bcampbe5 - Posted - 10/29/2018:  09:56:30

Happy Birthday Sonny!

chuckv97 - Posted - 10/29/2018:  09:58:38

Happy Birthday! And many more in good health, Sonny.

chief3 - Posted - 10/29/2018:  15:36:38

Happy Birthday Sonny!

miket - Posted - 10/29/2018:  15:57:07

I too wish a very happy birthday to Sonny!

knowsnothing - Posted - 10/29/2018:  17:38:49

Happy Birthday!!

Pam W - Posted - 10/30/2018:  18:47:21

Happy Birthday Chief!

kevin chilton - Posted - 10/31/2018:  04:29:15

Happy Belated Birthday Chief!

TheChief - Posted - 11/08/2018:  06:53:55

Once more I want to thank you all who sent birthday wishes. It's overwhelming to a hillbilly from Thousand Sticks, Kentucky. ..and appreciated beyond words. THANK YOU!

I've spent a few days in the last week putting a banjo together from parts I accumulated over the past 40+ years. Finally got it finished. To say it looks weird would be an understatement. After I tell you what went into this..thing...you'll understand.

The Maple resonator is from a 1991 Granada I sold to a gentleman in California who found a pinpoint flaw so I sent another to him, The Mahogany, bows and leaves inlayed neck is a Steve Huber creation..I think... the rim is an unfinished Cooperman 3 ply Maple, tone ring is from an unknown source simply marked "old gold"...the resonator lugs and brackets which attach to the rim and hold the resonator in place is from Steve Huber, tuners are gold 5 star planet..(these were from Chief banjos sold and the buyer wanted Keith tuners which I installed), the geared thumb string tuner is nickel, nickel flange..unknown origin, tail piece is a gold presto..rather new, nickel coordinating rods are from Frank Neat, brackets are what I could find..2/3 nickel and the rest are gold.

Is that weird or not. So, get this...Charlie Cushman is not only one of the best banjo players in the world, he is a master set up man...probably the best. It makes a difference in how the banjo sounds. BIG difference. Anyhow, he has this contraption now and sent a message last night telling me that it sounds really good. That surprised me.

Since retiring from The O Bros it's kinda obvious that I have a lot of time on my hands. See ya later.

s  

Gary Griffin - Posted - 11/08/2018:  07:14:53

And you know that we would all like to see a photo of this project now don't you!?!

TheChief - Posted - 11/08/2018:  09:05:31

You got a deal Gary...as soon as I get it back from Chuckthat will be my first quest.

Figuring out how to get it on here? Still another problem to solve!

s

TheChief - Posted - 11/08/2018:  09:06:59

Probably wind up sending the picture to Dana Cupp and letting him the dirty work.

s

Gary Griffin - Posted - 11/08/2018:  10:10:27

Sounds like a plan to me Chief!

TheChief - Posted - 11/09/2018:  15:48:17

Dana has the pictures and has told me they will be posted tonight.

s

TheChief - Posted - 11/11/2018:  09:57:05

Obviously, like me, he can't get them to work either

Maybe it's just something that isn't to be...yeah? Well, we're not done...someone will know....

s

1935tb-11 - Posted - 11/11/2018:  10:58:38

happy belated sonny,,,, i haven't been on here for a while,,, glad you still creating great sounding banjos from scratch !!! with all those various parts its bound to sound good. take care buddy . miss seeing you.... maybe when i retire next year we can take some time and ride out a visit a spell.

from several years ago ,,,,, jeykl isle i think

banjohangout.org/forum/attachm...leID=9621



terry m

Edited by - 1935tb-11 on 11/11/2018 11:01:35

ME AND SONNY

 

gibson49classic - Posted - 11/12/2018:  12:52:08

Here it is, what you all have been waiting for...

 

rbfour5 - Posted - 11/12/2018:  12:59:19

Nice pictures- what have I been waiting for?  

TheChief - Posted - 11/12/2018:  15:11:34

Well Dean...Gary Griffin of Broxton, Georgia asked to see some pictures of my all parts monstrosity, and I promised to have them posted. Dana tried but couldn't get it to work, so Lincoln was good enough to do it for me. I thought it would be interesting for everyone to see a banjo made of every kind of part imaginable.  And, Lincoln came to my house and played it and it sounds pretty good. That's all! I apologize for taking up so much space.

Thanks to Dana Cupp and Lincoln Hensley for your help..

s

rbfour5 - Posted - 11/12/2018:  15:33:55

Now it’s clear as mud! I’ve been eagerly awaiting like everyone else, and it looks great. I was down at Steve’s and he said you stopped by for some L brackets, etc. I missed you by two days...
I’m digging that truss rod cover!

TheChief - Posted - 11/13/2018:  16:21:17

The point I was trying to make here is that a banjo can be made of Gold, Nickel, Maple, Unfinished,  whatever. This banjo sounds really good. Surprisingly good. Parts from every age..old and new. Doesn't really matter. More than a little bit is in, and from the right hand. Granted, all of them can't and won't sound this good, I was lucky. But a good player can make mediocre sound good and a bad player will make a great banjo sound bad. 

s

bluegrassjunkie - Posted - 11/15/2018:  04:00:57

Hello Sonny
Really like you banjo project. I'd like to donate a nice curly maple armrest with gold plated hardware if your interested
Doug Campbell
Little Mountain Music

TheChief - Posted - 11/15/2018:  13:16:13

Doug...I don't think I've seen a curly Maple arm rest. Yes, I would like to...

s

bluegrassjunkie - Posted - 11/15/2018:  14:08:38

That's great!! I have a nice tigerstriped one that will match you neck & resonator. The gold plated hardware will match too.
Just PM me with a shipping address and I'll get it out to you.
Doug Campbell

bluegrassjunkie - Posted - 11/18/2018:  16:38:32

Curly Maple with gold hardware shipping in the morning.
Enjoy!
Doug Campbell

Curly Maple top

Curly Maple

TheChief - Posted - 11/19/2018:  08:18:09

Doug, that thing is beautiful. Do you make it?

