I started playing Tenor Banjo a few months ago and now have the chance to buy a really good banjo a big anniversary you know coming up and its being bought as a present
I am considering a Sullys session king 21"Scale or an Oakwood Short Scale I want a short scale
Any advise please I do not want a Vintage Banjo I want a modern high Quality Banjo I live in Ireland
My main advice is that if you have a partner who will buy a banjo for an anniversary present, stick with her/him!
Secondly, I assume you've already tried a short-scale banjo? They're not necessarily easier to play than a standard scale banjo and don't suit everyone. Also I think you can often get a better tone off a longer scale banjo as the scale and the tuning are more suited to the sort of string gauges that give better tone. Hope that makes sense.
Thirdly, the banjos you've mentioned sound good, but if possible, get one that you can try out first. If getting by internet or mail order, then look up Andybanjo.com as well
I live in USA, and very nice older tenor banjos are perhaps more readily available here, and highly prized among some trad players. Just out of curiousity, why do you prefer a newer one?
personally I would strong recommend taking time to visit Tom in Clareen Banjos n CO Galway link is http://banjo.ie/index.php?module=about&id=2 he has both his own high quality banjos at different prices, and good 2nd hand ones. I bought my own one (a vintage 2nd hand one) there and can certainly recommend the shop!
Why don't you want a vintage banjo?
my friend bought this year a 17 fret banjo from David Boyle and she says that she more than happy with it. David Boyle lives in Leixlip Co. Kildare
I've seen few of his banjos and must say they are great.
I have tried a short scale and standard scale and am more comfortable with a short scale
The reason I dont want a vintage is because I a not experienced enough to know if the banjo is o/k and do not want problems.
I presume a new Short scale from a reputable dealer like above will be Top Notch
I am not trying to start a vintage V New Debate I am buying New I was hoping for some advise on New Short Scales
A met a fellow TB player at a festival (Bampton, Devon, England) recently. His instrument was what I can only describe as the "Rolls-Royce of Tenor Banjos"
- Beautifully made
- Beautifully made
- Beautiful tone
- perfectly tuned - all the way up the scale
- very heavy!
He did mention the maker's name. I think that it might have been David Boyle, but I couldn't swear to it. If so, it was probably the guy that padre was talkiing about.
He also told me that when he ordered it, he had imagined that the maker would be living in a country cottage. However, when he went to collect it, he discovered that the guy was living in a council house, and that the banjo has been made in his garden shed!
Q. Is this your man, padre?
My aquaintance at the festival let me have a play on it. All I can say is that I was drooling! Then I asked him how much he'd paid for it. He couldn't remember, but thought it was about 3200 Euros. Ouch!
However, if money were no object , this is the tenor banjo that I would buy. No question.
Dave Boyle banjos are excellent - Barney McKenna actually plays a short scale DB banjo now, so you can't argue with that!
Clareen banjos are a bit different - the cheaper ones aren't that good, and the good ones are REALLY expensive. Seriously, his top of the range banjo is approx. €5k; you could buy two Epiphone Recording A's for that price, and Clareen banjos are heavily modelled on the Epiphone banjos.
Get a Dave Boyle banjo, or buy a nice vintage one. Just because it's old doesn't mean it will be giving you problems all the time. If it's in good condition, once it's setup it should be good to go and very stable.
There are a number of good makes from the Golden period during the 20s/30s - Orpheum made excellent short scale tenor banjos.
Alternatively you could learn a proper f*cking instrument!
I'm expecting to have to make the same decision myself next year if I can afford to upgrade to a 'pro' banjo next year. I'd think seriously about going for a long-scale tenor.
I've been playing a short-scale tenor for about a year and I'm finding the lower strings a bit too slack to get really crisp triplets - even using very heavy gauge strings. I'm getting there but I think that it would be slightly easier with the extra tension on the longer strings. I didn't notice this problem until recently when my playing got a bit better and faster.
I have to say that I've tried a few vintage banjos and they always seem to have some problem that you have to live with.
