WildJimbo - Posted - 08/04/2008:  17:45:06

There's always that question that pops up. Should I take the resonator off my banjo to play oldtime?

I saw several people that had done that this past weekend, and I really didn't understand why.

Look, I know it's your banjo, and you can do whatever the heck you want to with it, but you don't have to ditch the resonator to be "authentic".

See?









Jim Pankey

Bill Rogers - Posted - 08/04/2008:  20:09:29

You could throw Wade Ward in there too. I tend to play my banjos as they come. In fact, I have a resonator awaiting restoration to go on my Weymann Megaphonic. In the studio, where there's no audience to see, some musicians have recorded bluegrass banjo parts on openbacks. I agree with Jim--if you have a nice resonator banjo you're playing clawhammer on, don't take off the resonator because you think it's "improper." If you don't like the sound--remove it permanently. Otherwise, why not leave it on?

Bill

Edited by - Bill Rogers on 08/04/2008 20:11:12

janolov - Posted - 08/05/2008:  01:01:53

There are a lot of CH players today that prefer to play open back. A lot of players also think that CH must be played on open back, but that is a myth - just as Jim has pointed out. CH and Old-Time CH can be played on resonator banjos!

Mike Seeeger has made a DVD serie Southern Banjo Styles where he demonstrated 26 different Old-Time songs in at least 20 different styles and on about 26 different old banjos. Some of these banjo has a resonator but in several cases he takes the resonator off when playing the song, and in other cases he keeps it on. I think Mike Seeeger strive to attend a special unique sound for every song. So the choice of resonator or not depends on the song, the banjos sound with and without resonator and the playing style decides if the resonator is on or off. Perhaps the accoustics in room may play a role too.




Jan-Olov

WildJimbo - Posted - 08/05/2008:  06:39:41

quote:

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Originally posted by Bill Rogers

You could throw Wade Ward in there too.

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Edited by - WildJimbo on 08/05/2008 06:40:24

pauwac - Posted - 08/05/2008:  07:13:12

I started playing clawhammer on a cheap Japanese beater banjo with a resonator, and now, many years later, I'm still playing clawhammer on a resonator banjo, though this time it's a Deering Hartford.

I would also add that not every clawhammer player has to have a thunky, woody sounding banjo. That seems to be the current fad. for the other extreme, listen to Ralph Stanley playing "Rocky Island." There's a lot of room for different tones in old time banjo playing.

Pauwac

Emiel - Posted - 08/06/2008:  03:06:13

Throw in Dock Boggs too! And Charlie Poole.

Emiel

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emieldk/
http://www.bluerounders.com

Edited by - Emiel on 08/06/2008 03:06:33

Clawdan - Posted - 08/06/2008:  06:45:05

Well, the answer is plain as day, we play open back but many old timers used resonators. The issue, however is much more grey as the use or not of a resonator is more a social issue than a sound one. Granted the open back sounds more like the old recordings (often substandard instruments on substandard recordings even if sota in the day) but today it is more a matter of fitting in with the other musicians and blending in with the music (volume has to be controlled more strictly on a resonatored instrument).

SO, you pick if you want to use one or not and by that choice who you will play with or not and how much teasing you can take when you show up at the jam. As always, it is your choice to play what and how you want but remember, always...

Play nice ,
Dan "Ain''t no bum-ditty" Levenson
www.ClawhammerBanjo.us
Come to Clawcamp!

WildJimbo - Posted - 08/06/2008:  08:25:37

I think the thing that prompted my original post was watching several folks in the contest this past weekend with their one-piece flange mastertone-style banjos sans the resonator. It just looked odd, and really didn't sound any better than they would have with the resonator.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not trying to pass judgement; I know we all do the best with what we have to get the sound we want. It just bugged me I guess. I think those banjos would have sounded just fine with the resonators on, and would have been way more comfortable to hold.

Jim Pankey

bluemule_77 - Posted - 08/06/2008:  13:01:20

quote:

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Originally posted by WildJimbo

quote:

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Originally posted by Bill Rogers

You could throw Wade Ward in there too.

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Okay.



Jim Pankey

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