I'm currently playing a original 1932 TB3 40 hole archtop Gibson conversion banjo .. just wondering if there are very many bluegrass pickers out there using old archtop banjos.. I sure like mine!

Posted - 09/20/2009 :  19:46:10      

Quite a few, really. I've got a converted '27 TB-3 no-hole with a top-tension-type resonator.

Bill

Posted - 09/20/2009 :  19:47:04            

I played my 40-hole AT Granada for 30+ years. I only retired it because I was given a custom-made banjo. I still break it out occasionally for old-time's sake.

__________________________
"It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing." -Seneca

Posted - 09/20/2009 :  19:55:58  

I've got a ball bearing archtop Granada conversion that has great tone qualities...not the loudest, but that's what volume controls on PA systems are for!

After all this time, you'd think I'd be better by now!--iluvearl

Posted - 09/20/2009 :  20:31:53  

I show no favoritism towards my '54 250 archtop. It gets the same amount of time in rotation with the other dozen flats. If you are going to pick "Clinch Mt. Backstep" best do it on an archtop for that authenic sound. Those "Mountain Girls" don't love as much if you have a flathead. During my "Hard Times" I actually prefer an archtop.

Tom Isenhour

Posted - 09/20/2009 :  21:07:52      

nice to know I'm not the only banjo picker that likes my archtop banjo!

Posted - 09/21/2009 :  07:08:48            

I watched Reno's show on RFD-TV this morning. It was an older show, but Rob McCoury was playing a OPF AT with FE neck. It sounded great but he had the mike right on the banjo head. I don;t know what he picks these days.

__________________________
"It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing." -Seneca

Posted - 09/21/2009 :  07:18:46      

YES, I play my 1932 TB3 conversion (H&F) on stage regularly and find it can always be heard regardless of how dead the mic is. I've been a AT fan since I started playing......too long ago.

Fast Freddy the engineer says: Throttle in RUN 8 and highball, then don't look back, something might be gainin' on ya. 73,s de K5BGZ

Posted - 09/21/2009 :  08:22:51            

I love my Gibson parts with a 1927(?) no-hole ring. Haven't played a flat-head yet that I would trade for.

But as an aside, when I talk about my archtop, my neighbor tells me it is a RAISED HEAD banjo. An archtop is a type of guitar. It's hard to change my language, but I am trying. What do you all think?

Posted - 09/21/2009 :  08:31:43      

Sure do, at least for Stanley-style music. 1929 TB 5 Deluxe conversion. There was a time before flat head banjos became so predominant in sales, that I believe "most" pickers were playing arch tops. Before 1970 when Gibson changed Mastertone design to all flat heads, and the Japanese clones started coming over.

The Old Timer.
"Mommy, does Jesus play the banjo?" Huck Paisley (Brad Paisley's little boy) quoted in PEOPLE, Sept. 21, 2009

Posted - 09/21/2009 :  10:43:43      

Richard,
Yes, yours has QUITE the voice to it!!! It really cuts through the jam well!!
Bruce

Sorry for getting off topic!!!

Posted - 09/21/2009 :  10:45:58  

Back in the late 40's to mid 50's when I guess Earl was creating a ruckus to find any Gibson banjo, the ratio of prewar archtop Mastertones was a lot easier to find then the few original flatheads. There weren't too many 5 string neck builders back then so the archtop was your axe to get at the time. Then when Gibson reintroduced the new "Mastertone" in 1954 it was only as an archtop so those guys that wanted something shinny and new (kinda like buying the car of the year) all they could get was an archtop up until late 1958 and a few flatheads came out on special order and then by 1961 it was standard to see the flatheads with the archtops being the special order. If you go back and study the ratio of pros playing flats to arch I bet it more then 50% played the arch but not by choice by neccessity. It's all they could find that would cut through a D28 or F5.

Tom Isenhour

Posted - 09/21/2009 :  11:39:28      

I love my '27 converted TB4, it has so much character to it's tone. Nice slim Frank Neat neck. Tough to put down when you start pickin !

Posted - 09/21/2009 :  14:58:49    

I've got a '28 TB4 with a no-hole. Like banjobilly, mine has a great character. I must admit that it's sporting a conversion ring at the moment but it has that same character. I go back and forth and like both sounds. Wish I had another so I could have one of each without so much fuss.