I think modern instruments are much more flexible, though I know that some players get a real buzz out of talking about their vintage banjos.
I got a Dave Boyle banjo earlier this year after having been given his telephone number by Eamonn Coyne ( I wrote to his web site). Dave told me that he was in retirement and had stopped making banjos to order. However it seems that he still makes the odd one and when I went to see him at his home near Dublin I found one that I really liked so I bought it. It was expensive though and it is very heavy.
One thing I have heard it said about modern tenor banjo makers such as Dave and Tom Cussen is that they are making their instruments specifically for the Irish GDAE tuning whereas Vintage instruments are designed for standard tuning. As a consequence the vintage instruments can sound somewhat less bright when tuned down.
Having said all of that I am currently in possession of a short scale open backed Vega that I have on loan from Andy Perkins and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I was concerned that the short scale might require slacker strings that could inhibit playing abit (rather as Horrace has described). However, I am finding it an absolute joy to play and the strings are no problem at all. It doesn't sound as good as the Dave Boyle ( to my ears) but the short scale means it is easier to play and it is considerably more portable.
I know that Angelina Carberry plays with a short scale Oakwood but it seems that they make to order and you have no chance to try it out before you buy. That said I think that if you are unhappy with any banjo they make for you you can return it - so there is limited downside. You might also take a look at Dvidson's banjo's ( advertised at eagle music). Unlike the Oakwood, Davidson's banjos have archtop tone rings which they describe as offering a more lively tone for Irish music.
i've never been to David Boyle's workshop - answear to Mix's question.
The first time I've seen DB banjo, guy came to a session and we've started to talk and he let take a look at his banjos. I love vintage banjos - especially those made or designed by William Lange - that banjo had the quality of the vintage banjos.
Besides on youtube you can find TG4 series Ceird an Cheoil and there's is a episode about banjo. and as in each episode there's a maker showing how he makes the instruments and stuff like that. In that episode the maker is Tom Cussen. But the funny thing is that he's the only person playing banjo made by him. All the others Gerry O'Connor, Kieran Hanrahan and few other as famous are playing DB banjos - except john Carty he plays lovely Paragon banjo.
unfortunatelly prices of these banjos are a little to high for me.
but I'd love to have one of these, that's for sure.
actually padre, Enda Scahill plays a Clareen banjo on the program, a few of the youngsters at the end do as well. Although Mick Moloney is playing a Boyle banjo in the show, his main instrument in New York is a Tom Cussen banjo.Although, I too found it strange that there were so many musicians playing Boyle banjos on a program that was essentially about Tom Cussen.
Having played a few Sully banjos, I'm of the opinion that they are not good instruments and for the money you can buy far better.
Everone is entitled to their opinion: I have had one of Sully's Kildare banjos for a few years now and have always been very pleased with it. The one I have is quite plain looking with the combination of a deep tone with clarity and 'crack'. It has a clear head. Not everyone's ideal banjo tone as lots of people like a more plunky sound.
I think if you ask anyone I play sessions with they would agree and I don't think you would be at all disappointed with one of his basic Session King models: all of his instruments are built to the same sort of standard and the variation in price has to do with the woods used and the amount of ornamentation.
Older banjo's can be superb but can be a b..... to set up in some cases and if you lack the necessary expertise.
A new banjo? Please reconsider, have a look here.... http://www.acoustudio.dk/Banjoer%20til%20salg.htm
Price is in Danish currency. If I had the money, if only I had the money. I know the guy, absolutely nothing wrong with theese banjos
I would visit Cussen's shop. That gives you a chance to try out both new and vintage instruments. There's nothing to be too afraid of in the vintage banjos if you have a good luthier around to do the setup for you.
I have had several vintage banjos over the years. My current workhorse is a modern Ome, but I also have a vintage short-scale Lange that I love almost as much, and I have less than $200 in it!
