derekanjo - Posted - 01/11/2017:  08:30:34

quote:

---

Originally posted by gibson49classic



I just heard a live festival tape of you playing "Home on the Range." What a great tune for banjo! I've been working on it this morning. I bet the dojo would be a great instrument for that tune.

---

I play this occasionally, but I'd like to hear Sonny's take. 

TheChief - Posted - 01/11/2017:  09:20:29

I haven't heard Home On The Range in forever, but there is only one way to play it...just play the melody...With all kind of 6th, 9th, 13th notes and a minor 7th, several augments and a couple diminished chords thrown in for good measure.

Just joking with you...You might get in touch with Brandon Hinson from Charlotte. My understanding is he has that song right. I tried to find my version on Utube but had no luck.

s

Edited by - TheChief on 01/11/2017 09:22:28

gibson49classic - Posted - 01/11/2017:  09:25:19

youtu.be/9UfI-KYAtXg

You start playing the song at around 43:00 minutes behind bobbys announcments. Then Bobby tells you to play it as a "solo". 

TheChief - Posted - 01/11/2017:  09:30:36

Lincoln Hensley also has it pretty close. He just sent me the version that I played...I don't remember playing it. Especially the ending...always the clown.

s

gibson49classic - Posted - 01/11/2017:  09:34:00

The ending caught me alittle off guard too Sonny. I giggled alittle the first time I heard it...

apherigo - Posted - 01/11/2017:  12:54:35

Sonny's Harlow Guitjo

Guitjo

Guitjo

Guitjo

Guitjo

chuckv97 - Posted - 01/11/2017:  13:13:23

That's a beauty! And with a wood top AND movable bridge?

Mike Rowe - Posted - 01/11/2017:  13:39:11

Wow! Beautiful!

markbyrum - Posted - 01/16/2017:  14:38:45

Nice axe!

TheChief - Posted - 01/18/2017:  08:59:32

That's a beautiful, and well made instrument. Plays really good an d sounds mellow.

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville,TN.37075

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

615-824-0096

IN GOD WE TRUST

The Chief - Posted - 01/29/2017:  12:30:55

I've recently been forced to buy a windows 10 computer and guess what...I'm having a small problem switching from my old system
as I'm sure most understand.
I've recently also bought a resonator banjo...which is basically a dobro body with a banjo neck. I played one back in the 60's and recorded more than several things with it. 'twas really fun to play. I can't "play" because of the limited movement of my left arm, but it is good to have something to mess with...when I'm not reading or watching Kentucky get beat by Tennessee...Basketball. No secret I'm a Kentucky follower...since I was 9 years old.

Anyway, I just wanted you all to know that I haven't abandoned The Hangout...Never.

s

gibson49classic - Posted - 01/29/2017:  12:37:04

I heard the Osborne brothers cut of "Keep me from blowing away," for the first time last night. I must've listened to that song on repeat for over an hour. Man what a great song, played and sang by the very best of course. 

Edited by - gibson49classic on 01/29/2017 12:44:45

rbfour5 - Posted - 01/29/2017:  12:50:06

Good to hear you got something to pick on. I also will have something of my own to pick on again this week. BTW Sonny, I have been working on "Siempre" and am finally making ground on it. That is probably my favorite song of yours, and it feels good to sound "somewhat" like your version. I will never sound like you Sonny, but at least it is recognizable. Great song- thanks!

El Dobro - Posted - 01/30/2017:  10:07:21

More Humazoo!

The Chief - Posted - 01/30/2017:  15:16:11

OK...El Dobro...what is HUMAZOO.
We're all waiting...
s

El Dobro - Posted - 01/30/2017:  15:55:12

Watermelon Park 1971, Jimmy and Bobby played The Old Crossroads on them, while you were tuning. Could have started something there.

josephb - Posted - 01/31/2017:  17:13:46

Sonny

Some old pictures from a show outside Richmond Va at a moose lodge in the early seventies

Ronnie Reno on guitar but not sure who was on bass or drums

That is my brother and me posing with you

Ken

Osborne brothers with Ronnie Reno early 1970's Richmond Va

 

The Chief - Posted - 02/01/2017:  14:09:47

THAT'S OLDER THAN YOU.
That's Robby Osborne...Bobby's son playing drums and Dennis Digby on the Bass.

s

josephb - Posted - 02/01/2017:  18:50:14

thanks, i always wondered who they were

photos were a little fuzzy, taken with a "state of the art" Kodak instamatic camera with flash cube

gibson49classic - Posted - 02/01/2017:  18:59:26

Looks like you're playing the six string in those pictures Sonny. Boy what I would give to have been at that show!

