banjoman69 - Posted - 10/27/2011:  04:37:41

Sonny, I agree, the Krugers either are not human or they sleep with their instruments- absolutely great.. enjoyed seeing you again and it was a great camp as usual. Of course all the others are special too--learned a lot from Jim Mills too.. what a nice guy.. see ya next year at camp if not sooner.

Darrell

BlondeChief - Posted - 10/27/2011:  09:20:15

We missed you, Mark! It truly was the best camp ever. Do I say that each year? :)

The highlight for me was singing "How Great Thou Art" in the harmony workshop. Sonny singing in my left ear, Bill to my right, and Jim Mills playing the banjo. The hair on my arms stood up!
Cindy

markbyrum - Posted - 10/27/2011:  09:29:30

Thanks Cindy:
Jim's arrangement of "How Great Thou Art" with the string bends is a great piece - and not that difficult to learn. It is on his Acutab instructional DVD - or I can show you how to play it - - - next year!

smoore - Posted - 10/27/2011:  14:53:04

quote:

---

Originally posted by markbyrum@erols.com

Thanks Cindy:

Jim's arrangement of "How Great Thou Art" with the string bends is a great piece - and not that difficult to learn. It is on his Acutab instructional DVD - or I can show you how to play it - - - next year!

---

Sure you can get it off a DVD, but you haven't lived until you try it in a room with 20 other banjo's. Especially when nobody actually hits the full note bend. I believe it was Jim that said it was like some kind of banjo hell :) Mark you were missed as I was the only Coastie!

BlondeChief - Posted - 10/27/2011:  20:27:03

You're on, Mark. I'd opt for the human lesson over a DVD...the way they did it 100 years ago!

notetaker75 - Posted - 10/28/2011:  14:14:17

Sonny, We hope you have a wonderful birthday....Monty and Brenda

flatthead - Posted - 10/29/2011:  04:50:40

October 29, 2011

Happy Birthday Chief!

A heartfelt Thank You for all you have done throughout the years for Blue Grass music and the 5 string banjo.  You have been a huge influence and inspiration on countless musicians over the years.

All the best on your day

Respectfully,

J

...BTW..."Old Kentucky Home" still knocks me out!

John J - Posted - 10/29/2011:  05:17:09

Birthday greetings Sonny. Hope you have many more!

John

mahogchief01 - Posted - 10/29/2011:  06:17:58

Happy Birthday Sonny!!! Hope you have a great day!

Mickey

Ebanjo - Posted - 10/29/2011:  06:22:47

Happy Birthday Sonny.
Eric Ellis

kathy315 - Posted - 10/29/2011:  06:28:13

Sonny, have a very Happy Birthday!! It was great seeing you last weekend...Have fun and take care until next time!! Kathy

bevans - Posted - 10/29/2011:  08:01:11

Happy Birthday Chief - I'll pick one for you today at the Desert Bluegrass Festival in Tucson, AZ! Thanks for a great NashCamp last weekend! All the best, Bill

chief3 - Posted - 10/29/2011:  08:30:47

Happy Birthday Sonny! Have a good day.

Steve Bruce - Posted - 10/29/2011:  08:42:59

Happy Birthday Sonny!

Still enjoying my Chief. It's a great banjo. Your banjo playing has been an incentive to me since the early 60's. Your albums were played contantly in our house. We lived in Norwood, Oh and I still remember seeing you all live in Dayton a few times. And it was a thrill to open for the Obsborne Bros. in Williamsburg, Ky several years ago.

God bless,

Steve Bruce

smoore - Posted - 10/29/2011:  08:55:19

Happy birthday Sonny! I don't really know how to rank it with your other accomplishments, but if you had done nothing but help establish Nashcamp you would be a pretty special guy. Your willingness and and ability to share with those on a banjo journey means a lot to those of us who have benefited. I hope your birthday is great and that for just a moment you actually feel just what you mean to us. Thanks Chief.

JimmieSue - Posted - 10/29/2011:  08:55:57

Happy birthday, Chief!

