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Playing Since: 2007
Experience Level: Novice
Ansacsteve has made 44 additions to Banjo Hangout
Interests:
[Jamming] [Socializing]
Occupation: Technical Author
Gender: Male
Age: 53
My Instruments:
Deering Saratoga Star, Ozark 2142G.
Favorite Bands/Musicians:
From ABBA to ZZ TOP; no favorites, it just has to a good tune Oh and anything from Bob Dylan. As for banjo; if you get up and pick it i'll be happy to listen.
Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 7/10/2007
Last Visit 11/20/2009
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Saturday, October 24, 2009 @10:40:36 PM
Well, the wait is over and the itch is cured! It was a long 4 days from when she arrived in the UK and being able to collect her from Eagle music. It was most child like, you know like going to bed early so Santa comes quicker! Only trouble was I was awake at 2 am ready to go! A good buddie of mine and one well known to Banjohangout, Joemac, agreed to come with me to give her a "Pre acceptance" check. Despite numerous assurances from him that it will be perfect I felt happier that a second pair of eyes would be there.
Picked up Joemac and after a first brew set of to Eagle music. Plenty of chat about banjos naturally and what fesitvals were being planned and who from the USA were touring, bluegrass in the UK and Europe, and anything else to help with motorway driving! Stopped of for a Mac breakfast, the healthy option, orange juice instead of coffee!
About 2 miles from Eagle music the tension starts to creep in, from non-plas to gibbering wreck in an instance.
Any who have not been to Eagle Music owes it to themselves to go at least once, but leave your plastic at home. Their shown room is a sight to see. Upon entering the shop I was greeted with "hi steve Saratoga Star? Ill just get it for you" Out came the DEERING case just like any other DEERING case but whats inside? Releasing the catches was similar to Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Arc!
There she was, laying in green velvet. On taking her out of the case the first thing that struck me was the weight. I had expected her to be heavier. My Hartford was light, having a wooden tone ring and my Ozark a lot heavier with the bronze ring, I had expected the "Star" to be a weighty lass too, but no. Eagle music had had the Star for a couple of days, so as Joe had told me it would be, it was perfect. I had wondered why the quality banjos were so much more expensive. It had to be more than just tone woods and more than just craftsman skills because all these things can be replicated with modern technology and manufacturing.
I now know why, but I dont know what its called! She sits on you knee as though she belongs there. Its effortless. Moving your hand up the neck is so fast, its light-speed and I am a novice! In a daze I played my couple of tunes, damn, its like stepping out of your dads family saloon into a 911! Joe had played a "Star" before so knew what it should be like and despite no warm up and a 2 hour drive played her up and down the neck, a bit melodic single string, a bit of Scruggs and finished with some blusey stuff. The opinion is, she will deliver whatever you ask of her.
The Star is a banjo for life. You could spend years trading up, each time losing 30 - 50% of purchace price (unless you are a dealer). So if the banjo is your only vice GO FOR IT!
Recent Forum Posts
Uk Beginners Workshop scheduled for January. (15 days ago)
The "Banjo Worth More Than Car" Club (19 days ago)
No Holes V Holes (112 days ago)
Bob Dylan on the Banjo... (144 days ago)
Gibson v Deering (150 days ago)
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Reviews
Deering
Saratoga Star
Music (0 files)
Photos
Ansacsteve's Photo Album (0 photos)
Getting the Hartford (5 photos)
A Grand Day Out (4 photos)
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