I now have the chance to buy a GT IT250 the model with optional resonator and hard case etc for a good price so I think I will go with that for the time being and see how I get on
What does Sully Play nowadays? Wurzel recommended something because Barney McKenna played it, but as much as I love Barney for all sorts of reasons, Sully is a better player, in my opinion, which could be wrong.
I liked the old Framus banjos, so shows you what I know.
Barney plays a short scale DB because he had a stroke, and switched from standard scale paragon as the DB one is much easier to play. Other notable DB players include Gerry O'Connor and Kieran Hanrahanrahanrahan.
I really don't get the fuss over Sully instruments - they are only slightly better than the mass produced Asian instruments, and significantly more expensive. Pretty much all modern instruments are more expensive than a decent vintage one (paramount, vega, epiphone etc.) one; most of the modern instruments are copies of these vintage instruments. Plus the modern ones drop in value as soon as you buy them - decent vintage ones increase in price over time.
Hi
I was that man at Bampton with the Dave Boyle short scale, and remember chatting to Mix O'Lydian - I am very pleased with the banjo and can't recommend it highly enough
I have visited Dave a couple of times (by prior arrangement), and he does indeed make them in his garden shed at his home in Kildare, but it is very well equipped to produce the very high standard ok workmanship he achieves. He & Tom Cussen are very good friends, (I understand Tom helped Dave get started in his early days as a maker), and each recommends that you try the other's before you buy - in fact Dave supplies much of the metalwork to Tom and in turn gets most of his wooden parts from Tom - there are some differences but both make exceptional banjos - Tom only has the one top quality style with few variations, whereas Tom has much larger range of styles & prices - I would recommend either but marginally decided on the Boyle. When I last spoke to Dave, he said he would probably make more when he retired, but may have slowed down now - best way is to ask him I suppose. He is still always very enthusiastic with advice if you ring him (as indeed is Tom) . I think the certainty of quality of new banjo is best for me, rather than a succession of vintage ones to find a good one - depends on your luck perhaps
I thinkDave Boyle showed Tom Cussen the ropes when he started up in business.He is a professional toolmaker I think and I believe Toim Cussen got some sort of a government grant to get the banjo business up and running..I think Dave Boyle was sent down to show techniques etc to Tom Cussen by his employer at the time. Dave Boyle showed me a big stack of banjo tonerings s he was sending down to Tom Cussen.He told me he would be leaving Leixlip and moving down the country to thr Naas area.That was a few years ago.Dave Boyle is a perfect gentleman , you could not meet a nicer, more genuine guy,I never met Tom Cussen but everybody you meet has a great opinion of him also ,..Dave Boyle made or used to make 5 string banjos also.He made one to order for some American professor of science who reported back to Dave , on receiving his Boyle banjot hat the banjo was flawness and total perfection in every way and vastly superior to any banjo he had ever seen or played before. High praise indeed.
I have a new Deering Boston Tenor 17 fret and had to replace the head and strings to get the sound I wanted, but I like it now. It cost me $1500 new. I have a vintage (1900-1920) Favilla Bros. 17 fret, which I paid $200 for and I like it even better than the $1500 Deering. That being said...I got lucky...and I've heard some pretty funky sounding vintage banjos...Vegas included, so go NEW and disregard the persuasive arguments. Once you gain experience in the music and the instrument, drop into shops and try out some vintage ones and maybe someday you'll want to get one.
Experiment, too. I've tried many different strings and gauges, different heads, picks, everything. You just have to find the sound that appeals to you...and that takes time. Enjoy the journey.
To be true, I am getting a bit tired of all those legends about Tom Cussen's banjos.
I have been playing a Clareen Oyster for ten years and I have never come across a better instrument, including vintage Vegaphones, B&D, Paramounts... And I've owned a Vagaphone Artist for a few years : I just sold it and went back to my fabulous TC. Everybody who tries it is just amazed by its sound. I am a pro musician, not a fuc*ing banjo collector.
