scthompson - Posted - 04/23/2012:  12:37:04

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Your "I sound like Krap" days? I feel like I work and work, take a break, come back, it clicks. So I'm psyched. Then I pick up the banjo the next day and it's as if I've never held the thing before. Do others experience this?

starhopper - Posted - 04/23/2012:  12:52:15

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Yup - just had that happen the other day. Had to get myself calmed down as it seems to get worse the harder I try to make it work.

So,  I just walked away and refused to play for the rest of the day.  I'll go back and re-visit the lick I was trying to learn this evening or tomorrow.  There's no hurry, and I want to enjoy my time playing.

There's been times when I walked away for a week or so, and when I picked up and started pickin' again I swear I sounded like Earl!  Those moments are rare, but they really inspire me to keep on truckin'

Lyle

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Edited by - starhopper on 04/23/2012 12:55:14

scthompson - Posted - 04/23/2012:  13:24:54

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That's good to hear. I played accurately really fast a couple times yesterday, faster than I ever had. I finally felt like I "got it", like the work was going somewhere and I was developing real intuitive muscle memory.

Part of my ptoblem is that I hate my banjo. I'm saving up for a WL-250, but I can't do it right now. So I just keep reminding myself that many of the early blues guys, and old-time players, and even contemporary folks, had to plug away on inferior instruments eay on.

starhopper - Posted - 04/23/2012:  14:06:48

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quote:

Part of my ptoblem is that I hate my banjo.

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I fully understand.  Not liking one's instrument can sometimes be a road block to serious practice.  But, keep on plugging away - you'll get that better banjo someday and you won't regret the time you spent learning the ropes on this one!

Lyle

neighbour - Posted - 04/23/2012:  14:19:36

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when my playin is goin good for me ,the banjo gets the credit - i think it sounds great ,tinkered with to perfection and i love it . usually, yes the next day , i hate it and think it needs a new head a new bridge new strings a different tonering a new house to live in ,actually maybe a new owner .time to walk away knowing tomorro i ll likely love it all over again. its no wonder so many get found in attics/ basements/chickencoops-i put mine in the green house one day for its own safety. it loved it out there and came back into the house all happy. i hope you get your new banjo soon

rhnewsome - Posted - 04/23/2012:  14:27:12

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I don't know what your budget is, but you might try reaching out to Richie Dotson. His website is acousticbox.com. He has a Gold Tone WL-250 that he is asking $475 for. I have played this banjo, and it is really nice. It has a skin head. Richie is a very skilled luthier here in southern VA, and a fellow member of BHO.

MajArcher - Posted - 04/23/2012:  14:32:29

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I haven't played mine in 3 days because the exact same thing happened.  To be honest, I haven't played out of frustration; had one of those "I'll never be able to do this!" moments.  But it's happened before and when I pick it back up, all will be well with the world.

Carlos Benavides - Posted - 04/23/2012:  14:40:59

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Tiredness can also be a big factor. Even the finest banjo can sound like a bucket of rusty nails when you're tired. It's always a challenge for me when I have to squeeze out practice time from a day that includes a full-time day job, commute, quality family time, house chores . . . sometimes the domestic demands seem endless!

george pereda - Posted - 04/23/2012:  14:49:01

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happens to  me---one day i,m smokin the next i,m chokin---but I just learned fmb so i,m happy for now.

scthompson - Posted - 04/23/2012:  15:01:46

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I'll email Richie, thanks! Someone is selling one here for $650, with a case. I can't spend the grocery money and the car just ate 2k, so I've got to be patient.

maryzcox - Posted - 04/23/2012:  15:17:55

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quote:

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Originally posted by scthompson

That's good to hear. I played accurately really fast a couple times yesterday, faster than I ever had. I finally felt like I "got it", like the work was going somewhere and I was developing real intuitive muscle memory.

Part of my ptoblem is that I hate my banjo. I'm saving up for a WL-250, but I can't do it right now. So I just keep reminding myself that many of the early blues guys, and old-time players, and even contemporary folks, had to plug away on inferior instruments eay on.

