Len_derby Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 For a bit of variety and fun I bought myself a banjo. I got it from a fella called Andy Perkins who has a really informative website [url="http://www.andybanjo.com/index.html"]http://www.andybanjo.com/index.html[/url] I opted for a four string, set up for 'Chicago' tuning, which is DGBE, same as the top four strings of a guitar. That way, I didn't have to learn a new lot of fingering and could get going straight away. It's only had one public outing so far. A Tom Waits influenced version of 'All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth' at a Christmas party. Any other Banjoids on here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 I have a 5 string kay that I love dearly. My wife won't let me play it in the house though, or outside it if she is within earshot. Or in fact anywhere where other people may see it. I like it though, bloody hard to get your head round, but worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Just got a 6 string for my birthday. Love it. It's getting an outing tomorrow night at a folk club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftybassman392 Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 I have a very nice Gold Tone 5 stringer. I haven't picked it up for a couple of months now (although I keep meaning to). The first thing I found it useful to do was to forget most of what I'd learned about playing guitar for the last 45 years or so... Actually I'd been hoping somebody would start up a banjo thread to give me an incentive to start working on it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thack Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Gotta Countryman 5 string to noodle on a few months back to go with my rocking chair. Need a piece of straw, if anyone has got one spare. Also struggling to find a new bridge for it in this backwards hick town of Cardiff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted January 19, 2012 Author Share Posted January 19, 2012 [quote name='thack' timestamp='1327000176' post='1505078'] Gotta Countryman 5 string to noodle on a few months back to go with my rocking chair. Need a piece of straw, if anyone has got one spare. Also struggling to find a new bridge for it in this backwards hick town of Cardiff. [/quote] Try the website [url="http://www.andybanjo.com/index.html"][color="#0f72da"]http://www.andybanjo.com/index.html[/color][/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nibody Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 1939 Cammeyer Zither Banjo here. Just starting to learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Gave the banjo an outing last night at a free for all folky club. Great fun. Need to seriously get some lessons or sort out some Youtube stuff but certainly going to persevere as I'm just using basic guitar picking at present. French lady turned up with a Hurdy Gurdy. First time I've ever had the opportunity to play along with one. Fantastic bit of kit but fairly limited key-wise. She said she'd paid €1,400 for it as it's "only" an intermediate model!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightSix Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I have a 60s Framus 5-string which is in my repair shop for some TLC (been there for a couple of years ) - this thread will encourage me to get it fixed up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janmaat Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Bass banjo, anyone? Dying to build one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted January 21, 2012 Author Share Posted January 21, 2012 [quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1327138580' post='1506775'] French lady turned up with a Hurdy Gurdy. First time I've ever had the opportunity to play along with one. Fantastic bit of kit but fairly limited key-wise. She said she'd paid €1,400 for it as it's "only" an intermediate model!!! [/quote] Yes, amazing things. I played on a multi-act charity do a year back where a chap did a few numbers on one. Supposedly 17th century French folk tunes. The novelty soon wore off.....the bar takings went up though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted January 21, 2012 Author Share Posted January 21, 2012 [quote name='janmaat' timestamp='1327152970' post='1507057'] Bass banjo, anyone? [b]Dying to build one[/b]. [/quote] Do it, do it! We need a Bass Banjo Build Bulletin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 [quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1327154927' post='1507102'] Yes, amazing things. I played on a multi-act charity do a year back where a chap did a few numbers on one. Supposedly 17th century French folk tunes. The novelty soon wore off.....the bar takings went up though! [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftybassman392 Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 [quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1327155003' post='1507104'] Do it, do it! We need a Bass Banjo Build Bulletin! [/quote] Easy for you to say! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted January 22, 2012 Author Share Posted January 22, 2012 [quote name='leftybassman392' timestamp='1327182362' post='1507666'] Easy for you to say! [/quote] Only with my dentures in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I have a Gold Tone tenor in Irish tuning and a Windsor Premier 5-string old-time banjo. I also have a Cammeyer zither banjo which is currently for sale in the London branch of Hobgoblin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I've owned 4, 5 and 6 string banjos but am currently banjo free Good fun playing live too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I love my Banjo! I currently have a cheapo Fender 5 string, it was only £200 new. Changed the bridge and replaced the 5th string peg and it plays lovely. I tune, rather unimaginatively, gDGBD. It's the second one I've owned but I can't even remember the make of my first one. And for fun: Talking of Dirty Banjos, mine could do with a bit of a scrub up! A pic my wife snapped about 7 years ago. I still haven't cleaned it... She made me put the hat on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nibody Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 (edited) [quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1327243559' post='1508214'] I have a Gold Tone tenor in Irish tuning and a Windsor Premier 5-string old-time banjo. I also have a Cammeyer zither banjo which is currently for sale in the London branch of Hobgoblin. [/quote] Oh is that you'rs? I saw that one when I was trying to find info about my Cammeyer. do you have any Pics of it? Mine is in pretty poor cosmetic condition - plays though. At some point in the past the back of the bowl has been removed, couple of the dot inlays are missing. Edited January 23, 2012 by Nibody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 If you're a Facebook user you may find this interesting. https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Cornbread-Banjos/253963047987661 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mog Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Yea I dabble a bit, or at least I used to. The queen hates the thing so it doesnt get played much. Like me she's used to hearing it in a traditional Irish setting and is overexposed. Theres only so much treble she can take............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggiesnr Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Bass Banjo? You mean like this? [url="http://angiesbanjo.com/Bass_Banjo.htm"]http://angiesbanjo.com/Bass_Banjo.htm[/url] or even [url="http://www.bassbanjos.com/"]http://www.bassbanjos.com/[/url] Fun Steve PS It could even get expensive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted February 28, 2012 Author Share Posted February 28, 2012 [quote name='oggiesnr' timestamp='1330446536' post='1557620'] Bass Banjo? You mean like this? [url="http://angiesbanjo.com/Bass_Banjo.htm"]http://angiesbanjo.com/Bass_Banjo.htm[/url] or even [url="http://www.bassbanjos.com/"]http://www.bassbanjos.com/[/url] Fun Steve PS It could even get expensive! [/quote] Yes! Great stuff. I've often thought that a bass banjo with a resonator body would work as an acoustic bass guitar alternative. A lot of us having tried an acoustic bass guitar and finding that they're too quiet 'unplugged' to be of any use in a band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggiesnr Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 [quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1330448397' post='1557686'] Yes! Great stuff. I've often thought that a bass banjo with a resonator body would work as an acoustic bass guitar alternative. A lot of us having tried an acoustic bass guitar and finding that they're too quiet 'unplugged' to be of any use in a band. [/quote] I play a Tacoma Thunderchief unplugged as standard and can usually make myself heard. I think it helps that I tend to playing with reed or high pitched melody instruments rather than a lot of guitars. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 [quote name='Nibody' timestamp='1327302972' post='1508924'] Oh is that you'rs? I saw that one when I was trying to find info about my Cammeyer. do you have any Pics of it? [/quote] It was! I went into the shop today to find out what had become of it, and they sold it earlier this month. Unfortunately no pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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