I like them tuned GDAE, but there is no signature sound in ITM the way there is in bluegrass. The important thing is whether or not you like the instrument for ITM.
A lot of sound is dependent on setup and a well setup Silver Bell (depending on whether you are playing a short or standard scale instrument, of course) has a distinctive sound that is pleasing to a lot of folks. B&D Silver Bells are very popular amongst the jazz players - an important point because if you don't like it, someone else surely will when you sell it.
Bernunzio has a nice selection of Silver Bells right now and they are all pretty good instruments, at least they were in December when I went there.
I have a Silver Bell, and I think it's a really great banjo. It has a very clean sound, with a crisp ring. It doesn't have too much natural reverb, which helps keep it from sounding muddy. Mine has one of the "soft pedal" bars on it, and it took me a while to get used to it. It's a 19 fret banjo, but scale length doesn't bother me much.
I had a couple of SB's but thought they were over-rated - I got a better sound out of a Weymann that's probably half the price of a SB. My feeling is that a banjo sound is almost as much a matter of luck as it is the product (and of course a decent set-up doesn't hurt).
Silver Bell Banjos
Silver Bell Banjos
Any Banjo players any views on Bacon and Day Silver Bell Banjos for ITM
much appreciated
thx
Glengar
# Posted on January 9th 2012 by glengarslasher
Re: Silver Bell Banjos
I like them tuned GDAE, but there is no signature sound in ITM the way there is in bluegrass. The important thing is whether or not you like the instrument for ITM.
A lot of sound is dependent on setup and a well setup Silver Bell (depending on whether you are playing a short or standard scale instrument, of course) has a distinctive sound that is pleasing to a lot of folks. B&D Silver Bells are very popular amongst the jazz players - an important point because if you don't like it, someone else surely will when you sell it.
Bernunzio has a nice selection of Silver Bells right now and they are all pretty good instruments, at least they were in December when I went there.
Mike Keyes
http://www.mikekeyes.com
# Posted on January 9th 2012 by mikeyes
Re: Silver Bell Banjos
Here is a good discussion contrasting Vega tubaphone banjos (which you own now) and B&D Silver Bells:
http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/224727/1
Mike Keyes
# Posted on January 9th 2012 by mikeyes
Re: Silver Bell Banjos
Thanks Mike
# Posted on January 9th 2012 by glengarslasher
Re: Silver Bell Banjos
I have a Silver Bell, and I think it's a really great banjo. It has a very clean sound, with a crisp ring. It doesn't have too much natural reverb, which helps keep it from sounding muddy. Mine has one of the "soft pedal" bars on it, and it took me a while to get used to it. It's a 19 fret banjo, but scale length doesn't bother me much.
# Posted on January 10th 2012 by Reverend
Re: Silver Bell Banjos
"....scale length doesn't bother me much."
No, it wouldn't, when you're 6' 27"....
# Posted on January 10th 2012 by Will Harmon
Re: Silver Bell Banjos
So he's 8'3"? Good to see Brobidinagian banjists on the scene. Can he fret the E string with his thumb?
# Posted on January 10th 2012 by Kevin Rietmann
Re: Silver Bell Banjos
You can hear him while he's walking that lonesome valley around Christmas time?
# Posted on January 10th 2012 by mrkelahan
Re: Silver Bell Banjos
I had a couple of SB's but thought they were over-rated - I got a better sound out of a Weymann that's probably half the price of a SB. My feeling is that a banjo sound is almost as much a matter of luck as it is the product (and of course a decent set-up doesn't hurt).
# Posted on January 12th 2012 by Zouki