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Yes-- I have to agree with you--if you hate your banjo-- your banjo hates you too :)
Buy a banjo or two that you love and enjoy yourself :)

Best wishes,
Mary Z Cox

maryzcox - Posted - 04/23/2012:  15:26:41

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quote:

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Originally posted by scthompson

I'll email Richie, thanks! Someone is selling one here for $650, with a case. I can't spend the grocery money and the car just ate 2k, so I've got to be patient.

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Whoah-just saw this-- of course you can spend the grocery money-- your body can go for about 30 days on water alone. :) even if you don't like to fast-- your body can get by on very few calories-- get a field book on wild edible plants-- and you can forage for a month or two and use your food money for a nice new banjo. :)
Consider that at the end of the month-- a banjo will produce much music, but food only produces poop :)
Hope this helps,
Mary Z Cox

JTRoberts - Posted - 04/23/2012:  15:34:45

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Scthompson:

Let me tell you a little story..........when I was a very young man I studied classical guitar with a graduate of Julliard. He constantly badgered me about my guitar, which was a very inexpensive Yamaha. Finally I relented, and following his advice I ordered an expensive Spanish guitar. Guess what? The Spanish guitar was stiff and more difficult to play, and the sound was not nearly as good as the Yamaha. I had to send the guitar back. Inexpensive instruments can be much better than most folks realize, and a skilled musician can make any of them talk. You are blessed to have a banjo. The early black banjo players used a gourd with a neck attached. The early blues men could not afford a guitar, they started out on a one string diddley bow. If you allow yourself and attitude adjustment and begin to love your banjo, magic can and will happen.

scthompson - Posted - 04/23/2012:  15:35:50

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When I caught myself considering reneging on my promise to send my son the theatre camp to spare the dough, I knew I had a problem:)

maryzcox - Posted - 04/23/2012:  16:16:09

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quote:

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Originally posted by scthompson

When I caught myself considering reneging on my promise to send my son the theatre camp to spare the dough, I knew I had a problem:)

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Buy the banjo you love ! I sent all three of my children to expensive camps of all kinds while they were growing up-- and I only had one banjo all those years :( well, the kids all turned out fine, but-- you know-- they don't even remember most of the camps. :) of course they remember mud day at the game and fish camp-- where they were totally submerged over their heads in mud-- they saved old clothes and shoes all year to participate-- no parents allowed to visit on mud day :) and my oldest boy remembers the summer he spent in Alaska-- But they don't remember all that much about theatre and art camps.
Hey--they don't even remember much about the snake camp we sent them to where they got to handle rattlesnakes. It was my personal compromise for not allowing any snakes in the house. :)
Anyway--looking back --the money would have been better spent on another nice banjo than many of those kid's camps :)
Best wishes,
Mary Z Cox

scthompson - Posted - 04/23/2012:  16:31:58

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I think there are some things I can sell to defray it a little, some things I can give up or reduce. But I also just apologized to my banjo. Seriously. I told it that I didn't hate it, that I was grateful for it and blessed to own it, and that it had taught me to love the banjo. But I'm still ready to move on:)

UNYBP - Posted - 04/23/2012:  18:42:47

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I have a theory about breakthrough days and crap days, you can't have one without the other. For those of you with an eastern philosophy turn of mind they are the yin and yang of the banjo world. In the beginning of our banjo playing lives we have lots of crap days and few breakthrough days. Over time that reverses and in the end they are totally equal. It's the journey that's the fun part, there is no finish line.

This goes along with my theory that at the end of days the entire universe will have the consistency of oatmeal but that's for a different thread I suppose. :)

SkunkyPrecious - Posted - 04/23/2012:  19:56:48

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Hey there. I'm new, so I probably oughtn't to speak out of turn, but I find the whole learning experience a series of cliffs and plateaus, not an even upward curve. I just figured out drop-thumb (the technique) the other day...as in, how to play it. Now, I'm waiting for the REAL moment, where it plays itself for me, shows me how it actually fits in to what I'm doing.

Clawdan - Posted - 04/23/2012:  20:14:11

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Yes, even after all these years of playing. Your instrument can have some impact but most can be at least adjusted (set up) to play well and sound okay. A new(er) more old timey banjo does help though. Perhaps an intermediate step of something like a Gold Tone CC-OT would be a good "stop on the road" and inspire your playing. But, again, yes, we all have those days.