HPNomad - Posted - 02/02/2017:  02:09:32

You can tell it's the 6 string Vega by the lock on the flange to keep the killer tone inside, haha.

The Chief - Posted - 02/02/2017:  10:04:42

The dead giveaway that it's the Vega six string is the tailpiece. Which was fashioned and made by Hal Neidert
of Pottstown Pa. He also made the Capo. Brilliant man...genius....and could really play some chess.

The locks were there because the electrical setup inside the resonator was also attached to the wood rim and if some wondering mind were to remove the resonator without this knowledge it would pull the pieces apart and destroy it, and a bunch of hours of work.
The electrical equipment, and volume control were designed and built by my Brother's son Robby, who played drums with us for a number of years.
~
s
Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.
PO Box 647
Hendersonville,TN.37075
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
sonnyosborne.com
615-824-0096
IN GOD WE TRUST

chuckv97 - Posted - 02/02/2017:  12:07:34

Hi Sonny. I read where you and Bobby had to compete for sound in those big country music package shows often in arenas , so you plugged in. Did you get push-back from the bluegrass community, even though you were taking bluegrass music to wider audiences? (I think I remember reading that other bands didn't want to follow you guys on shows,,ha)

Hope you're doing well,,you've done so much for the banjo and bluegrass music. Thank you.

Edited by - chuckv97 on 02/02/2017 12:11:09

The Chief - Posted - 02/03/2017:  08:52:49

Chuck...I would guess that 65% of the Bluegrass community hated the idea but we were always so controversial that it really didn't matter. We were working about twice more than the normal Bluegrass band and making a good living at the same time. Country radio stations, who sponsored most of the Carlton Haney huge package shows, were forced to play our records which resulted in 21 of them making the National charts, and we were closing the first half of these shows, which is the prime spot. At some Bluegrass festivals we were hissed at, booed a bit, and several places had our electric cords cut. But we still got standing ovations...so it really didn't t matter. I don't know about others, but I personally heard Faron Young say: ("I ain't following them damn guys!) I thought it was funny...If I were them, I wouldn't want to follow us either!!! (THAT WAS MEANT TO BE FUNNY, NOT SERIOUS) We had fun, and it was a GREAT ride.

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville,TN.37075

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

615-824-0096

IN GOD WE TRUST

The Chief - Posted - 02/03/2017:  09:00:16

THAT LAST POST SOUNDS A LOT LIKE I'M BRAGGING, BUT THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME ALSO KNOW THAT IS THE MOST DISTANT THING FROM THE TRUTH.

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville,TN.37075

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

615-824-0096

IN GOD WE TRUST

rbfour5 - Posted - 02/03/2017:  09:05:17

I would say you are proud of what you and Bobby have done for the music industry and your families. My wife and I always enjoyed the times we were fortunate enough to see you in person. Always a FUN show. Thanks for the memories. 

Craig_B - Posted - 02/03/2017:  11:59:14

I can't imagine anyone here thinking you were bragging, Sonny. You guys were unique, and uniquely talented. Just a fact.

RayD - Posted - 02/03/2017:  14:24:39

As I read somewhere a long time ago: "It ain't braggin' if its true!"

markbyrum - Posted - 02/04/2017:  06:06:29

Sonny:
Whenever someone pushes the envelope in music (and most other endeavors for that matter) they will be criticized, questioned, and denigrated. You guys brought out a snare drum, electrified your acoustic instruments, used an electric bass, performed "country" music in a Bluegrass style, and did so successfully despite the naysayers! The results speak for themselves. Today those things are either main stream or hardly raise an eyebrow (except maybe the snare ;-) ) and I, for one, thank you for having the courage to do what you needed to do to be successful in music. I recall seeing you guys in the 1960's when I was a teenager and hearing criticism about you guys from the older folks (perhaps as a teenager that made me want to pay more attention to you). When I looked and listened for myself, I liked what I saw and heard. It's easy to lay back at the rear and follow others. It takes courage to be at the front and take the risks! Thanks, Sonny!

