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Playing Since: 2008

Experience Level: Novice

Bizdoc has made 3 recent additions to Banjo Hangout

Interests:
[Socializing] [Helping]

Occupation: Banking

Gender: Male

My Instruments:
2011 Deering Eagle II (Walnut)
2010 Deering Goodtime with resonator

Classified Rating: +1
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Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 12/29/2007
Last Visit 1/1/2012

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	Bizdoc replied to topic 'MM on Craigslist' 12/18/2011 7:12:18 AM
	Bizdoc replied to topic 'Advice for beginner ' 11/12/2011 2:59:09 PM
	Bizdoc replied to topic 'I'm sure you get this alot... First Banjo Questions' 11/7/2011 4:09:25 PM

Latest Blog Entry

My Banjo journey

Friday, August 06, 2010 @7:58:40 PM

I started playing banjo in January 2008 (date on my home picture I now see has the wrong date on it, every time the battery goes, the date changes and I never remember to fixi it). Like all newbies I posted the question of what banjo to buy. Not knowing anything about what a banjo would cost I was initially looking at a Johnson, because it was, well, affordable. But, after posting my questions I ended up with my first banjo which was a Morgan Monroe MNB-1. It was recommended by Paul at Banjo Hut, after a discussion of my playing desires. I played for a couple of months and really liked the MNB-1, with the exception of the color, which was a bit orange, then found out what the difference was between a tone hoop and tone ring, and thought I had to have a tone ring. I again called upon Paul at Banjo Hut and we worked out a trade for a Morgan Monroe Matterhorn. I really liked the Matterhorn, it had excellent sound, loved the old time look. While playing during the first year, I had become quite acquainted with the Hangout and read everything I could about banjos, and absolutely felt I had to have a Gibson, so I got an Earl Scruggs Standard. Funny thing, I sounded no better with an expensive banjo than I did with a lower end banjo, Hmmm imagine that. After a while of playing these banjos my shoulder hurt from carrying the weight, Paul told me this would happen. So since I now had two heavy banjos I sold the Matterhorn (I think I'll always miss the Matterhorn), and bought a Gold Tone CC100R Plus, I looked at the Goodtimes at that time, but they had that Gumby Head, and I just couldnt come to grips with that look. I played the Gold Tone, which by the way was a great banjo, I really liked the lower weight, and the sound was good also. The dark tobacco stain was kind of a put off though, but the weight and sound kept me playing it for about a year, then Gold Tone came out with the BG-150F, and I sold the CC100R Plus to get the better looking BG-150F, it was so popular they were having problems keeping them in stock and I had to wait almost 6 weeks to get one, during which time I played my heavy gibson. During this time there was considerable chatter on the hangout about the new goodtimes, and a thread called "what do you think of the sound of the new goodtimes" started by Mrs. Deering. I read these with interest and after many good reviews I also ordered a new Goodtime while still waiting for the Gold Tone BG-150F. I received the Goodtime and immediately liked the plunky sound. Like all banjo players I had been looking for a sound, I think like many new banjo players I thought I wanted to sound like Earl, but after playing the Goodtime I really liked that sound and felt that was the sound I had been searching for. I put the Gibson in the case and put it away. The weight of the Goodtime is something that really kept me picking it up. It is only 4 pounds and had the sound I liked. Not that all was well in river city, I did/do not really like the substitution of the RR spike at the 5th fret instead of the normal 5th string PIP, the no arm rest was a negative, I had a vega arm rest put on it but quickly found this digging into my arm, so I ordered a Nechville wooden arm rest, which is amazing, most comfortable armrest I have had, and no more cold metal against my bare arms when wearing short sleeves, but the price kind of choked me. I received the Gold Tone BG 150F, it is a fine banjo, I really like the look, has GREAT bright bluegrass sound and it is loud eventhough it only has a tone hoop as opposed to a tone ring, one of the reasons I bought is was because it was light, but it's still twice as heavy as the goodtime, yet 5 lbs lighter than the gibson. Still I really like the BG150F, however it is too loud to play in the house, hmmm seems I'm the only one who likes banjo. But also I am always afraid of scratching the resonator of any really good looking banjo, and the goodtime doesn't have a resonator, so that worry is eliminated. The Goodtime has become my player banjo, it's all I pick up and play. I really like the weight and Plunky sound, the new head is attractive as well as the new fret inlays of walnut, and even the blond color has grown on me. Dissapointments are the 5th string rr spike in place of a PIP (I've almost caught my finger on the rr spike during slides), the lack of an arm rest was an annoyance, but I wouldn't have found the nechville arm rest if it did have one, and lastly the lack of a fingerboard overlay in a dark color, such as I am used to on all other banjos I either have or had, is sometimes distracting, but I have got used to and now like it. What I did find is that with no resonator or tone ring the peg head and neck were heavier than the pot and the neck wanted to drift downward, causing me to have to support the neck, interferring with freeom of hand movement, so I found a used flange and resonator to put on the banjo and increase the weight of the pot. So my Gibson was stowed stowed away, and my new Gold Tone in a stand, I want to play it, but it's just too loud to play while anyone is home, and I play my Goodtime every day. So I decided the Gibson is too heavy, and the tone isn't really me, and at about the same time Deering came out with the Eagle II which has a different tone that I like. But something had to go prior to buying another banjo, so, Sold the Gibson, and the Gold Tone, as the Eagle II seemed to be a mid ground between the two, a full tone ring banjo, lower in weight than the Gibson, but a bit heavier than the the Gold Tone. Both sold relatively quickly and I placed an order for the Eagle II, Custom - in Walnut with 3 RR spikes, Renissance head. I have played one, it is, as mentioned, lighter than my gibson, comfortable to play, really atrractive, and I like the sound, I'm hoping the walnut and rennisance head will only add to the sound I like. I've bought 7 and sold 5 banjos in 3 years, I think I'm done now, I'm glad I'm back to two banjos, three was just too many, for me. Also the Eagle II, cost wise was in between the cost of the BG-150F and the Gibson, yet a professional banjo. I really like it. Funny how things work out sometimes, more expensive isn't always better, but then, only experience can teach us that.

I continue to enjoy the journey, but still have to remind myself that this isn't a race, and to slow down and enjoy the journey.

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