RWJones1970 has been bugging me to shoot a new family portrait of my banjos. This morning, I gathered them together in front of the fireplace for a portrait worthy of a holiday greeting card.



Here's a much larger version of the photo.

From left to right...

1880 H.C. Dobson Silver Bell
No-name banjo uke
No-name 1890s banjo, spunover rim
Chuck Lee 12" Prairieville Vintage
Jason Burns #11, with Dobson tone ring
No-name banjo uke
John Bowlin 1865 fretless
Gourd Banjo #1 from Bisbee Banjo Works
Ramsey Special 12"
Jeff Menzies 14" Gourd
Doc's Banjos 12" custom
Jason Romero 11" custom
Old Whyte Laydie 11" / Lo Gordon Neck

With the exception of the Ramsey, they all have skin heads. I have Nylguts on the gourds, the ukes, the Bowlin, the old no-name, and the Whyte Laydie. I usually keep the Burns, Ramsey, and Romero tuned two half-steps higher than normal. The gourds and Bowlin are tuned low.

Frankly, I don't know where they all came from. I started out with one, about four years ago. Next thing you know, they've multiplied and now they're all over the house. It's a mystery.

Maybe we should start a new thing here: 'Banjo Collection O' The Week'. Who wants to be next?

Posted - 11/05/2009 :  11:34:40  

Wow. I think I have banjo envy! Is there someone who makes gourd banjers in Bisbee? I used to live there and though there were a lot of banjo players around, I never heard the "thunk" of a strung gourd.

Posted - 11/05/2009 :  11:46:41            

That gourd was made by BHO member Bisbonian -- who used to live in Bisbee, but left that cool little town and moved to California.

Posted - 11/05/2009 :  11:46:58        

Where's their little sister, I mean, your fiddle?

Scott

Posted - 11/05/2009 :  12:33:31    

Very nice!

georgiagoodie

"Frets? We don't need no stinking frets!!"

Posted - 11/05/2009 :  12:47:03  

Let me see:

H.C. Dobson, Chuck Lee, Jason Burns, John Bowlin, Mike Ramsey, Jeff Menzies, Patrick Huff (Doc's), Jason Romero, Lo Gordon

You've pretty much got all the best makers covered! Impressive collection - thanks for sharing.

Posted - 11/05/2009 :  12:52:22    

J-Walk,

What's the diameter of that jumbo Gourd? I'm think about making a large one for myself and have read that the larger one's are more comfortable and easier to hang on to, but I also remember you posting that you felt the large one was uncomfortable.......?

I'm thinking about using a 13-14" canteen gourd.

Nice collection btw. You have some fine banjos there.

Posted - 11/05/2009 :  13:18:29            

Loo, that gourd is just a tad over 14 inches in diameter, and it's about 8" deep. The skin head is just over 11" in diameter.

Maybe it's just me, but that gourd is not at all comfortable to play. I've seen a video of Mike Seeger playing a gourd of a similar size, and he looked very comfortable with it.

Posted - 11/05/2009 :  13:41:30        

Was your Brooks home sick? I thought that was your favorite? Anyways, great look herd you've got there!

Best,
Max

Posted - 11/05/2009 :  14:42:22          

*** Hey JWalk, what a beautiful family you have there !




I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16)

Posted - 11/05/2009 :  15:36:54            

Max, I traded that Brooks for the old Dobson. It was a tough decision. But Dobsons aren't being made any more, and I can always get Brooks to make me another one. But I think that new Burns banjo will fulfill my modern spunover needs very nicely.

Posted - 11/05/2009 :  15:41:06    

That's it....I'm sending this photo to my wife! Clearly, I do NOT YET have enough banjos!

David West

Fort Collins, Colorado & Racine, WI

Posted - 11/05/2009 :  15:43:24            

Wow J-Walk, what a collection !
Which one is your favorite ?


"This is music from hardscrabble people who didn't put a lot of sugar in their coffee, their lives, or their music." Oldwoodchuck

Posted - 11/05/2009 :  15:57:37            

Favorite! That's like asking a mother to pick her favorite child.

But... For late-night solo picking, I'll choose that old Dobson. It has SUCH as sweet tone and is so easy to play. Not much volume, though. A close second in that category is the Bowlin. Every time I play that, I ask myself why I don't play it more often.

Currently, my favorite "normal" jam banjos are the Burns and the Doc's. Those are both pretty new, so that probably influences my decision. But those two will get me through any tune in G, A, C or D.

Posted - 11/05/2009 :  16:19:53    

quote:

---

Originally posted by J-Walk

Loo, that gourd is just a tad over 14 inches in diameter, and it's about 8" deep. The skin head is just over 11" in diameter.

Maybe it's just me, but that gourd is not at all comfortable to play. I've seen a video of Mike Seeger playing a gourd of a similar size, and he looked very comfortable with it.

---

Posted - 11/05/2009 :  18:11:51  

Nice collection J-Walk! I like your idea about a "Banjo Collection O' The Week". Tell me, does one banjo constitute a "collection"?

Steven

Posted - 11/06/2009 :  04:31:30      

drooolll.......

Sean

http://www.dearoldillinois.com

Adventures in Haitian banjo building:
http://seanbarth79.webs.com

Posted - 11/06/2009 :  04:46:11      

How do you get banjos (two) to mate to have a banjo family grow and multiply like yours??

Keep on the "sunny side"!

Don

Posted - 11/06/2009 :  05:16:18            

DANG!!

DANG!!


"Gospel. The most powerful music in this world and the next."



www.frailin.com
www.myspace.com/frailin
www.myspace.com/singletonstreet
www.myspace.com/eelpouts
&
www.autismhangout.com

Posted - 11/06/2009 :  06:35:58            

Great idea to make them line up near the fireplace.
It reminds them of what happens to naughty little banjos that refuse to sound good!

=):{ )
Mike Gregory, Banjo Maker Infraordinaire
When I say my instruments are as good as anything Gibson or Martin ever made,
I mean MEL Gibson and DEAN Martin!


My banjos can be seen on my own website
http://littlebanjos.lunare.net

See me & my SQUARED EEL banjo on the Y'all tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97EfvhFgRBY

Posted - 11/06/2009 :  09:51:47        

They all look so happy posing for the camera! I am inspired to take a similar photo of all my musical instruments. Maybe it will shock me into realizing that I don't need to acquire any more. . .nah, that won't work.

"Do not pray for an easy life. Pray to be stronger. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks."
- Fr. Solanus Casey

Posted - 11/06/2009 :  12:45:40  

"Great idea to make them line up near the fireplace.
It reminds them of what happens to naughty little banjos that refuse to sound good!"

That thought crossed my mind too, Mike, but then I wondered, "banjo suicide?"

And, "What do those banjos do after the lights go out?"
Procreate?"

Ha! Great collection! TC

Posted - 11/06/2009 :  13:46:54  

Now that is one beautiful collection you have there.

Like a Dog, a Banjo just wants to be played with and cared for.

Posted - 11/06/2009 :  18:12:44          

Looks like an imminent "domino effect" disaster! Can you imagine the carnage?

Neat stuff, J.

BM

Posted - 11/06/2009 :  23:39:55      

Very impressive collection!

Jessy

Frailaway, ladies, frailaway!

Posted - 11/06/2009 :  23:51:34          

Nice, J-walk. But clearly you don't have enough stands for all those banjos. I happen to have two stands without instruments. I'm feeling generous, so send me any two banjos and I will put them on stands for you. I'll even pay for shipping. You can come visit them any time.

Rob

Edited by - RedZinger on 11/06/2009 23:53:10