I'll pick out a happy birthday tune for you today...... think happy birthday ala Jens......only nowhere near as good in person so your imagination will come in quite handy. ;)

Love ya!
Jimmie Sue

Woolpersteve - Posted - 10/29/2011:  08:59:49

Chief
As your attorney I advise you to have a good time , eat some cake , where a silly hat ( I think you just did all of that at banjo camp)...
I jumped the gun on birthday wishes about a month ago .That was practice .
This time its for real .
Steve Martin

dshields - Posted - 10/29/2011:  09:05:13

Happy Birthday, Mr. Chief!!

RB00 - Posted - 10/29/2011:  10:22:31

Happy Birthday Chief! Here's to many, many more. Sorry I missed Nashcamp this year.

Timeless1952 - Posted - 10/29/2011:  10:25:14

Happy Birthday Sonny. Your the best!!!!!!

K

apherigo - Posted - 10/29/2011:  10:41:43

Happy Birthday Sonny!!!!

Aaron & Debbie

banjobob1961 - Posted - 10/29/2011:  12:20:19

Happy Birthday Sonny!

wjtank - Posted - 10/29/2011:  13:21:07

Happy Birthday, Sonny ! Thanks for all the great music and everything else you've given us over the years.

banjoman69 - Posted - 10/29/2011:  15:20:52

Happy Birthday Chief!!  May you live long and prosper plenty.. thanks for a great camp again

TheChief - Posted - 10/30/2011:  22:03:23

Thank you all so very much.             You have no idea what this means.

s

Edited by - TheChief on 10/30/2011 22:06:05

dmiller - Posted - 10/30/2011:  23:22:31

Happy 74th, Sonny!  To steal a line from Sam Bush - - -

I'm late (as usual).  

tom timberlake - Posted - 10/31/2011:  12:20:59

May you live 'til you no longer care to. Thanks for all you've done and will do. All a pleasure my friend!

TheChief - Posted - 11/04/2011:  10:46:03

Big news..Dan Hayes is resigning from IBMA. He is/was the Executive Director.

Pickin furry paws - Posted - 11/04/2011:  11:48:20

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Big news..Dan Hayes is resigning from IBMA. He is/was the Executive Director.

Sonny Osborne banjo Co.

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

PO box 647

Hendersonville, TN. 37077

615-824-0096

"IN GOD WE TRUST"

---

 Yeah, Jim Burlile told me something about that.

TheChief - Posted - 11/09/2011:  21:13:43

Kevin Wallace (California) and James Okey Bragg (West Virginia) are the most recent Chief owners. Both Maple.

Kevin also had me install a set of ugly tuners.

Thank you.

s

Edited by - TheChief on 11/09/2011 21:21:55

RayD - Posted - 11/10/2011:  14:40:39

Kevin and James - Welcome to the Tribe! Send some pictures of you with your new purchases to The Chief so we can see the proud new owners with their new Chief banjos!

Cheers,
RayD

TheChief - Posted - 11/11/2011:  06:09:48

Thank you Veterans for your time and sacrifice. My Brother was a Marine in Korea.

s

Steve Bruce - Posted - 11/11/2011:  06:13:27

Amen Chief! Thanks to all the veterans who served to protect freedom! My dad as well served in Korea.

banjoman69 - Posted - 11/11/2011:  08:26:47

Ditto,,,many many thanks to all the veterans! Dad was in WWII- Battle of the Bulge- Tech. Sergeant,Silver Star-Combat Infantry Badge,etc., member of honor guard to Pres. Truman in Potsdam Germany-red,white, blue to the core.. Honor all of those who served and hold them high for the freedom we have came thru our veterans.

chief3 - Posted - 11/11/2011:  13:47:09

My father chased the Nazis out of Holand and Western Europe. Lest we forget, take the time today to remember.