The Chief - Posted - 02/04/2017:  08:46:16

I thank all who said yes, and  those who said no, which included BILL MONROE...I spent countless hours in my room on our bus playing tapes of Flatt/Scruggs morning shows...which were given to me by Earl...I loved and grew up learning that music...But YOU GOTTA DANCE WITH WHO BRUNG YOU... as the old saying goes. We did what we were put here to do.

Life is weird sometimes, huh?

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville,TN.37077

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

615-824-0096

IN GOD WE TRUST

Edited by - The Chief on 02/04/2017 08:49:07

El Dobro - Posted - 02/04/2017:  12:19:44

"Sonny tells it like it is".

The Chief - Posted - 02/07/2017:  09:36:54

..so, listen at this.  

Years ago, For the grand total of $20 I bought a small, SS Stewart child's banjo for my son, which was probably made in the 30's. I had forgotten that I still had it. The bridge is gone and the Rogers 5 star head is broken, but the rest is in pretty good condition.

Does anyone have knowledge of such an animal? History?

I don't remember where, but I do remember someone showed it to me and I just asked how much. I gave him $20 and put it on the bus. Nothing else.

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville,TN.37075

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

615-824-0096

IN GOD WE TRUST

chuckv97 - Posted - 02/07/2017:  12:35:59

Sonny, maybe take a picture and post it on the Collectors Corner category here on the HangOut

Edited by - chuckv97 on 02/07/2017 12:36:59

Ebanjo - Posted - 02/07/2017:  14:10:37

Sonny,
I've always been a big fan of you and Bobby and agree with what those guys said above. You all did what you had to do to make a living playing music. And you all made some mighty fine music along the way.
And you brag? Nah. No brag just fact. JMHO
Eric Ellis

The Chief - Posted - 02/08/2017:  07:16:37

I've found out more about this little banjo.

It is Circi 1891. To be more specific, probably this serial number was made in 1895-1898...so this little thing is well over 100 years old. It's an S.S. Stewart, Pony Concert model, sold new for $14.00...The broken head was a Vega 5 star. I have ordered a new 8 inch head and I'm trying to find a set of original tuners. Someone, somewhere in time has put a set of geared mandolin tuners on it...can't have that. They recommend tuning it...1st to 5th...G E C G C       

UNBELIEVABLE...

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville,TN.37075

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

615-824-0096

IN GOD WE TRUST  

Edited by - The Chief on 02/08/2017 07:23:22

Tim13 - Posted - 02/12/2017:  13:21:45

quote:

---

Originally posted by josephb

Sonny

Some old pictures from a show outside Richmond Va at a moose lodge in the early seventies

Ronnie Reno on guitar but not sure who was on bass or drums

That is my brother and me posing with you

Ken

 

---

Cleaned these up a bit...

Tim

 

The Chief - Posted - 02/13/2017:  07:58:14

Ronnie Reno...Guitar

Robby Osborne...(Bobby's son) Drums

Dennis Digby...Elec Bass

The Chief - Posted - 02/22/2017:  07:17:24

2-22-17

More about the little SS Stewart banjo.

Someone put mandolin tuners on it at some point so I found a set of originals and waiting for them to get here. The skin head was broken, so I ordered one..It didn't look like a Rogers 3 star. More like it came off a hog, like I grew up (somewhat) around...Did you ever try to mount one of those ancient animals? I did a couple times back in the 50's...but I had either for gotten or..something. I also ordered a plastic head, which wouldn't work because the metal ring that is part of the head and important...it goes under the stretcher band and keeps the head from slipping..the one on the plastic Remo was (is) too wide so the brackets won't go on. I consulted with Frank Neat and he suggested filing grooves in the ring so the brackets would have room enough to do their job...I did that and they worked well, for the most part. So, as soon as the tuners get here I'll put it together...OH, the factory suggests using gut strings, but I decided to use very thin GHS (I endorse them...50 years worth) strings and it is supposed to be tuned to C..which is 5 frets higher than normal. So, as told in the very old spiritual.."WE WILL SEE" and, Ill take pictures at that time.

