Ole Groundhog - Posted - 01/18/2018:  13:06:06

That’s wild..I don’t know how many Internet forums have possibly almost a 20 year thread this might be a world record haha

thebanjobert - Posted - 01/21/2018:  11:26:32

Hi, Sonny. Can I not order picks from your web site?

Thanks,
Terry

TheChief - Posted - 01/21/2018:  14:01:03

Terry, send a check for $25 per set plus $5 postage for up to 5 sets. Be sure to include your mailing address and I'll get them right out to you. And I'll bet you a 10 spot that you will love 'em! 

Sonny Osborne banjo co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville, Tennessee 37077

thebanjobert - Posted - 01/21/2018:  14:07:10

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Terry, send a check for $25 per set plus $5 postage for up to 5 sets. Be sure to include your mailing address and I'll get them right out to you. And I'll bet you a 10 spot that you will love 'em! 

Sonny Osborne banjo co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville, Tennessee 37077

Thank you, my friend!  I have wanted to try them for some time.

---

TheChief - Posted - 01/21/2018:  14:08:21

TOMORROW, JANUARY 22 (1938) IS BILL EMERSON'S 80th BIRTHDAY. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY GOOD FRIEND BILL.

S

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 01/22/2018:  05:43:48

Sonny, It is the feeling of many that if there were a Mt. Rushmore of banjo players it would have, Earl, J.D., Sonny, and Bill on it.
Ken

TheChief - Posted - 01/22/2018:  07:18:36

What a great thing to say to a bunch of old men!

s

TheChief - Posted - 01/22/2018:  07:25:32

Brother Bill.....

 

thebanjobert - Posted - 01/22/2018:  07:29:06

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Brother Bill.....

---

Terrific photo!!

TheChief - Posted - 01/22/2018:  08:16:05

He's playing a chief banjo, did you notice? 

s

rbfour5 - Posted - 01/22/2018:  09:30:36

Oh yes- hard to miss a great banjo Sonny!

And Ken- I’m liking the Mt. Banjo Icon idea. (Is there any room up in South Dakota?)

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 01/22/2018:  10:17:38

quote:

---

Originally posted by rbfour5

Oh yes- hard to miss a great banjo Sonny!



And Ken- I’m liking the Mt. Banjo Icon idea. (Is there any room up in South Dakota?)

---

I floated the idea to Eric for a hangout t-shirt but was not well received. I may try to do one on my own with an banjo on the foothills. You got to know where you come from if you want to know where you're going.

Ken

Spike2 - Posted - 01/22/2018:  11:48:55

bluegrasstoday.com/instruments...-guitars/

Interesting sale of Scruggs' instruments at Gruhn's tomorrow.

TheChief - Posted - 01/23/2018:  09:34:23

Spike,where is Somewhere Arizona?

s

momo - Posted - 01/25/2018:  13:49:39

Sonny, What would you consider a good string height for a Banjo that's to be played by a professional onstage with a band and how would that compare to Earls Scruggs string height, from times you picked his Banjo. Do you remember the first time you got to pick Earls Banjo? What did you think.

chuckv97 - Posted - 01/25/2018:  14:18:45

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Spike,where is Somewhere Arizona?

s

---

I know there’s a Surprise, Arizona and a Truth or Consequences, New Mexico,,,but never heard of a Somewhere...maybe you can’t get there from here...

WesB - Posted - 01/26/2018:  09:09:36

There are also Nowhere AZ and Nothing AZ. (and my high school English teacher better not be reading this.....)

WesB - Posted - 01/26/2018:  09:11:21

... and also Why AZ.

TheChief - Posted - 01/26/2018:  09:44:35

How bout Surprise, Kentucky

Thousand sticks, Kentucky

Cut chin, Kentucky

s

rbfour5 - Posted - 01/26/2018:  10:00:33

Then there’s:
Goofy Ridge, IL
Normal, IL

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 01/26/2018:  10:22:09

I know you all know the ways to Bean Blossom Indiana that go through Needmore, Indiana and Gnaw Bone, Indiana.
ken

RB00 - Posted - 01/26/2018:  10:49:34

Not to mention Bugscuffle, TN

kevin chilton - Posted - 01/26/2018:  11:53:20

Big Bone Lick State Park, Kentucky.

chuckv97 - Posted - 01/27/2018:  08:35:17

Up here we have Salmon Arm, Medicine Hat ,and Moose Jaw.  “But what’s that got to do with banjos?”, asked the Beav. “Nothing.”,said Wally.

