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| Moderated by: Richard Hefner | Page: 1 2 3   |
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| What's yer banjo? - General Banjo Topics - Banjo - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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GW in Ohio Approved 
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This thread is an opportunity to praise your current banjo. Or tell everyone what a piece of crap it is. Provide banjo reviews, or talk about great banjos you've owned....or would like to own.
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GW in Ohio Approved
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My first banjo was a Johnson JB-100. Bought it on eBay for around $200. It was simply awful......poor sound...wouldn't stay in tune. A music store gave me $50 for it and I was glad to be rid of it.
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garyblanchard Approved 
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My banjo is a Deering Goodtime. I had a fiberskyn head installed, and have railroad spikes at the 7th, 9th, and 10th frets. This is my banjo of choice. I had been playing an old Audition banjo that wasn't quite doing it for me. I spent a lot of time shopping around and trying various banjos ranging in price from $150 - 2,000; the Goodtime fit my needs in all important realms - playability, comfort, sound, and looks. The fact that it fit easily into my budget was a real plus, but that was not a criteria I used in choosing a banjo. I am such a Goodtime fan that I started an unofficial Goodtime forum at http://112091.aceboard.net/112091-692-0-Goodtime-Banjo-Forum.htm. I also had my Goodtime story posted on the Deering website at http://deeringbanjos.com/Goodtime/GTstory5/index.html. Needless to say, I'm happy with my Goodtime. I do also own a four-string, cookie-tin banjo that I bought on Ebay. Last edited on Mon Dec 11th, 2006 07:32 pm by garyblanchard ____________________ http://www.brookfieldsmusic.net Preserving the Old-Time/Good-Time Tradition http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/919/ Buy our CDs at: http://kunaki.com/msales.asp?PublisherId=111162 |
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Philj200 Approved 
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I've five at the moment and resisting the temptation to add one of those tack-head/animal skin/nylon/scooped fretless banjos we've so much good stuff on lately. The inventory at present consists of: 1920 Gibson open back (originally a tenor) with a 1962 Vega FS-5 (modified to look antique) 5-string neck. 1940ish Regal tenor Frankenbanjo: Goldtone (2005) LN neck on Vega FS-5 pot. (The pot that came with the neck now on the Gibson, whose neck is in my box-o-parts.) (Does that need a diagram?) Vega LN from the early 60's with plate resonator. Banjoreo. (Cookie tin banjo, Vega White Layde tenor neck modified for 5-string and tuned two frets up to open A) I have Shubb 5th string capos on both LNs (the long version) and the short version on the regular length 5-string. Each time I switch off to another on the them, I wonder why I don't play the one I'm on more. I used the Vega on the recently posted (and somewhat uncommented [hint] Scotland The Brave. Last edited on Fri Jun 1st, 2007 02:13 pm by Philj200 ____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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Charlie Approved 
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My stable consist of a Dulcijo 3 string that I bought from Michael Fox here on EZFolk and I had a cheap 5 string that I bought on ebay that I removed the fret board and made a new one and converted it to a Dulcijo also and I have 3 banjo home made dulcimer type instruments, My late purchase has been a Gold Tone IT 250 Tenor banjo. I do have many more home made type instruments and always have plans to build something else. Phil, I have downloaded your song, but just have not tried adding to it yet, but will give it a try in a few days, Charlie
____________________ Yesterdays Tomorrow is Today http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/charlesculbertson |
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Will Approved 
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I play a tenor banjo with DGBE "Chicago tuning." It's a Korean import made for Lark In The Morning, a California-based mail order dealer. It has a synthetic head, and a mahogany resonator. http://larkinthemorning.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_BAN006_A_Tenor+Banjo_E_
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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GW in Ohio Approved
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Gary: My first good banjo was a Deering Goodtime openback with a factory-installed pickup. It also came with a teal-green factory paint job, which I think dresses it up. I still have this banjo and play it almost every day. The quality and dependability of this instrument is amazing. I will buy an acoustic amp in the next 6 months, and then I will really see what this baby can do. Kudos to Greg Deering and the folks at Deering in California for producing quality, American-made banjos. You can't beat their Goodtime line for value.
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garyblanchard Approved
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I am very pleased with the quality of the Goodtime. There are other banjos in that price range that are nice, but they didn't "do it for me" the way the Goodtime did.
____________________ http://www.brookfieldsmusic.net Preserving the Old-Time/Good-Time Tradition http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/919/ Buy our CDs at: http://kunaki.com/msales.asp?PublisherId=111162 |
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Philj200 Approved
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Will, Do you have a portrait gallery of all your instruments ready to be posted at any given time? Very impressive. I use a neutral gray rug to pose instruments on. Saves a lot of silhouetting in Photoshop.
____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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Will Approved
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Philj200 wrote: Will, Phil: No, actually, because I've purchased many instruments via on-line mail order, I've been able to find the images from dealer web sites. You've given me an idea - I've had digital cameras for the past 2 years; during vacation, I'll photograph my collection of instruments. Thanks for the photography tip.
