hello,
there seem to be quite a few luthiers who make hand-made 5-string openback banjos, but hardly anyone who makes openback tenor banjos - in the USA at least. has anyone had any experience with having a luthier who normally makes 5-string banjos make a 4-string tenor for them?
lanny
monkeykos is obviously trolling, so just ignore him.
Deering makes several open back tenors at several price ranges. In fact you can get a tenor in any of their models. In addition, Gold Tone makes at least two open back tenors. I think if you talk to any of the clawhammer builders you will find that they will be interested in a tenor project but that it will take a long time to get the instrument.
If you are confident with your skills, you could make one yourself with FQMS (http://www.fqms.com) parts. You will have to phone them and talk directly to them, but they will make you a tenor neck if you ask.
The other option, of course, is to buy a vintage instrument for about the same or even less money.
Folks have said positive things on this board about Gold Tone tenors as well.
Since most banjo players in the US are blugrass players, it seems like most luthiers are busy converting vintage plectrum and tenor banjos into 5-string banjos by changing out the necks. I think the market for short necked tenors must be so small here that it would be rare to find someone making them. But, if they do exist, you could probably find them by posting an inquiry on the CBOM (that's cittern, bouzouki, and octave mandolin) section at mandolincafe.com:
There may be Irish builders to check out as well...
That said, before ordering a custom made instrument, it might be best to play for a few years on some new or vintage banjos, so that you can develop some informed opinions and preferences about what you want in a tenor banjo...
i actually have interest from a few luthiers...especially marty spencer of florida banjos. he makes clawhammer banjos and uses high quality all solid block wood for his rims, and suggests a 12" head with an elite amber head and a bronze tone ring. he's not that well known as of yet and as a result his banjos are priced very reasonably as he tries to get them out there in the hands of players. plus he is offering 100% satisfaction. i don't see how i could go wrong. quality craftsmanship using excellent components for just a few hundred dollars more than a gold tone which uses korean parts.
Och PJA, so you don't like the Banjo then. Is that why you have been living in Poland & Dubai for the past 14 years - hiding from ye olde Banjo?
Or has it more to do with growing up to the sound of the Banjo with a silencer fitted - the Mandolin?
Incidentally, during your many years abroad, have you spent your time productively learning traditional tunes from those countries?
I'm not sure I actually 'HATE' any instruments!
I admit, there are certainly some I like the sound of less than others, but usually that's down to the player's style &/or technique, or lack of it.
I think any instrument 'played well' is probably worth listening to.
And nah I wasn't playing music yet in Poland and there is no music in Dubai. Seriously it has no culture at all, it's just sand and concrete that's one of the reasons i'm getting out of here. Although there are few really good Irish musicians in Abu Dhabi the city next to it but with the crazy drivers I think i'll pass. I would like to goto Syria, Armenia or Greece or somewhere like that and learn some of their tunes.
Your comment - "Any instrument except the gourd banjo!" makes me think that you have perhaps been living away from 'real' music for far too long PJA?
Starved of the real thing I suspect your ears have become sanitized & are only capable of listening to the highly polished & over produced techno music of CDs?
I agree that some of those Banjo tracks might sound a little on the rough side, but some, like 'Grasshopper Sitting On A Sweet Potato Vine' & 'Cumberland Gap' I personally found delightful & they are the sound of real music.
Perhaps you should read Bernie's new thread next door on -
"Are we losing the tradition to academics and commercialism?"
- that might start you thinking that perhaps now might be a good time to start re-educate your ears?
On the other hand, maybe you are just not a Banjo sort of a guy!
PJA - I was playing at a local Castle here recently & one of the guides turned out to be originally from Greece. When I called back, he had brought in his old, & beautiful, Greek Bouzouki for me to see & hear.
He only had a couple of tunes & I must admit I didn't really understand the music, but it was still wonderful to see & hear.
Not like me to digress ..............................
Hey, nah man i'm just not a banjo person. I appreciate all types of music(except commercial pop chart rubbish). I even find myself enjoying my Pakistani driver's traditional music tapes in the car.
I just find some banjo music predictable sounding especially in that kind of stuff. I do enjoy playing with good banjo players though, you're right when you say any instrument played well is worth listening to. I was playing with Brian Connoley last summer and he rules.