Edited by - chuckv97 on 01/27/2018 08:37:23

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 01/28/2018:  19:17:48

Sonny,
I have been listening to Bobby's new album "Original" and it is really great music. Tonight I was much surprised he did not win the Grammy for it. He has so much variety and does it so well and made a real good selection of new songs. When i listen to him sing Don't be Cruel,..well I think he and Paul Williams could have both been kings of the rockabilly era had they chosen to use their great voices that way. They would have second to none with anyone of that era and genre. Thankfully for us they went the bluegrass route. but I can't believe guys were not chasing them with big bucks to do that.
Ken

TheChief - Posted - 01/29/2018:  09:20:35

They chased us with pretty big bucks to play Bluegrass, Ken.... Sometimes they chased us right on outa town....!

s

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 01/29/2018:  09:28:50

Sonny, Did other people ever put you under pressure to play your music differently?
Ken

TheChief - Posted - 01/30/2018:  08:36:08

This is a hard question to answer without going into some detail. Our vocal changes were ok, but the addition of electricity, to say the least, was frowned upon but out of need we continued down that road for 10 years and it led us to places we wouldn't have been able to play acoustically. Watermelon Park, Berryville, VA. was one of several venues though, where the dark side shown brightly...some Bluegrass purists, or perhaps slightly inebriated "fans" resented the fact that we were plugged in and proceeded to cut my banjo cord. Expecting no less, I had extra cords so we were able to carry on...to a standing ovation...I might add. Truly, it was a fun time for us to watch the change in crowds. And we were selling 10 times the amount of records, working quite a bit more to larger crowds....It was fun!

Pressure? I guess to be accurate, that answer would have to be NO.  So then, all that stuff above was not really necessary, but being all true, it felt so good to say it I'm gonna leave it. How bout that? 

s

Edited by - TheChief on 01/30/2018 08:40:09

chuckv97 - Posted - 01/30/2018:  08:39:58

I read somewhere, Sonny, that you padlocked your resonator to the flange so nobody could get at your pickup.

TheChief - Posted - 01/30/2018:  08:57:30

Padlocks? I guess you could call it that but they were just really small, Master locks. 

The wiring situation was partially in the resonator, and some was located just under the head of the banjo...then I had a rather complicated volume control which helped to eliminate feedback that Bobby's son, Robby..the electronic genius..rigged up. So if someone took the resonator off without this knowledge it would destroy the whole setup. I came backstage once and some guy was doing just that and I knew I had to remedy that problem...thus the little locks. Without a key the resonator wouldn't come off. Got a lot of feedback from that, too.

As I said, 'twas a fun time...

s 

Spike2 - Posted - 02/02/2018:  01:33:55

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Spike,where is Somewhere Arizona?

s

---

It's Somewhere. LOL 

Spike2 - Posted - 02/02/2018:  01:35:55

quote:

---

Originally posted by Spike2

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Spike,where is Somewhere Arizona?

s

Ok, well, I'm in Bullhead City, AZ. NW part, close to CA border, almost on the NV border.

---

It's Somewhere. LOL 

---

TheChief - Posted - 02/05/2018:  13:50:15

Red Allen was from PIGEON ROOST, KENTUCKY. Loretta Lynn was from BUTCHER, HOLLOW, KENTUCKY              Boyce Edwards was from CLIMAX, KENTUCKY. 

s

chuckv97 - Posted - 02/05/2018:  14:29:21

Anne Murray from SPRINGHILL, NOVA SCOTIA ...Hank Snow from BROOKLYN, NOVA SCOTIA , and,Gordon Lightfoot (who sing “Dee-troy-ett , :-) from ORILLIA,ONTARIO (methinks he pronounces it Oh-rill-ee-aah).

Edited by - chuckv97 on 02/05/2018 14:31:24

ManjoMan - Posted - 02/06/2018:  05:14:59

Good Morning Chief!

Just want to say hello and I miss the days when you would come up here to Michigan. I loved the times we had a few moments to talk. I do hope all is well.

I am wondering if Chief Banjo's are still available? I don't know if you know it, but I sold my #33 a few years back. I wasn't playing much banjo at the time and an old friend wanted to buy it. I would love to have it back, but I don't think he would let go of it. I would love to own another one now that I have time to just pick around the house.
I am also wondering if the cell number that you gave me years ago is still a good number? Would love to chat sometime. Hope to hear from you.

Best Regards,
Jeff

TheChief - Posted - 02/06/2018:  11:06:19

Jeff, the Chief banjo is still available and actually doing quite well. Those who have them seem to like them, for the most part. 

I have never advertised, I figured if they were worth anything they would sell themselves. And that has been the case. Still make all three models, Maple, Mahogany, and Walnut, any inlay pattern you want and I'll set it up to your specs. If I can be of any further assistance, let me know. Heck, I might just bring it to you...I haven't seen Old Dana Cupp in a while...I might just try to run him down whilst there.

Look forward to hearing from you.

s

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 02/06/2018:  11:32:02

Sonny,

You may have been asked this question a million times and if so excuse me, ignore me, and get another cup of coffee. But my question is, what do hear as the differences between maple and mahogany necks and do you approach playing them any differently or are there any peculiarities in each one. Someone told me once that you could get better tone out of maple but it was trickier to do so.