Who said euro 5000 ?? Mine is € 2650 now, and that's a top of the line banjo (ebony fingerboard, heavy tonering, mother of pearl engraved inlays, flamed and birds eye maple, do you want me to go on with the description ?). Please WorzelGummidge, have a look at Tom's website before writing such things on the internet : http://www.banjo.ie/home.php
Clareen banjos are supposed to be out of tune (I heard this legend many a time). Really ? Oooh, strange, every note on mine is perfect. I must be very lucky.
My opinion is that TC and BD banjos are EXACTLY the same in terms of quality and prices, the rest being a question of taste... and commercial propaganda.
I've been playing tenor banjo for approx 20 years. Never tried a DB or Cussen. However, I have both a long and short neck made by Pat D'oole in Geelong, Australia. Both are lovely to play and I have had no problems with them.The short neck allows me to play faster due to the shorter stretch required. On the other hand, the long neck seems to have a nicer ring to it. I don't favour one over the other. In essence, my advice is that if a banjo feels and sounds right to you, stick with it. My long neck costs approx $1850 (Australian Dollars) and the short neck is dearer.
I have just got a D'oole banjo not long ago, and while I don't know a whole lot about banjos (yet), I really like the sound of it and the ease of playing it. (Geez, I nearly fall asleep playing it, a very mellow ring to it.) Beautifully made, all hand made and machined by Ray Black and Pat D'oole, I believe. Really class stuff. Delivery was absolutely to the day as promised as well, with about a six month wait time, I think it was. Y'get some gems of instruments made in this country don't you.
GR3106-p-Blue-Moon-arch-top-Mandolin £79 @ Hobgoblins.
What appears to be a similar instrument will cost €150 at Claeen Banjos? I did not compare postage.
I don't know if Mr. Boyle is still making banjos. Last I heard he wasn't. But if he is, I highly recommend his banjo. I consider myself very fortunate to have one of his banjos.
I met David on a trip to Ireland many years ago when I was looking for a banjo for my daughter. I now consider David to be a friend. He is a wonderful person, the best and I am honored to know him.
Tenor Banjo
Tenor Banjo
I started playing Tenor Banjo a few months ago and now have the chance to buy a really good banjo a big anniversary you know coming up and its being bought as a present
I am considering a Sullys session king 21"Scale or an Oakwood Short Scale I want a short scale
Any advise please I do not want a Vintage Banjo I want a modern high Quality Banjo I live in Ireland
Thanks Very much
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by glengarslasher
Re: Tenor Banjo
My main advice is that if you have a partner who will buy a banjo for an anniversary present, stick with her/him!
Secondly, I assume you've already tried a short-scale banjo? They're not necessarily easier to play than a standard scale banjo and don't suit everyone. Also I think you can often get a better tone off a longer scale banjo as the scale and the tuning are more suited to the sort of string gauges that give better tone. Hope that makes sense.
Thirdly, the banjos you've mentioned sound good, but if possible, get one that you can try out first. If getting by internet or mail order, then look up Andybanjo.com as well
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by Bren
Re: Tenor Banjo
I live in USA, and very nice older tenor banjos are perhaps more readily available here, and highly prized among some trad players. Just out of curiousity, why do you prefer a newer one?
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by pipewatcher
Re: Tenor Banjo
personally I would strong recommend taking time to visit Tom in Clareen Banjos n CO Galway link is http://banjo.ie/index.php?module=about&id=2 he has both his own high quality banjos at different prices, and good 2nd hand ones. I bought my own one (a vintage 2nd hand one) there and can certainly recommend the shop!
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by BanjoBongo
Re: Tenor Banjo
Why don't you want a vintage banjo?
my friend bought this year a 17 fret banjo from David Boyle and she says that she more than happy with it. David Boyle lives in Leixlip Co. Kildare
I've seen few of his banjos and must say they are great.
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by padre
Re: Tenor Banjo
I have a vintage tenor (19 fret) for sale, Lucan area.
I can e-mail pictures if you are interested.