However, I think these old time tunes need a bouzouki!
I like AO Time music, so Iv'e just had listen to this gourd banjo site. Its a very raw sounding instrument, and i'm not sure I could listen to it played on its own for any length of time before starting to tire somewhat. But if accompanied with mandolin /guitar then I'm sure it would be far easier on the lugs . . so I agree with PJA somewhat.
Aye Stewpot, but after all, that site is trying to sell those Gourd Banjos, so I guess that's why many of the cuts are raw - to let potential buyers hear the sound clearly.
I dare say it is an acquired taste, but if you take anyone out of their natural musical environment & expose them to unusual music on strange instruments their ears aren't accustomed too, I think most folks would take a while to warm to it.
I'm sure most of the time these Gourd Banjos would usually be heard in amongst Fiddles, Mandolins, Guitars plus who knows, maybe even Hammered & Appalachian Dulcimers, Autoharps etc
I'm sure even some of our ITM instruments would be hard on the ears of some outsiders to this music! Any thoughts on which ones those might be?
"However, I think these old time tunes need a bouzouki!" ?
? ? ? ? ? ?
Aye, yer probably right there PJA, I'd say they'd fit in about as well as a Djembe with ITM!
hand-made banjo
hand-made banjo
hello,
there seem to be quite a few luthiers who make hand-made 5-string openback banjos, but hardly anyone who makes openback tenor banjos - in the USA at least. has anyone had any experience with having a luthier who normally makes 5-string banjos make a 4-string tenor for them?
lanny
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by tannisroot
Re: hand-made banjo
I don't know what on earth monkeyos meant by that, but I think John Deering handmakes good openback tenors.
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by Zazzaliss
Re: hand-made banjo
monkeykos is obviously trolling, so just ignore him.
Deering makes several open back tenors at several price ranges. In fact you can get a tenor in any of their models. In addition, Gold Tone makes at least two open back tenors. I think if you talk to any of the clawhammer builders you will find that they will be interested in a tenor project but that it will take a long time to get the instrument.
If you are confident with your skills, you could make one yourself with FQMS (http://www.fqms.com) parts. You will have to phone them and talk directly to them, but they will make you a tenor neck if you ask.
The other option, of course, is to buy a vintage instrument for about the same or even less money.
Mike Keyes
http://www.banjosessions.com
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by mikeyes
Re: hand-made banjo
Folks have said positive things on this board about Gold Tone tenors as well.
Since most banjo players in the US are blugrass players, it seems like most luthiers are busy converting vintage plectrum and tenor banjos into 5-string banjos by changing out the necks. I think the market for short necked tenors must be so small here that it would be rare to find someone making them. But, if they do exist, you could probably find them by posting an inquiry on the CBOM (that's cittern, bouzouki, and octave mandolin) section at mandolincafe.com:
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?s=9a2340c9b8d109b6bed41dbe63a5be0c;act=SF;f=16
I bet a good 5-string banjo maker would be up to the challenge though. Check out Mike Ramsey of the Chanterelle Workshop:
http://www.ramseybanjos.com/
There may be Irish builders to check out as well...
That said, before ordering a custom made instrument, it might be best to play for a few years on some new or vintage banjos, so that you can develop some informed opinions and preferences about what you want in a tenor banjo...
Good luck with it!
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by Keith Dubinsky
Re: hand-made banjo
i actually have interest from a few luthiers...especially marty spencer of florida banjos. he makes clawhammer banjos and uses high quality all solid block wood for his rims, and suggests a 12" head with an elite amber head and a bronze tone ring. he's not that well known as of yet and as a result his banjos are priced very reasonably as he tries to get them out there in the hands of players. plus he is offering 100% satisfaction. i don't see how i could go wrong. quality craftsmanship using excellent components for just a few hundred dollars more than a gold tone which uses korean parts.
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by tannisroot
Re: Gourd Banjo
Hey Lanny, had you considered trying one of these as a Tenor?
http://www.dhyatt.com/
They sound absolutely wonderful playing Old Time music - check out the MP3 page:
http://www.dhyatt.com/music.html
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: hand-made banjo
Ahh Dick!!!!!! The pain... now I remember why I hate banjos, thanks man
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by ecidralla
Re: hand-made banjo
Och PJA, so you don't like the Banjo then. Is that why you have been living in Poland & Dubai for the past 14 years - hiding from ye olde Banjo?