Rex

Posted - 09/21/2009 :  21:27:04      

What serial number is your 1932? mine is 9440-7

quote:

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Originally posted by banjer5

YES, I play my 1932 TB3 conversion (H&F) on stage regularly and find it can always be heard regardless of how dead the mic is. I've been a AT fan since I started playing......too long ago.

Fast Freddy the engineer says: Throttle in RUN 8 and highball, then don't look back, something might be gainin' on ya. 73,s de K5BGZ

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Posted - 09/21/2009 :  21:34:25      

Very interesting.. I think the craze over flathead banjos has just been in the recent years.. I'm sure there used to be a lot more archtop pickers out there.. thing that gets me is the sound of this banjo I have and the pot assembly is all original.. resonator, flange, rim, 40 hole archtop ring, tension hoop,, tailpiece etc.. is all original... and the sound is amazing.. it will cut right through if you want it too or i can play up close to the neck and it has a beautiful mellow very poppy sound.. thing of it is .. is a lot of the older banjos that people say are flatheads are actually old archtop banjos that have had the rims cut down and a newer flathead tonerng like a huber tonering put in them.. i think as time goes on its going to be harder and harder to find a true original archtop gibson banjo.



te]Originally posted by f5loar

Back in the late 40's to mid 50's when I guess Earl was creating a ruckus to find any Gibson banjo, the ratio of prewar archtop Mastertones was a lot easier to find then the few original flatheads. There weren't too many 5 string neck builders back then so the archtop was your axe to get at the time. Then when Gibson reintroduced the new "Mastertone" in 1954 it was only as an archtop so those guys that wanted something shinny and new (kinda like buying the car of the year) all they could get was an archtop up until late 1958 and a few flatheads came out on special order and then by 1961 it was standard to see the flatheads with the archtops being the special order. If you go back and study the ratio of pros playing flats to arch I bet it more then 50% played the arch but not by choice by neccessity. It's all they could find that would cut through a D28 or F5.

Tom Isenhour
[/quote]

Posted - 09/21/2009 :  21:57:29      

I have a 29 TB3 with Sullivan Conversion neck. I don't believe the ring has ever been off the rim. It's my favorite. Very powerful, very versatile.

Ron

Posted - 09/22/2009 :  17:41:33  

To my ear there has never been a better sounding banjo than Ralph Stanley's Gibson archtop. It was a shame he quit recording with it when he did.

Ken
Bloomington, Indiana

Posted - 09/22/2009 :  18:12:01    

I own a old 2pc/40 hole. I sure like my archtop too. Great Sound. I play mine regulary with the flatheads and the brass hoopster.




Bootes...

Posted - 09/22/2009 :  20:23:17    

Mine's not old (or a Gibson), but I love my Stanleytone. Nothing like that archtop sound in my opinion.

Edited by - pfunk on 09/23/2009 15:08:43

Posted - 09/23/2009 :  07:05:08      

My archtop Granada is a thing of wonder. I agree with Tom, 'Clinch Mtn Backstep' always sounds better on an arch top, or is that just my ear being prejudiced.

Jack

Posted - 09/23/2009 :  11:18:48      

My 32 TB3 has s/n 9310-7 and is a 40 hole that'l peel the bark off a tree. FWIW I also have a 1954 TB250 conversion with 4 holes that is a sweetie pie too.

Fast Freddy the engineer says: Throttle in RUN 8 and highball, then don't look back, something might be gainin' on ya. 73,s de K5BGZ

Posted - 09/24/2009 :  13:32:01  

i have a 27 florentine 40 hole archtop that i love to play. its kinda my sunday go to meeting banjo. i also have a 35 opf 3 converted flathead that is a 40 hole archtop. its nice especially for recording to have different sounding banjos for different tunes........snuffdipper

Posted - 10/21/2009 :  14:07:42        

I recently acquired a Gold Tone Orange Blossom 250 archtop and I can't stop playing it.

Yes, it'll play loud if you want it to, but its real charm is when you play it not too far from the bridge, but softly......

Posted - 10/21/2009 :  16:17:42      

quote:

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Originally posted by JD-RB5

My archtop Granada is a thing of wonder. I agree with Tom, 'Clinch Mtn Backstep' always sounds better on an arch top, or is that just my ear being prejudiced.

Jack

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Posted - 10/21/2009 :  16:46:05      

I love my TB-6 .

Mike Johnson