|
Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link.
Page: 1 2
greyfolk - Posted - 09/19/2010: 13:59:59
These are sweet. Do you have any pics of the rims? Larry is building my neck.
moparcolt - Posted - 09/19/2010: 18:19:48
This is the maple one
And this is the Chestnut one
Edited by - moparcolt on 09/19/2010 18:20:21
greyfolk - Posted - 09/19/2010: 18:41:37
The chestnut must be one of Larry's first rims. I think he changed how he turned his rims. See the difference between the two?
Helix - Posted - 09/20/2010: 04:54:54
Wow, Chris, no let's go play some. The New Phoenix Strugglers play in Prescott in a few weeks on the Amphitheater stage at The Sharlot Hall Festival, the footage from two years ago shows the banjo player stepping back from the mike to solo. That's a Helix.
I'll never have the time to enjoy these banjos, you guys go on ahead, I'll catch up.
Life ain't easy, but it sure is good.
greyfolk - Posted - 09/20/2010: 06:57:28
Hey Mopar, How do these two banjos compare to one another?
moparcolt - Posted - 09/20/2010: 06:58:37
Actually the maple one is about two years older than the Chestnut one. Larry has gone through several different stages of how he manufactures the rims I think. He was using a router on the early ones I believe to make them round not a lathe, then he was not turning the inside at all, now he has a lathe and I have not seen any of his most recent rim.
Hey Larry, could you post some pictures of one of your new rims. I might be ordering a walnut one maybe you could do a photo snipit of the process.
I have a nice piece of 150 yr old walnut I need to make a neck out of this winter.
Chris
Edited by - moparcolt on 09/20/2010 06:59:03
greyfolk - Posted - 09/20/2010: 07:12:59
Really, the maple rim is the older example? I am a huge fan of chestnut, as that is what my rim is being made of. Hopefully I can show u guys pics of Larry's most recent banjo soon!
150 year old walnut? Nice. Do u have enough walnut for a rim too? I have a sh7tload of cherry in stock: A couple 10"x10"x8' planks. I have nice walnut, maple, holly, etc. I'd love an ebony rim with a holly neck. I don't have enough ebony in stock for a rim, or a neck. I may have enough holly for a neck, but i don't know how holly would work.
moparcolt - Posted - 09/20/2010: 11:14:10
the chestnut Larry has came from me. I have at least one 16' board it is a 2X10 I think. They were fro a barn a friend tore down that was 150+ years old. The walnt I have is from the same barn as well as the piece of Hickry I used to make the neck on my open back banjo! which also has a chestnut rim, it is a two ply laminated rim though, not a helix style.
Edited by - moparcolt on 09/20/2010 11:17:43
greyfolk - Posted - 09/20/2010: 11:45:56
That was some barn! I guess should have started tearing apart the old farm house and barns before we sold them.
Helix - Posted - 09/22/2010: 10:34:24
All the best lumber is already cut.
How about a Holly/Ebony Hybrid??
Edited by - Helix on 09/22/2010 10:36:02
Gillis Cashman - Posted - 09/22/2010: 11:19:43
I'm thinking about joining the Helix banjo owners group. I like the no marketing aproach. A straight forward here's the banjo that's it.
greyfolk - Posted - 09/22/2010: 11:44:48
I have not met an owner who was not amazed by their HeliX (if you have played one and you were not amazed--here is your chance to tell us!). The best marketing is word of mouth. Some of our mouths are bigger than others I guess.
Yes Larry, I would DIE for an ebony/holly hybrid.
ltjgcag - Posted - 09/23/2010: 09:55:50
And the more ya play your HeliX the better they sound. It's a definite 'awakening'.
SharBee - Posted - 09/27/2010: 21:42:31
I got my Helix a week ago Sunday....I love it! I am having the time of my life learning to play my banjo. I'm working on my own version of "Happy Birthday" with the goal of playing it for my son (birthday in about a week) and my husband (birthday in about a month). I am only on page 15 of Janet Davis' book You Can Teach Yourself Banjo, so everything is pretty rudimentary right now....but the FUN factor is huge. Larry crafted me a very fine instrument and the sound is really, really good. (My Helix is mahogany) Larry has been very, very good to work with and when I sent him a piece of steel to inlay in the headstock he was eager to please me. I'm having a ball. I'm going to try and take some photos to post. I also have a short video of "Happy Birthday", which I may or may not post (I'm not very good, but I would like you to hear my Helix). You can say what ever you want about a Helix, but the sound speaks for itself.
I have added some photos of my new mahogany Helix Cyclone #002. There are a couple for you here, there are more photos on my homepage, if you want to view them.