Or has it more to do with growing up to the sound of the Banjo with a silencer fitted - the Mandolin?
Incidentally, during your many years abroad, have you spent your time productively learning traditional tunes from those countries?
I'm not sure I actually 'HATE' any instruments!
I admit, there are certainly some I like the sound of less than others, but usually that's down to the player's style &/or technique, or lack of it.
I think any instrument 'played well' is probably worth listening to.
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: hand-made banjo
What - even the moron? I mean boron.
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by Newty
Re: hand-made banjo
Any instrument except the gourd banjo!
And nah I wasn't playing music yet in Poland and there is no music in Dubai. Seriously it has no culture at all, it's just sand and concrete that's one of the reasons i'm getting out of here. Although there are few really good Irish musicians in Abu Dhabi the city next to it but with the crazy drivers I think i'll pass. I would like to goto Syria, Armenia or Greece or somewhere like that and learn some of their tunes.
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by ecidralla
Re: hand-made banjo
My posts should probably be in the 'Stereotyping instruments' thread
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by ecidralla
Re: hand-made banjo
Your comment - "Any instrument except the gourd banjo!" makes me think that you have perhaps been living away from 'real' music for far too long PJA?
Starved of the real thing I suspect your ears have become sanitized & are only capable of listening to the highly polished & over produced techno music of CDs?
I agree that some of those Banjo tracks might sound a little on the rough side, but some, like 'Grasshopper Sitting On A Sweet Potato Vine' & 'Cumberland Gap' I personally found delightful & they are the sound of real music.
Perhaps you should read Bernie's new thread next door on -
"Are we losing the tradition to academics and commercialism?"
- that might start you thinking that perhaps now might be a good time to start re-educate your ears?
On the other hand, maybe you are just not a Banjo sort of a guy!
PJA - I was playing at a local Castle here recently & one of the guides turned out to be originally from Greece. When I called back, he had brought in his old, & beautiful, Greek Bouzouki for me to see & hear.
He only had a couple of tunes & I must admit I didn't really understand the music, but it was still wonderful to see & hear.
Not like me to digress ..............................
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: hand-made banjo
Hey, nah man i'm just not a banjo person. I appreciate all types of music(except commercial pop chart rubbish). I even find myself enjoying my Pakistani driver's traditional music tapes in the car.
I just find some banjo music predictable sounding especially in that kind of stuff. I do enjoy playing with good banjo players though, you're right when you say any instrument played well is worth listening to. I was playing with Brian Connoley last summer and he rules.
However, I think these old time tunes need a bouzouki!
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by ecidralla
Re: hand-made banjo
I like AO Time music, so Iv'e just had listen to this gourd banjo site. Its a very raw sounding instrument, and i'm not sure I could listen to it played on its own for any length of time before starting to tire somewhat. But if accompanied with mandolin /guitar then I'm sure it would be far easier on the lugs . . so I agree with PJA somewhat.
# Posted on June 13th 2006 by Justintime
Re: hand-made banjo
Too many somewhats Watson my dear friend . . !
# Posted on June 13th 2006 by Justintime
Re: hand-made banjo
Aye Stewpot, but after all, that site is trying to sell those Gourd Banjos, so I guess that's why many of the cuts are raw - to let potential buyers hear the sound clearly.
I dare say it is an acquired taste, but if you take anyone out of their natural musical environment & expose them to unusual music on strange instruments their ears aren't accustomed too, I think most folks would take a while to warm to it.
I'm sure most of the time these Gourd Banjos would usually be heard in amongst Fiddles, Mandolins, Guitars plus who knows, maybe even Hammered & Appalachian Dulcimers, Autoharps etc
I'm sure even some of our ITM instruments would be hard on the ears of some outsiders to this music! Any thoughts on which ones those might be?
"However, I think these old time tunes need a bouzouki!" ?
? ? ? ? ? ?
Aye, yer probably right there PJA, I'd say they'd fit in about as well as a Djembe with ITM!
# Posted on June 13th 2006 by Ptarmigan