Thanks,

Ken

gibson49classic - Posted - 02/06/2018:  12:02:07

I bought some of Sonny’s “Ugly Tuners” for my banjo over the weekend and really like them. I thought I should brag on them a little because I haven’t heard anyone say much about them on here lately. In my opinion they are THE best d-tuners on the market. Reliable, unobtrusive, and the only d-tuners that you can drop or raise both at the same time. If you’re on the fence, I would recommend buying them without hesitation.

ManjoMan - Posted - 02/06/2018:  12:08:06

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Jeff, the Chief banjo is still available and actually doing quite well. Those who have them seem to like them, for the most part. 

I have never advertised, I figured if they were worth anything they would sell themselves. And that has been the case. Still make all three models, Maple, Mahogany, and Walnut, any inlay pattern you want and I'll set it up to your specs. If I can be of any further assistance, let me know. Heck, I might just bring it to you...I haven't seen Old Dana Cupp in a while...I might just try to run him down whilst there.

Look forward to hearing from you.

s

 

---

You are always welcome to stay with Lorenna and I if you make it up here. Although, I wouldn't tear up a vehicle just to run down Old Dana Cupp...

P.S. Do you still have the Red Wing jersey?

TheChief - Posted - 02/06/2018:  17:06:04

Ken;

Is there is a difference in the two necks..as to how they play, I would think not, according to who makes the necks. A Frank Neat neck is the size and shape you want it to be so it will play the same won't it? If you are talking about the sound of a Maple as opposed to a Mahogany or Walnut, YES, there are huge differences. I prefer Maple because of the added sustain and the softer tone. JD has always preferred a Mahogany banjo...a matter of what you want to hear. I don't know this for fact, but I heard that JD took the original Maple neck off the Granada he just bought (Which is a mate to mine and Earls) and replaced it with a mahogany, so...there you go.

s

Edited by - TheChief on 02/06/2018 17:08:28

TheChief - Posted - 02/06/2018:  17:10:03

I do have the Red Wing jersey. Would not part with it.

s

Edited by - TheChief on 02/06/2018 17:10:57

bcampbe5 - Posted - 02/06/2018:  17:49:47

Jeff,

If you'd like to hear a Mahogany Chief, I do have one. I love it. It will give you a point of reference between that and the Maple.. Can't go wrong with either one, in my humble opinion. We should get together and pick some and you could give the Chief a whirl.

John Coffey and I were just talking about you the other day... All good of course. :-)

ManjoMan - Posted - 02/07/2018:  02:53:15

Thanks Brad! I might have to take you up on your offer. I don't recall if I ever got to hear your Chief or not. I remember that you played mine at one of the festivals. I really wish that I never sold it, but I wasn't playing it much anymore and I'm not much of a banjo picker. I am thinking of selling a mandolin so I can put the money in a new Chief or if I can locate an older one. I do have my R&T that I got from Dana. I think I should try and sell that and see what I can get for it. What number is your Chief? Mine was #33 and it now lives in Alabama. Later...

bcampbe5 - Posted - 02/07/2018:  07:08:36

Mine was made in 2003 and is the 3rd mahogany made. We will get together soon hopefully and I’ll let you take it for a test drive. ??

TheChief - Posted - 02/08/2018:  09:05:30

Brad:

What is the serial number in your banjo?

Jeff:

How much do you want for the R&T banjo?

s

ManjoMan - Posted - 02/08/2018:  09:11:34

If I am not mistaken, it is the 5th one of the prototypes. Dana got it from you, I think, and I bought it from him. It actually says "Rich and Taylor" on the peghead. I want a Chief banjo...again.

bcampbe5 - Posted - 02/08/2018:  16:38:40

Sonny,
The serial number in my banjo is 12-03-3. It's all nickel, including the tone ring.

I believe Mickey Flatt got the first mahogany Chief, not sure who got #2, and #3 (I was told) was originally purchased by a gentleman named Bill Butcher.

A bit off topic but, years ago you were kind enough to acquire a Gibson RB4 reissue for me. Dana and I met you in Lexington (Bob Evans as I recall) to pick it up... Never will forget that trip.

This just struck me as I was typing but my RB4 is also #3. It's turned out to be a very good banjo as well. Thank you for doing that for me. It was very nice of you and I appreciate it. My Grandparents purchased this banjo for me and one thing I can tell you is, the sentimental value of this one is beyond measure.

Sorry for the long reply.. Got a bit off topic. LOL!!!

TheChief - Posted - 02/09/2018:  10:27:57

Brad;

Mickey Flatt bought Mahogany #1

Jim Koeppel #2

Jeff Smith (Mickey Flatt's friend) bought #3. It was built in December of 2003 and in fact was the 3rd Mahogany Chief banjo made. Flatt reads The Hangout, maybe he will tell us how it got to you. ;-)

Mickey's Dad is a special friend of mine, as are his wife "TRIGGER" and Mickey, who is also a banjo player.

s

bcampbe5 - Posted - 02/09/2018:  13:41:03

Thanks Sonny. I actually did buy it from Jeff Smith, from Oklahoma if I recall. But I thought Bill was the original owner.. Must have gotten that mixed up. Either way, it's a keeper.