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Playing Since: 1979
Experience Level: Purty Good
MrNatch3L has made 190 recent additions to Banjo Hangout 
Interests:
[Jamming] [Socializing] [Helping]
Occupation: Tech writer, web developer
Gender: Male
Age: 60
My Instruments:
I get by on banjo, guitar, bass, and piano. Can manage a little resophonic, blues harp, and am now learning some mandolin.
Banjos: The Mutt (70s StewMac aluminum pot archtop), Vega Style F conversion, and White Mountain bluegrass woody.
Favorite Bands/Musicians:
Just a few of many: NGR, Rice, Trishka, CS&N, Ozark Mountain Daredevils,Lightfoot, Dave Mason, Fogelberg, John Hiatt, Mahavishnu, Santana... the list goes on. And on. And on.
Classified Rating: +1
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Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 1/17/2004
Last Visit 5/22/2013
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Thursday, January 31, 2013 @3:03:31 AM
"A man has got to know his limitations."
- Clint Eastwood as "Dirty Harry"
 Well, today I sold the banjo I thought I'd never sell... my beautiful, and fabulous sounding and playing Bishline custom walnut Heirloom. When I bought it from Rob Bishline back in 2006 I had carefully shopped around, and really thought this would be a Keeper for Life. Once I had it in hand I was sure of it. However, as it so often does, Life intervened.
Basically it just came down to gittin' old. This is one heavy banjo... one reason for it's great bluegrass sound. After my back surgery to salvage a disc, it got harder and harder for me to carry it around and play it. I got a gig bag to lighten the load for local transport, but still found myself in quite a bit of discomfort after schlepping it around Moscow and Saint-Petersburg and playing at various events. The discomfort level got to the point where I found myself avoiding picking it up. And when I couldn't resist, I'd hurt afterward.
So earlier this month, my Russian pickin' buddy Vladimir, who picks traditional bluegrass style much better than I do, wanted to get himself an American banjo. He had the wherewithal to get pretty much any new pro-level banjo, and he could have had a friend who was traveling to the States get one for him and bring it over. But he really didn't want to buy something he had never played and heard, having had a couple of bad experiences that way. He asked me if I'd consider selling mine. It was something I had not considered, but as I started to, I found it making a lot of sense.
The banjo would go to a good player 20-odd years younger than I, who would really play it as it deserves to be played. I could make him a better price than he could get on lesser specs new, and still do better than if I were to sell it in the U.S. (and not have to drag it over there!) He gets a banjo he knows well, has played quite a bit, and definitely likes. I have 2 open-backs I can play for now. I travel to the States once or twice a year and can pretty easily buy another, lighter weight banjo. There are woodie banjos out there that sound great for bluegrass, and by selling this banjo, I can afford one of those.
So in a way, it's a little wistful feeling... like the end of an era, even if the era was short, as eras go. This was my first really good stringed instrument, so I'm feeling a little sentimental. But just a few weeks ago I got my hands on my second one... a Martin D35. That and my open-back banjos will keep me busy for a while. And if I come to the States this summer, well, I can indulge in a little good old-fashioned B.A.S.
UPDATE:
I guess it was meant to be. A couple of days later, member Ron Grimsley of White Mountain Banjos posted some classifieds with sale prices on his 2012 stock, and among those was a real nice-looking bluegrass woody model. I was thinking to wait until closer to June when I plan to come over to the States again, but this one really seemed to fill the bill, and Ron offered to store it for me until my trip is finalized. So... "obladee, oblada, life goes on!"
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