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by squelly
Re: Tenor Banjo
Thanks for replies so far
I have tried a short scale and standard scale and am more comfortable with a short scale
The reason I dont want a vintage is because I a not experienced enough to know if the banjo is o/k and do not want problems.
I presume a new Short scale from a reputable dealer like above will be Top Notch
I am not trying to start a vintage V New Debate I am buying New I was hoping for some advise on New Short Scales
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by glengarslasher
Re: Tenor Banjo
Hi glengarslasher
A met a fellow TB player at a festival (Bampton, Devon, England) recently. His instrument was what I can only describe as the "Rolls-Royce of Tenor Banjos"
- Beautifully made
- Beautifully made
- Beautiful tone
- perfectly tuned - all the way up the scale
- very heavy!
He did mention the maker's name. I think that it might have been David Boyle, but I couldn't swear to it. If so, it was probably the guy that padre was talkiing about.
He also told me that when he ordered it, he had imagined that the maker would be living in a country cottage. However, when he went to collect it, he discovered that the guy was living in a council house, and that the banjo has been made in his garden shed!
Q. Is this your man, padre?
My aquaintance at the festival let me have a play on it. All I can say is that I was drooling! Then I asked him how much he'd paid for it. He couldn't remember, but thought it was about 3200 Euros. Ouch!
However, if money were no object , this is the tenor banjo that I would buy. No question.
... just off to buy a lottery ticket ....
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Tenor Banjo
Sully banjos are not good.
Dave Boyle banjos are excellent - Barney McKenna actually plays a short scale DB banjo now, so you can't argue with that!
Clareen banjos are a bit different - the cheaper ones aren't that good, and the good ones are REALLY expensive. Seriously, his top of the range banjo is approx. €5k; you could buy two Epiphone Recording A's for that price, and Clareen banjos are heavily modelled on the Epiphone banjos.
Get a Dave Boyle banjo, or buy a nice vintage one. Just because it's old doesn't mean it will be giving you problems all the time. If it's in good condition, once it's setup it should be good to go and very stable.
There are a number of good makes from the Golden period during the 20s/30s - Orpheum made excellent short scale tenor banjos.
Alternatively you could learn a proper f*cking instrument!
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by WorzelGummidge
Re: Tenor Banjo
Fiddle sticks!
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Tenor Banjo
Take up the bodhran.
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Tenor Banjo
I'm expecting to have to make the same decision myself next year if I can afford to upgrade to a 'pro' banjo next year. I'd think seriously about going for a long-scale tenor.
I've been playing a short-scale tenor for about a year and I'm finding the lower strings a bit too slack to get really crisp triplets - even using very heavy gauge strings. I'm getting there but I think that it would be slightly easier with the extra tension on the longer strings. I didn't notice this problem until recently when my playing got a bit better and faster.
I have to say that I've tried a few vintage banjos and they always seem to have some problem that you have to live with.
I think modern instruments are much more flexible, though I know that some players get a real buzz out of talking about their vintage banjos.
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by d0tter
Re: Tenor Banjo
I bought a GoldTone Irish Tenor, and it suits all my needs (with respect to banjoplaying....)
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by snorre
Re: Tenor Banjo
I got a Dave Boyle banjo earlier this year after having been given his telephone number by Eamonn Coyne ( I wrote to his web site). Dave told me that he was in retirement and had stopped making banjos to order. However it seems that he still makes the odd one and when I went to see him at his home near Dublin I found one that I really liked so I bought it. It was expensive though and it is very heavy.
One thing I have heard it said about modern tenor banjo makers such as Dave and Tom Cussen is that they are making their instruments specifically for the Irish GDAE tuning whereas Vintage instruments are designed for standard tuning. As a consequence the vintage instruments can sound somewhat less bright when tuned down.
Having said all of that I am currently in possession of a short scale open backed Vega that I have on loan from Andy Perkins and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I was concerned that the short scale might require slacker strings that could inhibit playing abit (rather as Horrace has described). However, I am finding it an absolute joy to play and the strings are no problem at all. It doesn't sound as good as the Dave Boyle ( to my ears) but the short scale means it is easier to play and it is considerably more portable.