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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GW in Ohio Approved
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My second banjo, which I just got recently, is a Gold Tone White Ladye open back. It is much heavier than the Goodtime. It has a pretty substantial tone ring, which gives it volume, clarity and sustain. It's a superb clawhammer instrument. I also got a factory-installed pickup with it. I'm planning to go electric at some point, to the horror of my banjo teacher, who is very traditional. Anyway, I keep the Deering banjo in C tuning and the Gold Tone in G tuning; that seems to work well for switching between them. They both also have capo spikes.
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Lyle Konigsberg Approved 
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Uh-oh, I'm beginning to lose count, so they're numbered below. Fretted 5-string banjos: 1. 1971 Sears with resonator - my first banjo, and a real hunk o' junk. 2. Bart Reiter "Regent" with tubaphone tone ring - Can't say enough good things about this one. 3. Mike Ramsey Whyte Laydie - With bracket band and gryphon peghead inlay. Also can't say enough good things about this one. 4. 1920's Sears Supertone - I "destroyed" this one by installing planetary pegs, as all the pegs were gone. The banjo doesn't have a lot of volume, but is fun to play. Tenor banjos: 5. Kay 19 fret - Ick, can't say enough bad things about this one. 6. Supertone (?) 17 fret - Has Supertone peghead shape but no label so the id is questionable. It came with an old "Elite" tailpiece (see http://www.mugwumps.com/tailpieces/elite-x2.jpg) for a 5 stringer, since moved to my Gatcomb. The friction pegs require gorilla-like strength to turn, but otherwise a nice tenor. Fretless banjos: 7. Late 18th century Lincoln B. Gatcomb ("student" banjo) - Got this one in terrible shape. No pegs, head, or fretboard and was missing 5 brackets/ nuts. Is now one of my all-time favorites (but has a short neck so I only use for D and A). 8. Early 1920's Dayton banjo - and use this one for G and C. 9. Eric Prust tackhead - I keep this tuned low for minstrel banjo. It's a real honey. And if I count the parts in the basement, and maybe the banjo uke, then I'm starting to get into double digits. That ought to be enough, but I've been eyeing people's vegetable gardens for gourds, and a "pony" banjo would be a nice addition.
____________________ ezFolk page: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1084/ Some Tabs at: http://lylewk.home.comcast.net/ |
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Lyle Konigsberg Approved
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Lyle Konigsberg wrote: 7. Late 18th century Lincoln B. Gatcomb ("student" banjo) Stupid me. That should have been "Late 19th century." By virtue of not having been born yet, Gatcomb did not build many banjos in the 18th century (late or otherwise)
____________________ ezFolk page: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1084/ Some Tabs at: http://lylewk.home.comcast.net/ |
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Philj200 Approved
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I think I want Lyle to adopt me. Just so I can play with all the instruments. Lyle, it's a good idea, I'm toliet trained and my college loans are since paid off.
____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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Lyle Konigsberg Approved
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Philj200 wrote: I think I want Lyle to adopt me. Just so I can play with all the instruments. Sorry Phil, but the house is pretty small, and I only listed the banjos. The mammal count is four (two adults, one son, one dog), then 9 banjos, 2 fiddles, 2 bodhrans, an autoharp, one very icky guitar, a banjo uke, a banjolin, a mandolin, a pennywhistle, a fife, an Appalachian (lap) dulcimer, and 2 french horns. And my wife would really like to learn string bass...
____________________ ezFolk page: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1084/ Some Tabs at: http://lylewk.home.comcast.net/ |
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Philj200 Approved
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Fine... be like that. I'll unpact. Now where can I hang all those Mastertones, pre-war Dreanaughts and A-5 mandolins. (Sorry..I must have been dreaming).
____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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vrteach Approved 
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Well, I'm at 5 banjos. A Gold Tone WL-250, the tackhead I made this year, a noname aluminum that I bought used in 1981 or '82, a bicentennial banjo made by Gretsch I bought in '76 and the mountain banjo I made from a kit in '76 (this last not in playing order).
____________________ Erich -- http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/bands/956/ http://vrteach.freepgs.com/banjo/ |
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Treeman Approved
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I have a Deering Goodtime. Just this week I put a Remo Renaissance head on it with a Bart Veerman bridge and new strings, and I can't tell you how happy I am with the sound! I can't put this banjo down! This was my very first attempt at tinkering with my banjo and it came out great, esp considering I had no idea what to do.
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Philj200 Approved
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"Renaissance head" --I've heard a lot about them and everything I head was positive to rapturous. Can you describe it? How is if different? Cost? Handling? Strenght? What's it made out of?
____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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vrteach Approved
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It's just another mylar head. They are a transluscent golden-brown color that is said to look like very good thin goat skin, and are said to have a tone that is close to skin, but brighter. I understand that the material was first developed for timpanie (kettle drums). My Gold Tone WL came with one, and it is very nice. But I've never heard anything else on it, so I have nothing to compare it to, except I have played other WL-250s that had fyberskin heads, and I like mine more.
____________________ Erich -- http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/bands/956/ http://vrteach.freepgs.com/banjo/ |
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| ezFolk Forums > Banjo > General Banjo Topics > What's yer banjo? | |