Bill Evans said he has one sort of like the one I have, so they are not THAT unique. 1895 wasn't that long ago. My grandfather, George..my Dad's father.. was born in 1873, the Civil war and Lincoln...it was a long time ago!

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville,TN.37077

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

615-824-0096

IN GOD WE  STILL TRUST

Edited by - The Chief on 02/22/2017 07:23:08

RB00 - Posted - 02/22/2017:  11:40:23

You mounted a hog a couple times in the 50's????? :)

The Chief - Posted - 02/22/2017:  17:30:34

I would not touch that......!

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville,TN.37077

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

615-824-0096

IN GOD WE  STILL TRUST

RB00 - Posted - 02/22/2017:  18:16:31

Sorry Sonny. I just couldn't resist that! I appreciate your good sense of humor about it!

The Chief - Posted - 02/23/2017:  13:41:27

Hey Len, I understand completely, I would have picked up on the same thing. I've yet to encounter a good looking hog though! You?

It's near 80 degrees here in Nashville today, the 23 of February. Tuning keys not here yet.

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville,TN.37077

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

615-824-0096

IN GOD WE  STILL TRUST  

chuckv97 - Posted - 02/23/2017:  14:05:17

63*F in Arizona where I am 🌞 ,27 in Calgary ❄️
a good looking hog......

The Chief - Posted - 02/23/2017:  15:13:19

I Definitely LOVE them kinda hogs. I was a rider from 1970 to about 2000. My reflexes were starting to go so, not wanting to be a bike statistic, I sold out. My last Harley was an 87 1100 lb hog. Kentucky blue and more chrome than imaginable. I loved that machine. Had a high back rest and would strap the banjo onto it and ride to the Opry. COOL was not a strong enough word. Going through a tunnel or LATE at night when it was still and where the trees were grown up on each side of the road the sound of a Harley engine is equal to a good RB 3 or that Granada on a good night. I miss that But.....

YOU CAN'T OUTRUN MOTHER NATURE OR FATHER TIME. 

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville,TN.37077

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

615-824-0096

IN GOD WE  STILL TRUST

Edited by - The Chief on 02/23/2017 15:18:10

chuckv97 - Posted - 02/23/2017:  16:24:40

youtu.be/NTOqMo8wdRA      ..... another beautiful hog ,,with Russ Carson

"Published on Jul 2, 2015Ok... The Boer Hog is a VERY special banjo. It is one of the very last RB3's shipped to South Africa in the batch built in June of 1937. In August they converted to making RB - 75's This banjo is the real deal, original 5 string neck, original hardware & the original flathead tonering... One interesting fact about banjo is that at one point the resonator & neck were painted with white house paint. Frank Neat refinished & re-fretted it, otherwise it's a damn time capsule of perfection. P.S. That would be me shaking my head in disbelief at the end... this banjo is stellar!!"

Edited by - chuckv97 on 02/23/2017 16:26:13

The Chief - Posted - 03/11/2017:  17:08:23

Thursday it was 82 ` at my house in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Today I got up at 7 am and it was 31 degrees and snowing. About an inch was on my truck. At 11 am it was 49 degrees and all the snow was gone. No wonder we are a sickly bunch at times. And we had tornados to deal with Wednesday. So, there you have it.   

Go figger...

s

chuckv97 - Posted - 03/11/2017:  18:13:30

Crazy....+2*F in Calgary yesterday, going up to 53*F by Wednesday.

rbfour5 - Posted - 03/11/2017:  18:43:54

That is quite a swing; it's going the other direction here- from the 60's a few days ago to 26 now, and the teens in a few days. Not had much winter here this season.....

RatLer - Posted - 03/13/2017:  06:41:00

Ya'll starting to sound like Ohio...we have four seasons here, sometimes 2 or 3 a day...LOL