I know that Angelina Carberry plays with a short scale Oakwood but it seems that they make to order and you have no chance to try it out before you buy. That said I think that if you are unhappy with any banjo they make for you you can return it - so there is limited downside. You might also take a look at Dvidson's banjo's ( advertised at eagle music). Unlike the Oakwood, Davidson's banjos have archtop tone rings which they describe as offering a more lively tone for Irish music.
Good luck with your purchase.
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by Carl McAndrew
Re: Tenor Banjo
i've never been to David Boyle's workshop - answear to Mix's question.
The first time I've seen DB banjo, guy came to a session and we've started to talk and he let take a look at his banjos. I love vintage banjos - especially those made or designed by William Lange - that banjo had the quality of the vintage banjos.
Besides on youtube you can find TG4 series Ceird an Cheoil and there's is a episode about banjo. and as in each episode there's a maker showing how he makes the instruments and stuff like that. In that episode the maker is Tom Cussen. But the funny thing is that he's the only person playing banjo made by him. All the others Gerry O'Connor, Kieran Hanrahan and few other as famous are playing DB banjos - except john Carty he plays lovely Paragon banjo.
unfortunatelly prices of these banjos are a little to high for me.
but I'd love to have one of these, that's for sure.
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by padre
Re: Tenor Banjo
I've never heard that Sully's banjos are not good. I don''t play one but most people I know rate them highly.
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Tenor Banjo
actually padre, Enda Scahill plays a Clareen banjo on the program, a few of the youngsters at the end do as well. Although Mick Moloney is playing a Boyle banjo in the show, his main instrument in New York is a Tom Cussen banjo.Although, I too found it strange that there were so many musicians playing Boyle banjos on a program that was essentially about Tom Cussen.
Having played a few Sully banjos, I'm of the opinion that they are not good instruments and for the money you can buy far better.
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by WorzelGummidge
Re: Tenor Banjo
apparently I need to watch that episode again
but this time on the full screen
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by padre
Re: Tenor Banjo
kieran hanrahan now plays a Deering Calico
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by millionyears_bc
Re: Tenor Banjo
Sully's banjos are quite nice. I have played his own personal banjo, and I liked it.
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by jakep
Re: Tenor Banjo
Everone is entitled to their opinion: I have had one of Sully's Kildare banjos for a few years now and have always been very pleased with it. The one I have is quite plain looking with the combination of a deep tone with clarity and 'crack'. It has a clear head. Not everyone's ideal banjo tone as lots of people like a more plunky sound.
I think if you ask anyone I play sessions with they would agree and I don't think you would be at all disappointed with one of his basic Session King models: all of his instruments are built to the same sort of standard and the variation in price has to do with the woods used and the amount of ornamentation.
Older banjo's can be superb but can be a b..... to set up in some cases and if you lack the necessary expertise.
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by Rob
Re: Tenor Banjo
A new banjo? Please reconsider, have a look here....
http://www.acoustudio.dk/Banjoer%20til%20salg.htm
Price is in Danish currency. If I had the money, if only I had the money. I know the guy, absolutely nothing wrong with theese banjos
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by houlberg
Re: Tenor Banjo
oakwood will put any tone ring you want in a banjo.
# Posted on November 12th 2008 by molloy
Re: Tenor Banjo
I would visit Cussen's shop. That gives you a chance to try out both new and vintage instruments. There's nothing to be too afraid of in the vintage banjos if you have a good luthier around to do the setup for you.
I have had several vintage banjos over the years. My current workhorse is a modern Ome, but I also have a vintage short-scale Lange that I love almost as much, and I have less than $200 in it!