Play Nice,

Dan

Clawdan.com

erikforgod - Posted - 04/24/2012:  04:18:28

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With me its stress...I difdnt play at all yesterday...my landlord from Spain ( who is one of the most stubborn people I have ever met ) just got me riled up yesterday...even after work I just couldnt pick up my banjo. I notice I hit kinda like plateaus in-between improvement points....I think its common and happens to all.

mworden - Posted - 04/24/2012:  07:27:35

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Ah, the old "It's not you it's me" speech...

 

quote:

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Originally posted by scthompson



I think there are some things I can sell to defray it a little, some things I can give up or reduce. But I also just apologized to my banjo. Seriously. I told it that I didn't hate it, that I was grateful for it and blessed to own it, and that it had taught me to love the banjo. But I'm still ready to move on:)

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JTRoberts - Posted - 04/24/2012:  08:35:26

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Scthompson:

I agree with Mr. Clawdan, the Gold Tone CC-OT is a very good mid-level banjo, with easy action, scooped neck, and a pleasing tone. It comes as a package deal, and if you know were to look it is $299.00, no tax and free shipping. Gold Tone sets-up all their instruments at the factory, and most of the time they are good to go right out of the box.

erikforgod - Posted - 04/24/2012:  08:40:02

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Not sure if others here were aware but Deering is now offering scooped neck Goodtimes and also scooped neck classic Goodtime banjos. They should be right within your budget. Elderly sells both the regular Goodtime and classic ( where I bought mine ) scooped or you could talk to Donald ZEPP of ZEPP Music store in Wendell NC...he can offer you some pretty good deals on a Zeppified Goodtime banjo. I must say I am very pleased with both of my Goodtimes. I almost went for the CC-OT but I am glad I chose the Goodtime banjos instead.

scthompson - Posted - 04/24/2012:  09:21:37

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Hmm, I kinda talked myself out of the CC-OT because the WL-250 sounded like so much more banjo, and I didn't want to upgrade again in a year. OTOH, I haven't found any for 299, but there are plenty at 337, and that's half the price of the used WL in the classifieds. Maybe I should just go for that and make do, since I could afford that one right now.

bublnsqueak - Posted - 04/24/2012:  09:23:08

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"a banjo will produce much music, but food only produces poop :)"

Mary, on my bad days I could challenge this statement by simply swapping some of the words around - but that would be a self defeating narrative.... Bad!

What is more positive to do is to record yourself now - even the stuff that you think is really bad. Sometime in the future you will listen to the recordings you make now and see the progress.

I think motivation management is not talked about enough in this larnin' game.

Paul

JTRoberts - Posted - 04/24/2012:  09:38:27

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Musicvillageusa.com=$299.00

scthompson - Posted - 04/24/2012:  10:14:40

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I've gone back and listened to a bunch of samples (the CC-OT is the only one I can actually find within an hour to play). After listening to that WL-250 over and over again, I just don't know if I can do the CC-OT OR the Goodtime. Starvation rations will just have to do, and I'll listen to the pennies pile up in the jar.

countryman99 - Posted - 04/24/2012:  10:27:26

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Well folks! I reckon this strengthens the case for having more than one banjo.......I am fortunate enough to have 4 at the present time, but although they are all in tune, they all have different voices and handling. Its surprising how much it can change your attitude to playing an awkward piece with a change of banjo.......Just my Twopence worth of thought anyway, it seems to work for me.

Mac

 

maryzcox - Posted - 04/24/2012:  10:36:11

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aaaaaaaaah--motivation :)  There is nothing like a top of the line banjo that takes your breathe away to motivate you.  :)  Buying a starter banjo just doesn't seem to motivate a player like taking a look at all the wonderful open back banjos available today, contacting the builder, getting to know them, and the thrill of a banjo arriving that the builder built just for you because he/she just thought you would love the sound, the wood, the inlay.

