nice juxtaposition and is, of course, good for a cheap laugh. Howlin' Hobbit Got Uke?
____________________ Howlin' Hobbit Got Uke? MySpace ezFolk UkeLand |
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| Posted: Fri Jun 16th, 2006 08:37 pm |
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12th Post |
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Philj200 Approved
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I don't know that tune. Will look for it. Guitar World is a huge supermarket-sized place...but they didn't have teno rbanjo strings. Two kinds of 5-sting sets. But the name of the place tells it all. Guitar World. So I ordered a few sets of tenor strings from Janet Davis. I've had good luck with them, price and quality wise. I ordered a Shubb for the Vega and the salesman said am I sure I want to put holes in an old instrument. I really wasn't but I need the flexibility. He told me of a clamp-on 5th string capo for a lot lesss money. No drilling. I ordered it instead. When it arrives, I'll pass on an opinion.
____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 19th, 2006 06:22 pm |
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13th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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Phil- Is that the "claw" capo? It has like 5 wires that stretch from the tuner to the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th frets or some such. It looks interesting, and I would be interested in an opinion by someone on this list.
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 19th, 2006 07:01 pm |
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14th Post |
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Philj200 Approved
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Brad, short answer: I don't know. It hasn't arrived. But the guy at Janet Davis described it as somethign close to a dobro capo. It went over and under the string and clamped to neck...as I recall. And it doesn't require and holes or permanent installation. I would have put a Shubb on the new Vega, but my heart wasn't in it. If it works, I won't have to. Hope it's durable. I've seen pictures of the one you mentioned. It seemed complicated and with my poor hearing, complications are the last thing I need. I'll add comments here when it and the strings for Regal tenor arrive. Once thing, though. This gizmo cost a third of what the longer version of the Shubb 5th string capo cost. (I started another thread on refitting the Regals's resonator to another banjo. A project I am advising myself not to do.)
____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 19th, 2006 07:49 pm |
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15th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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Be interesting to see what you're getting. Post a photo if possible. The claw thing just looks kind of hokie to me, but then, I like spikes. Have read the other thread - let us know what kind of sound you get. I might like an open-back tenor, I'm not a loud player anyway. A new head probably wouldn't cost that much.
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 19th, 2006 08:30 pm |
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16th Post |
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Philj200 Approved
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My 1920 Gibson started out as a little open back tenor. It sounded great. But I preferred playing five string. So I switched the necks with my 1962 Vega bottom of the line 5 string. The necks swaped perfectly and easily. Now I had a Gibson pot with Vega neck and vice versa. The five string sounded just fine and still does. The Vega sounded was pretty good too. But I lost interest in a tenor when the skin broke. (I put too much tension on it.) Forty lears later that Vega pot became Frankenbanjo. I usually play with a cloth diaper (clean) as a mute when I'm playing by myself (Not playing with myself.) Which means I now have tenor neck from a 1920 banjo hanging from a peg over my workbench. And a Vega White Layde tenor neck (the kind with the wood tension bar), someone gave me next to it. Would love to trade either of both. Who wants them?
____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 20th, 2006 01:31 am |
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17th Post |
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Philj200 Approved
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Strings and capo arrived. Capo is a little bitty thing. So small that they can be lost easily. And the set screw can come out. But they work. Buy two or three at a time. It's about 5/8" high. And sits on the fret board. No clips. No springs. Just the little set screw. About ten bucks. Magic. Put strings on the the Regal. It sounds a lot mellower than I suspected. Maybe the animal skin? I had to actually raise the action! And it's loud. There is a slight nascent tear in the skin so I am putting as little pressure as I can. I'm tuning two frets flat until I learn how strong the banjo is. But it's fun, for the moment. I tried to post pictures but ran into trouble. Last edited on Tue Jun 20th, 2006 02:56 pm by Philj200 ____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 20th, 2006 04:22 pm |
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18th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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Philj- Oh, yeah, I've read some about those capos. They work, but are easy to lose! You can make a substitute from the cap of a ballpoint pen - check out capos at frets.com. Talk on banjo-L says that you can probably glue a patch to the head and it will work. Prabably some of the same advise is available on the Hangout. Wish I had a tenor or plectrum banjo, but $$ is a factor. Think I'll try a cookietin fretless with scrap stuff this summer.
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 20th, 2006 04:56 pm |
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19th Post |
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Philj200 Approved
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Money is always a factor. Tell me how to make a capo out of a ballpoint pen. Here's a picture of the little capo. Attachment: little-capo.jpg (Downloaded 53 times)
____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 20th, 2006 07:02 pm |
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20th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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Check this link - pictures and everything! It works, I've made one. http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/Banjo/PenCapCapo/pencapcapo.html My question on the metal capo - does it want to buzz when you're really working the 5th string? My impression is that it might slide or bounce on the fretboard. Last edited on Tue Jun 20th, 2006 07:04 pm by banjo brad ____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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