# Posted on November 13th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Tenor Banjo
Thanks Everybody for the replies
I now have the chance to buy a GT IT250 the model with optional resonator and hard case etc for a good price so I think I will go with that for the time being and see how I get on
Thanks again for the advise
# Posted on November 13th 2008 by glengarslasher
Re: Tenor Banjo
I like the FRAMUS Best because I get a good tone out of them but second to that I'd go to Tom Cussen
# Posted on November 13th 2008 by jlocky
Re: Tenor Banjo
What does Sully Play nowadays? Wurzel recommended something because Barney McKenna played it, but as much as I love Barney for all sorts of reasons, Sully is a better player, in my opinion, which could be wrong.
I liked the old Framus banjos, so shows you what I know.
# Posted on November 14th 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: Tenor Banjo
Sully play's his own banjos although I couldn't tell you which model, although it will be one of his top-of-the-range jobs..
# Posted on November 14th 2008 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Tenor Banjo
Barney plays a short scale DB because he had a stroke, and switched from standard scale paragon as the DB one is much easier to play. Other notable DB players include Gerry O'Connor and Kieran Hanrahanrahanrahan.
I really don't get the fuss over Sully instruments - they are only slightly better than the mass produced Asian instruments, and significantly more expensive. Pretty much all modern instruments are more expensive than a decent vintage one (paramount, vega, epiphone etc.) one; most of the modern instruments are copies of these vintage instruments. Plus the modern ones drop in value as soon as you buy them - decent vintage ones increase in price over time.
# Posted on November 14th 2008 by WorzelGummidge
Re: Tenor Banjo
Hi
I was that man at Bampton with the Dave Boyle short scale, and remember chatting to Mix O'Lydian - I am very pleased with the banjo and can't recommend it highly enough
I have visited Dave a couple of times (by prior arrangement), and he does indeed make them in his garden shed at his home in Kildare, but it is very well equipped to produce the very high standard ok workmanship he achieves. He & Tom Cussen are very good friends, (I understand Tom helped Dave get started in his early days as a maker), and each recommends that you try the other's before you buy - in fact Dave supplies much of the metalwork to Tom and in turn gets most of his wooden parts from Tom - there are some differences but both make exceptional banjos - Tom only has the one top quality style with few variations, whereas Tom has much larger range of styles & prices - I would recommend either but marginally decided on the Boyle. When I last spoke to Dave, he said he would probably make more when he retired, but may have slowed down now - best way is to ask him I suppose. He is still always very enthusiastic with advice if you ring him (as indeed is Tom) . I think the certainty of quality of new banjo is best for me, rather than a succession of vintage ones to find a good one - depends on your luck perhaps
# Posted on November 14th 2008 by Enob
Re: Tenor Banjo
I thinkDave Boyle showed Tom Cussen the ropes when he started up in business.He is a professional toolmaker I think and I believe Toim Cussen got some sort of a government grant to get the banjo business up and running..I think Dave Boyle was sent down to show techniques etc to Tom Cussen by his employer at the time. Dave Boyle showed me a big stack of banjo tonerings s he was sending down to Tom Cussen.He told me he would be leaving Leixlip and moving down the country to thr Naas area.That was a few years ago.Dave Boyle is a perfect gentleman , you could not meet a nicer, more genuine guy,I never met Tom Cussen but everybody you meet has a great opinion of him also ,..Dave Boyle made or used to make 5 string banjos also.He made one to order for some American professor of science who reported back to Dave , on receiving his Boyle banjot hat the banjo was flawness and total perfection in every way and vastly superior to any banjo he had ever seen or played before. High praise indeed.
# Posted on November 14th 2008 by Red Robin
Re: Tenor Banjo
I have a new Deering Boston Tenor 17 fret and had to replace the head and strings to get the sound I wanted, but I like it now. It cost me $1500 new. I have a vintage (1900-1920) Favilla Bros. 17 fret, which I paid $200 for and I like it even better than the $1500 Deering. That being said...I got lucky...and I've heard some pretty funky sounding vintage banjos...Vegas included, so go NEW and disregard the persuasive arguments. Once you gain experience in the music and the instrument, drop into shops and try out some vintage ones and maybe someday you'll want to get one.