When I ordered my John Bowlin fretless--he even requested a tracing of my left hand along with the deposit--and I can assure you that neck fits my hand perfectly--which is really kind of silly since this particular banjo has a personality of its own and almost plays itsef and dictates its own style:)

In fact--about half of my banjos are like that--they just about play themselves.  They actually trip me with their cases around the house--trying to get me to play them today,

My Chuck Lee custom is calling right now--I left it out on a stand in the living room--and it is a perfect spring day out right now--cool and sunny--so I am going to sit on the front porch and watch the red shouldered hawks circle in the sky and play whatever my banjo wants to play today, :)

Hey--and I can't always afford the banjo I want at the moment--a few years ago I bought a Gabriella and it took me almost two years to pay it off with my paycheck--but you can't even get them anymore with that gorgeous Brazilian rosewood--and it has such a unique voice that I've never regretted it. :)

But I figure there is a reason that I was born at this time and place--it is like a golden age of banjos--and I have a credit card with a healthy limit--so I can have a banjo whether or not I can afford it at the moment--and the money always seems to arrive in time to pay it off. :) 

Hey--you could have lived in a time and place where no banjo would be available to you or any way of finacing it--so IMHO--why not enjoy and be grateful for all the wonderful banjos and invite them into your home?

Best wishes,

Mary Z Cox

maryzcox.com

eastside_eddie - Posted - 04/24/2012:  10:39:44

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I have a cup that I put my change in, each time it fills i roll 'em up. I call it the " Better Banjer Fund ".

majikgator - Posted - 04/24/2012:  16:23:01

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Yes i have those days. Just think how much more you will appreciate that WL 250 when you get it,  ((w

Actually about every day i have to warm up a lot to wake up my hands, just someday's they don't seem to ever get there.

 

csbdr - Posted - 04/25/2012:  18:12:08

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Consider the MM 150. It the exact same banjo, with only cosmetic differences, and a lot cheaper. Not as fancy. Same WL tonering. I have one and it sounds lovely!

scthompson - Posted - 04/26/2012:  04:06:29

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I looked at the MM-150, but I can't find one used and new it is more than Hadrock is selling his used WL-250 for. I'd live to find the MM-150 for $400, but no one is selling one!

csbdr - Posted - 04/26/2012:  07:56:22

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Thats a great price for the WL 250. Yeah, hard to beat that with the MM 150 unless you find one used.

scthompson - Posted - 04/26/2012:  08:41:53

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Yep. I'm hoping he still has it when I have the money! It's a bit spendy around here right now, because my husband has to buy a tender for the boat and I promised I'd wait until the old one was sold before buying a banjer. Maybe I need to convince my rich grandmother that it is in her best interest to buy me a banjo.

maryzcox - Posted - 04/26/2012:  10:20:26

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quote:

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Originally posted by scthompson



Yep. I'm hoping he still has it when I have the money! It's a bit spendy around here right now, because my husband has to buy a tender for the boat and I promised I'd wait until the old one was sold before buying a banjer. Maybe I need to convince my rich grandmother that it is in her best interest to buy me a banjo.

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 Your Gran would probably love to buy you a banjo. :) Let her know you would be glad to have her china too.  I have all kinds of things I'd give my grown children in a heartbeat--but they won't take anything.  I did give my daughter all my good jewelry--but she won't come and get her grandmother's china or mine for that matter.

Anyway--you can probably bribe her into buying you a banjo if you will show some interest in carting away some of her other stuff :)

scthompson - Posted - 04/26/2012:  10:32:26

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Well, whaddya know? My husband's grandfather just sent us some cash; guess I don't need to hit up my grandmother until it's time for a Fairbanks Electric or a Vega Whyte Laydie #7...

maryzcox - Posted - 04/27/2012:  10:20:41

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quote:

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Originally posted by scthompson

Well, whaddya know? My husband's grandfather just sent us some cash; guess I don't need to hit up my grandmother until it's time for a Fairbanks Electric or a Vega Whyte Laydie #7...

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 Very cool Granddad--be sure and play a tune for him special--he will probably love it !  IMHO--and speaking as an old person myself--I really like to give gifts and money to my children and I really don't care if I receive physical gifts from them--but I much prefer that we spend time together and just do fun things together :) I bet your Granddad and Grandmother probably feel the same way  :) oh--I take that back--once in awhile, my oldest son will come home and clean our garage as a birthday or Christmas gift--and we really, really, like that a lot :)  Very cool that you wil get a banjo you love :)