TheChief - Posted - 11/12/2011:  07:53:15

My Mother had 5 brothers in the second world war. One was with Gen. Patton. I remember when gas, and other things were rationed, blackouts, and many of our factories went into wartime production. My Mom worked at Inland Mfg. in Dayton, Ohio which was part of GM. They made guns, etc. during the war. No cars were made in 44, 45, and very few 43.  

Americans are a tough bunch when their backs are to the wall. We will survive.

s

RatLer - Posted - 11/12/2011:  23:40:56

Amen....

momo - Posted - 11/18/2011:  09:27:57

Sonny, I know were talking quite a few years ago, any tips you can share on how you set -up your Pro II Vega,its a bluegrass Banjo,but a little different then a Mastertone style pot. Thanks

TheChief - Posted - 11/18/2011:  21:33:17

Pro 2



Head set to about 92 on drum dial



Medium gauge strings



Thin bridge for brighter sound, heavy bridge for a little less bright.



Action medium



tailpiece lowered (Closer to head)



bone nut.



set up is a matter of taste..generally what you want to hear. Above is how I had mine set up.



However, in those days I didn't have a drum dial so I had to guess. Head would be tuned to about A.



 

momo - Posted - 11/18/2011:  22:25:39

Sonny, thanks for the Vega set -up tips, after hearing Kenny play his and talk with him..he really loves that Vega..I picked up a Pro II. I like it.

TheChief - Posted - 11/19/2011:  10:38:39

I recorded a lot with a Vega. In the mid 60's to about 1975.
Its not a Gibson, but then a Gibson is also not a Vega!!!! Each has different qualities.

You must be attentive to what you ask it to do. One can overplay a Vega sometimes.

s
Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.
PO Box 647
Hendersonville, TN. 37077
615-824-0096
chiefbanjo@comcast.net

Kep0042 - Posted - 11/19/2011:  13:24:42

Sonny,

When I set the drum tention on my Mahagony Chief, do I take the string tention off of the head or leave it on? What tention do you recommend on the drum dial? I want to get a little more pop out of it !!!!! Thanks

TheChief - Posted - 11/22/2011:  08:03:47

When they leave here, the Maple Chief is set at 90, Mahogany at 91 or 92 depending on what you want to hear. Walnut seems to perform better at 89, but sometimes 90 is not too thin.



Leave the strings on and tuned. That probably won't make much difference, but every little bit hurts, or helps.

Not long ago I was experimenting with a different tone ring. I don't know where my mind was wondering to that day but I thought I would just pry the too tight tone ring off easily enough with no problem. So I picked up a thin screwdriver and tried to insert between rim and tone ring. Wrong!! Cost me a new rim and embarrassment. Never let an amateur do a professional's job. Never!!!!!.   Frank showed me how to do it right.

Simple when you know how and have your mind in the right gear.

Edited by - TheChief on 11/22/2011 08:14:48

chief3 - Posted - 11/22/2011:  11:01:13

Ain't that the truth, huh Sonny!

TheChief - Posted - 11/22/2011:  14:19:06

My Dad always said:

Never send a boy to do a man's job.

RayD - Posted - 11/22/2011:  14:30:31

So, Chief, what WAS the right way to take off that tone ring? Inquiring minds want to know!

Cheers,
RayD

mahogchief01 - Posted - 11/22/2011:  18:38:36

Ray....Like Sonny said, just let the professional do the job. Us player's need to leave well enough alone.

Mick

RayD - Posted - 11/23/2011:  14:38:33

Mick,

Oh, I ain't ever gonna mess with anything like that! Just curious how the pros do it is all. My mamma once told me to get away from a wheel barrow cuz she reminded me I didn't know anything about machinery.....!

Oh, and an early Happy Thanksgiving to all! Let's all be thankful for what we have and remember those men and women away from home making it possible.

Cheers,
RayD

TheChief - Posted - 11/23/2011:  18:20:16

Eight years ago tonight was the last time I played the banjo. Myrtle Beach, SC.

My left shoulder came undone!



Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville, TN. 37077

615-824-0096

chiefbanjo@comcast.net







 

Edited by - TheChief on 11/23/2011 18:21:50