Experiment, too. I've tried many different strings and gauges, different heads, picks, everything. You just have to find the sound that appeals to you...and that takes time. Enjoy the journey.
# Posted on November 17th 2008 by banjobabe
Re: Tenor Banjo
http://cgi.ebay.com/Deering-Boston-19-Fret-Tenor-Banjo-Used-But-Mint-w-OHSC_W0QQitemZ140281969804QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item140281969804&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
# Posted on November 18th 2008 by Red Robin
Re: Tenor Banjo
Deering Boston isin't much of a banjo for that money you could have got an almost new deering sierra if you really wanted deering.
# Posted on November 18th 2008 by Red Robin
Re: Tenor Banjo
Deering are nice, also tom cussen's Clareen banjos
# Posted on November 26th 2008 by paulallen
Re: Tenor Banjo
WorzelGummidge,
To be true, I am getting a bit tired of all those legends about Tom Cussen's banjos.
I have been playing a Clareen Oyster for ten years and I have never come across a better instrument, including vintage Vegaphones, B&D, Paramounts... And I've owned a Vagaphone Artist for a few years : I just sold it and went back to my fabulous TC. Everybody who tries it is just amazed by its sound. I am a pro musician, not a fuc*ing banjo collector.
Who said euro 5000 ?? Mine is € 2650 now, and that's a top of the line banjo (ebony fingerboard, heavy tonering, mother of pearl engraved inlays, flamed and birds eye maple, do you want me to go on with the description ?). Please WorzelGummidge, have a look at Tom's website before writing such things on the internet :
http://www.banjo.ie/home.php
Clareen banjos are supposed to be out of tune (I heard this legend many a time). Really ? Oooh, strange, every note on mine is perfect. I must be very lucky.
My opinion is that TC and BD banjos are EXACTLY the same in terms of quality and prices, the rest being a question of taste... and commercial propaganda.
# Posted on December 6th 2008 by Naoned
Re: Tenor Banjo
I've been playing tenor banjo for approx 20 years. Never tried a DB or Cussen. However, I have both a long and short neck made by Pat D'oole in Geelong, Australia. Both are lovely to play and I have had no problems with them.The short neck allows me to play faster due to the shorter stretch required. On the other hand, the long neck seems to have a nicer ring to it. I don't favour one over the other. In essence, my advice is that if a banjo feels and sounds right to you, stick with it. My long neck costs approx $1850 (Australian Dollars) and the short neck is dearer.
# Posted on December 30th 2008 by jdalt
Re: Tenor Banjo
I have just got a D'oole banjo not long ago, and while I don't know a whole lot about banjos (yet), I really like the sound of it and the ease of playing it. (Geez, I nearly fall asleep playing it, a very mellow ring to it.) Beautifully made, all hand made and machined by Ray Black and Pat D'oole, I believe. Really class stuff. Delivery was absolutely to the day as promised as well, with about a six month wait time, I think it was. Y'get some gems of instruments made in this country don't you.
# Posted on December 30th 2008 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Tenor Banjo or Mandolin
I take "professionally setup" with a pinch of salt.
# Posted on November 11th 2009 by O'Riabhaigh
Re: Clareen Banjos
GR3106-p-Blue-Moon-arch-top-Mandolin £79 @ Hobgoblins.
What appears to be a similar instrument will cost €150 at Claeen Banjos? I did not compare postage.
# Posted on February 18th 2010 by O'Riabhaigh
Re: Tenor Banjo
I don't know if Mr. Boyle is still making banjos. Last I heard he wasn't. But if he is, I highly recommend his banjo. I consider myself very fortunate to have one of his banjos.
I met David on a trip to Ireland many years ago when I was looking for a banjo for my daughter. I now consider David to be a friend. He is a wonderful person, the best and I am honored to know him.
# Posted on August 31st 2010 by Martinfamilyband