Edited by - SharBee on 10/03/2010 18:21:41
Helix - Posted - 10/05/2010: 01:58:04
oops, see the Fresnel ledges??
xnavyguy - Posted - 10/05/2010: 06:49:39
quote:
Originally posted by Helix
oops, see the Fresnel ledges??
Larry, I did see those ledges and wondered if that's the same treatment you did on the rim that you sent to Country Frank. It's kind of interesting how such seemingly subtle surface modifications can have such a profound effect on the air movement under a banjo head. My first take is that the physical result is an ever increasing inner diameter that acts a bit like a megaphone.
Helix - Posted - 10/05/2010: 08:36:10
Hi Jerry, Yes, it's the same thing, his is a Cherry archtop woody, it IS a megaphone, but like an amphitheater. It's on the website, he mikes his banjo every weekend.
Sharbee: I hope this is OK, notice she got her banjo BEFORE she got pictures.
Edited by - Helix on 10/05/2010 08:43:06
ltjgcag - Posted - 10/05/2010: 08:43:13
quote:
Originally posted by xnavyguy
quote:
Originally posted by Helix
oops, see the Fresnel ledges??
Larry,
I did see those ledges and wondered if that's the same treatment you did on the rim that you sent to Country Frank. It's kind of interesting how such seemingly subtle surface modifications can have such a profound effect on the air movement under a banjo head. My first take is that the physical result is an ever increasing inner diameter that acts a bit like a megaphone.
Jerry - I'm in complete agreement with your assessment. My Midnight Zephyr #004 has the same type of Fresnel ledges and with the black walnut, she's a boomer. Glad I have enough gut to 'gut muffle' when I need it! Pics on my homepage if anyone's interested. Chris
Edited by - ltjgcag on 10/05/2010 08:47:21
Helix - Posted - 10/05/2010: 16:10:56
Well now, that's a heck of a problem to have, you have a built-in mute.
country frank - Posted - 10/06/2010: 06:57:07
quote:
Originally posted by xnavyguy
quote:
Originally posted by Helix
oops, see the Fresnel ledges??
Larry,
I did see those ledges and wondered if that's the same treatment you did on the rim that you sent to Country Frank. It's kind of interesting how such seemingly subtle surface modifications can have such a profound effect on the air movement under a banjo head. My first take is that the physical result is an ever increasing inner diameter that acts a bit like a megaphone.
I wonder about the effect of that inner rim profile everytime i break out the cherry number 9, compared to cherry number 10 [which does not have the fresnel ledges] there seems to be way more power on tap........ Larry, no. 9 has been ridden VERY hard over the last year or more and has not coughed, sniffed or missed a beat even once in that time. I wonder if anyone has ridden thier Helix as hard as mine, constantly gigged, never cleaned [i know, i know], lugged from one end of the country to the other in sub standard cases and bags and vans and trains and buses [jeez the list of abuse goes on]. Anyway, Larry builds a VERY RELIABLE banjo.
Helix - Posted - 10/07/2010: 05:29:25
Come in, stranger, let me offer you a new set of tires, having trouble spinning out?
The name of the band is 'Country Dirt', I listen to their CD in my shoppe. I wish they would tour here in the USA, better if they would immigrate.
"There's a lady in the harbor,
holds a torch of Liberty.
In all the world there's no one like her,
that is why you and me."
"We'll dance the moon across the sky,
There our children will be born.
Say farewell for we are leaving,
Early in the morning, early in the morn." Ross Altman.
I can't wait to get a banjo into outer space, now that's a ship..
Edited by - Helix on 10/13/2010 14:25:12
Gymbal31 - Posted - 10/14/2010: 05:04:36
quote:
Originally posted by Gomer
I haven't a HeliX, but I have a Mobius Strip! It doesn't sound quite as good, but it keeps me busy trying to decide where it begins and where it ends.
I'm having the same trouble with "Foggy Mountain Breakdown".
Helix - Posted - 10/14/2010: 08:09:20
Helix owners are known for waiting on the curb and waving the UPS truck down, one guy used a lawn chair and beers. He was there all week. Then we don't hear from them for about six months. The Mobius strip is just to pass the time away.
Gomer - Posted - 10/15/2010: 14:10:15
I all fairness, Mr Larry, I am all about standing by the curb playing with a Mobius Strip if there is enough beer to drink.
ltjgcag - Posted - 10/15/2010: 16:11:11
quote:
Originally posted by Helix
Helix owners are known for waiting on the curb and waving the UPS truck down, one guy used a lawn chair and beers. He was there all week. Then we don't hear from them for about six months. The Mobius strip is just to pass the time away.
Hey - I Resemble that remark! LOL
Edited by - ltjgcag on 10/15/2010 16:13:29
Page: 1 2
|
Feeds
