I am considering spending £1000 + on a new open back shrort scale tenor banjo of UK origin. Does anyone have any feedback on models currently available?
If you include Irish banjos, you can't do better than Tom Cussen's Clareen banjos (http://www.banjo.ie/) and he has three models that will work for you.
For $1800 (the equivalent of one thousand pounds) you can buy a Model M Vega and a Bacon 17 fret from Bernunzios (http://www.bernunzio.com) and get them shipped to you. I was just in their store and they have a number of 17 fret instruments and a lot of very good 19 fret banjos, especially Paramounts. I managed to play all the tenors and was impressed with their condition and playability. They are fair in pricing and very honest. Their condition statements are right on the money.
As for the quality of the new instruments mentioned above, I am only familiar with the Clareen instruments. Every one that I saw in his shop was top notch so I don't think you can go wrong. He is very easy to deal with and might even trade with you as he has a retail shop at his workplace.
Another choice is Findago Vintage Banjos (http://www.findajo.co.uk/) which has a nice selection of banjos.
The Gold Tone banjos at Andys are decently priced considering they have to be shipped to the UK. They are American designed/Chinese or Korean made parts that are assembled in Florida. The only drawbacks are the cheap tuners and tailpieces, the rest of the banjo is good to excellent. Of course they are not UK made.
I want to sell my Bacon Style C from 1924 (open back, 17 fret) Of course it is not new and much cheaper than 1000 GBP, but it is in a good condition. If you are interested, i can sent you pic's, mail to schueran@yahoo.de.
I know what you mean grego - but at the end of the day, (and the chips are down, the last dog is hung and the cards are on the table) you'll do better to get a banjo from a maker who does his own website, than from a web designer who makes his own banjos.
We sometimes tease Tony about the transparent banjo heads - making unkind suggestions about keeping goldfish inside, and the like - but he gives as good as he gets. I wish I knew enough about banjos to be know how his compare with other makers. I only know they sound good when he plays them.
"They sound good when he plays them." That makes me think of some wisdom that came to me only after it was too late to be any good to use (since I don't have money to buy instruments any more.) It would go something like this -
"Never buy an instrument until you have had a chance to hear someone else play it - preferably someone who can play somewhat decently."
I think every instrument I own I bought after only trying it out myself. With some I've been lucky enough that when someone borrows it to play something I think - "that actually sounds pretty good from the listener's vantage point"
For a UK made tenor I reccomend Oakwood intruments, (though you will have to spend more ) http://www.oakwoodinstruments.co.uk
Great sound despite my playing ...
I have an entry level
Deering Goodtime 5 string banjo that I never play, and have seen pictures of the same thing in a tenor version (so I might swap) but haven't tried one yet. Has anyone out there tried one? If so, what did you think?
tenor banjo feedback
tenor banjo feedback
I am considering spending £1000 + on a new open back shrort scale tenor banjo of UK origin. Does anyone have any feedback on models currently available?
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by tag
Re: tenor banjo feedback
Outside of the Sully banjo, the Phil Davidson (http://www.davidsoninstruments.com/) and the Griffin banjos by James Bowen (see http://www.banjohangout.org/reviews/search.asp?method=m&str=154 for reviews), are there any UK manufactured instruments anymore? None of those is probably in your budget range.
If you include Irish banjos, you can't do better than Tom Cussen's Clareen banjos (http://www.banjo.ie/) and he has three models that will work for you.
For $1800 (the equivalent of one thousand pounds) you can buy a Model M Vega and a Bacon 17 fret from Bernunzios (http://www.bernunzio.com) and get them shipped to you. I was just in their store and they have a number of 17 fret instruments and a lot of very good 19 fret banjos, especially Paramounts. I managed to play all the tenors and was impressed with their condition and playability. They are fair in pricing and very honest. Their condition statements are right on the money.
As for the quality of the new instruments mentioned above, I am only familiar with the Clareen instruments. Every one that I saw in his shop was top notch so I don't think you can go wrong. He is very easy to deal with and might even trade with you as he has a retail shop at his workplace.
MIke Keyes
http://www.banjosessions.com/feb06/sessions.html
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by mikeyes
Re: tenor banjo feedback
Try : - www.andybanjo.com
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Stoneyjohn
Re: tenor banjo feedback
Another choice is Findago Vintage Banjos (http://www.findajo.co.uk/) which has a nice selection of banjos.
The Gold Tone banjos at Andys are decently priced considering they have to be shipped to the UK. They are American designed/Chinese or Korean made parts that are assembled in Florida. The only drawbacks are the cheap tuners and tailpieces, the rest of the banjo is good to excellent. Of course they are not UK made.
MIke Keyes
http://www.banjosessions.com/feb06/sessions.html
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by mikeyes
Re: tenor banjo feedback
Try www.vintagebanjos.com they have a few nice Vega's
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by Bog_Trotter
Re: tenor banjo feedback
I want to sell my Bacon Style C from 1924 (open back, 17 fret) Of course it is not new and much cheaper than 1000 GBP, but it is in a good condition. If you are interested, i can sent you pic's, mail to schueran@yahoo.de.
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by McFolker
Re: tenor banjo feedback
Link for Sully's Banjos.
http://www.halshawmusic.co.uk
They sound very good. I'm sorry I can't offer comparative criticism - the other lads at our session who play tenor banjo make their own.
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by showaddydadito
Re: tenor banjo feedback
I'm glad Sully's banjos look nicer than his web site.
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by grego
Re: tenor banjo feedback
I know what you mean grego - but at the end of the day, (and the chips are down, the last dog is hung and the cards are on the table) you'll do better to get a banjo from a maker who does his own website, than from a web designer who makes his own banjos.
We sometimes tease Tony about the transparent banjo heads - making unkind suggestions about keeping goldfish inside, and the like - but he gives as good as he gets. I wish I knew enough about banjos to be know how his compare with other makers. I only know they sound good when he plays them.
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by showaddydadito
Re: tenor banjo feedback
"They sound good when he plays them." That makes me think of some wisdom that came to me only after it was too late to be any good to use (since I don't have money to buy instruments any more.) It would go something like this -
"Never buy an instrument until you have had a chance to hear someone else play it - preferably someone who can play somewhat decently."
I think every instrument I own I bought after only trying it out myself. With some I've been lucky enough that when someone borrows it to play something I think - "that actually sounds pretty good from the listener's vantage point"
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by grego
Re: tenor banjo feedback
Good point grego. I never really thought about it, but I do generally follow your rule.
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by showaddydadito
Re: tenor banjo feedback
For a UK made tenor I reccomend Oakwood intruments, (though you will have to spend more )
http://www.oakwoodinstruments.co.uk
Great sound despite my playing ...
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by AlanB
Re: tenor banjo feedback
I have an entry level
Deering Goodtime 5 string banjo that I never play, and have seen pictures of the same thing in a tenor version (so I might swap) but haven't tried one yet. Has anyone out there tried one? If so, what did you think?
# Posted on February 16th 2006 by echo