AZJerry - Posted - 09/18/2008:  16:46:19

I've been lurking about for the past six weeks or so. This site has me very impressed. I've never seen so many outgoing, helpful and friendly users.

My name is Jerry and I live in Sun City, Arizona, (a retirement community). I've been picking since 1969, but with a 27 or 30 year layoff beginning in the mid 1980's. Since I closed my store and had a lot of time on my hands, I dragged my Stelling out of the closet and started picking again. What really astonished me was that the banjo was still in tune! After about 10 minutes of trying to pick a tune or two, I decided I had better get back to the basics. I had practically forgotten everything I knew....which wasn't much in the first place.

After struggling for a week or so, I sent my old Starflower back to it's daddy, Geoff Stelling. He refretted it, put on a Stelling compenstated bridge, polished it and set it up with a professional touch.

While my banjo was away I figured that I had better get something I could use for practice, so I went to the local music hall and purchased a Kay American Spirit. Not much of a banjo, that's fer sure. But it did allow me to toughen my fingertips and start getting some flexibility back in the right hand.

The Starflower came back home a couple of days ago, and it's sure did look purty....sounded good, too!

Anyway, I just thought I'd introduce myself to you kind folks and wish you "Happy Pickin".

If there's anybody here in the Sun City, Glendale or Peoria area that want's to get together and practice, let me know. I have nuthin' but time.


Jerry

robbif - Posted - 09/18/2008:  16:57:04

Jerry,

I'm nowhere near you but happy to welcome you to the community.
I lurked for a long time too1

fred

BJ Saalfeld - Posted - 09/18/2008:  17:16:59

Welcome to the hangout and glad to have you here. Good luck with your banjo playing.

BJ

Keep on Picking!

RB00 - Posted - 09/18/2008:  18:10:07

Jerry,
Welcome to the Hangout. You've got a wonderful banjo and I'm sure you will really enjoy it. Don't live close so all the best.
Len


I started out with nothing and still have most of it left.

joemac - Posted - 09/18/2008:  19:05:29

Welcome to hangout, from us guys in the U.K.

joemac

rjanecek - Posted - 09/18/2008:  19:19:49

welcome Jerry!!!

Im in the beautiful state of Illinois!!! Not close, and yes I kidding!!

Rick

mike gregory - Posted - 09/18/2008:  21:42:11

Welcome.

=):{ )
Mike Gregory, Banjo Maker Infraordinaire
When I say my instruments are as good as anything Gibson or Martin ever made,
I mean MEL Gibson and DEAN Martin!


My banjos can be seen on my own website
http://littlebanjos.lunare.net

axsis - Posted - 09/19/2008:  05:12:45

Welcome to the Hangout Jerry. Lots of great folks here!

Cheers!
Don

thilo-w - Posted - 09/19/2008:  05:51:14

Welcome Jerry!

Thilo

AZJerry - Posted - 09/19/2008:  07:48:55

Thanks for the welcome. I hope to be able to make some contribution to the Hangout. Right now, I'm enjoying reading all the posts and garnering as many tips as I can. After such a long layoff, it's really difficult to get back up to speed. Probably take a year or so to get back waht I used to have.

KE - Posted - 09/19/2008:  08:08:31

Welcome Jerry. Good decision you made to get back in touch with an old friend, and to make new ones.

vintagewells - Posted - 09/19/2008:  08:22:52

Welcome to the Hangout. I'm here in Tucson, but don't get up your way much at all.
Lorna



Love me, love my banjos
Aluminum Rims rule!

kinggrumpy - Posted - 09/19/2008:  09:22:21

Hi Jerry welcome to the hangout,good luck.
Ray J.

cigarman - Posted - 09/19/2008:  09:54:19

Welcome Jerry.

Cigarman

banjobrunette - Posted - 09/19/2008:  13:33:27

Welcome to the forum, Jerry. Seems such a small world here that everyone lives in everyone else's back yard - even when they live across the Atlantic.

Happy picking....

Cheers, BB

PaulKirby - Posted - 09/19/2008:  13:49:56

Welcome, Jerry! That's a beautiful story about getting your Stelling set up and ready to go again.

''A banjo will get you through times of no money, but money will not get you through times of no banjo.'' --John Hartford, paraphrasing the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers (but THEY weren''t talking about banjos.)

robin jones - Posted - 09/19/2008:  18:22:42

Welcome aboard. Lots of nice folks here. I recently re-started playing myself. Somethings are better the second time around...

"I find your lack of faith disturbing." Darth Vader

Reneker - Posted - 09/20/2008:  06:14:15

Awesome Jerry!

Welcome back sir. I went about 25 years like that. Started over at step one and have loved every minute of it.



GF-85

DJMorgan - Posted - 09/20/2008:  06:36:51

Welcome to the BHO Jerry. Welcome back to bango pick'n too. Enjoy!

AD3AD3AD3 - Posted - 09/20/2008:  13:23:45

Welcome to the BHO; you'e gonna' love it here.

AD3

Banjo T - Posted - 09/20/2008:  16:42:03

A rookie here myself Jerry but have read and learned a great deal reading these post for a few years now. Always agreat deal of info here. Welcome Jerry from the State on your East side.

revdmike - Posted - 09/20/2008:  16:54:18

Like you Jerry, I had a lay-off the banjo for many years. Been back about 4 years now and never regretted it. Good luck and good pickin'!

Mike J

Deering Calico
Windsor Zither
Made in Japan ''no brand''

zeeway - Posted - 09/20/2008:  17:18:32

Welcome to BHO, Jerry. Keep picking.

fisher - Posted - 09/20/2008:  17:32:41

Welcome Jerry,Regards Jerry

saloonatick - Posted - 09/20/2008:  19:28:56

Welcome to BHO, Jerry. Best place in cyber space for banjo info. Good luck

"He Ain''t Heavy, He''s my Banjo"

hilard - Posted - 09/20/2008:  19:44:33

Welcome to BHO Jerry A lot of good pickers here.

OM45GE - Posted - 09/21/2008:  02:44:25

Welcome Jerry. It's always nice to have another Stelling fan aboard!


"But if there were no music
Then I would not get through" - Shawn Colvin

AZJerry - Posted - 09/21/2008:  07:53:45

Thank you all for the warm welcomes. Back in the late 80's - early 90's I was the Sysop of a BBS...(anybody remember BBS's?). Anyway, even though it was a friendly place, it is nothing compared to the Hangout. Nobody flames others, and the amount of support and help is really unbelieveable. Again thank you.

Good Pickin'

Jerry