I'll put it on and take a picture and have someone post it.

Thank you,

s

jrimes - Posted - 11/20/2018:  05:56:33

Sonny,
Over the years I'm sure you have played thousands of different banjos... other than the cannons that you ended up personally owning, were there any others out there that were fantastic sounding/playing that you just never got the chance or opportunity to own?
How about guitars or who had the best sounding mandolin(s) that ever crossed your path?
Thanks for your time....I just love your in-depth and personally rich stories!
Josh

bluegrassjunkie - Posted - 11/20/2018:  07:03:44

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Doug, that thing is beautiful. Do you make it?

I'll put it on and take a picture and have someone post it.

Thank you,

s

---

Hello Sonny,

Yes, I make custom armrests for quite a few banjo musicians and banjo makers. I invented the Thinline Banjo Armrest in 2008 and I manufacture them in Perry, Ohio from NE Ohio curly hardwoods. They have  a unique dovetail groove that's CNC machined in the underside with solid brass matching dovetail pins and that allows it to fit most hook mounted banjo heads, regardless of hook spacing. I have them in 11", 12" and also 8" diameter banjo heads for Banjo Ukulele. Hardwoods available are Curly Maple, Curly Cherry and Curly Black Walnut. I buy my hardwoods locally and mill it down in my woodworking shop. Looking forward to seeing your banjo photos...

Doug Campbell

Little Mountain Music

banjohangout.org/classified/6595

Genise with Goodtime Banjo

Bela Fleck with Thinline Armrest

TheChief - Posted - 11/20/2018:  11:18:02

Josh;

I owned every banjo that I thought I just could not live without. I've sold a few great sounding banjos that just didn't feel right for me. I've also directed some good players to some great banjos. 

Dana Cupp has one the two best RB4's I ever heard. I sold that banjo to Dana. I seem to remember putting Sammy  Shelor, Alison Brown, and Tony Trischka in touch with the banjos they play. I think they were all original 5 string flat head RB3...maybe a 75 or top tension thrown in the mix. Bill Evans had an RB75 (which Mike Mumford has now), that I sold to him, as well as the Granada he has now. The Granada Bill has now came from Dale Riechert who bought the banjo from me about 1988. Bill sold the 75 to Mike to get the Granada. I sold Kristin Scott Benson the 3 she plays. That banjo came through Frank Neat. Several banjos I sold came through Tom McKinney.

My goodness...what a tangled web we have woven. 

Butch Robins had the other RB4 that I thought was equal to Dana's 4.

Two of those banjos I wish I had kept. The RB4 belonging to Dana and the Granada which Bill Evans has. Great banjos. And, another Granada I should have kept, I sold to Harry Ammons of Sacramento, California that was a really great banjo. I lost track of that banjo when Harry passed on.

Guitar award goes to a D18 Martin now owned by Rick Wasson, Dale Sledd's 1955 D28 Martin, and a 1945 D28 Herringbone Martin belonging to BOJ...My Brother's son. I bought that Guitar from Robert Bowling and sold it to BOJ...incidentally, BOJ is a name I gave to (B)obby (O)sborne  (J)unior when he worked with us as a teenager. 

Bass... the things Terry Smith and Bob Moore plays. Best players ever...(my opinion.)

Mandolin...The Fern model F5 Gibson my Brother has played since he bought from Charlie Bailey in 1953, The F5 Gibson mandolin Peewee Lambert played with the Stanley Brothers in 1950, and of course Bill Monroe's 1923 F5 Gibson Loar model. Outstanding instruments.

Fiddle..anything Benny Martin, Kenny Baker, and Tommy Jackson played.

I'm sure there are instruments out there that are as good or even better than I mentioned but these are the best I heard when I was playing and competing. I purposefully didn't mention the two wonderful instruments I played...the 1934 RB3 bought new by Hershel Measle, Dayton, Ohio..and the 1934 Granada from Tom McKinney...both Gibson original 5 string flathead banjos.

s

TheChief - Posted - 11/23/2018:  13:02:01

maple arm rests 1 and 2.
Beautiful work and slight tone enhancement.
s

bluegrassjunkie - Posted - 11/23/2018:  14:51:52

Good to hear you like it Sonny. Looking forward to seeing the pics of it installed.
Doug Campbell

gibson49classic - Posted - 11/23/2018:  15:56:03

Here are the photos of it installed. I may have to pick one of these up for my curly maple banjo!

rbfour5 - Posted - 11/23/2018:  16:54:01

@ Doug Campbell-That arm rest looks good! I’m going to check them out.

TheChief - Posted - 11/23/2018:  17:23:52

I installed the armrest about 1/16th above the stretcher band and i really think it made a slight improvement in the sound. Frets 2 and 5 from the tailpiece. Looks really good.

I wanta thank Lincoln Hensley for posting these pictures. I still have a bit if trouble getting those things to work...BIT? did he say BIT of trouble...that's a joke. I'm glad I could play Cripple Creek once upon a time.

Incidentally, today, November 23, 2003 was the last time I played the banjo. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Bluegrass festival. Badly torn Rotator Cuff spelled the end.

That armrest is the real deal. 

s

Silber - Posted - 11/25/2018:  12:56:29

How could it be 15 years already Sonny? I had to take off 8 years from a severe case of tendonitis - couldn't straighten my arms at the elbow.. Played mando for 8 years and got back on the Chief about 4 years ago - the tendon pain has subsided. Question about the banjo. I own the #54 (My dad and I each bought one from you back around 03. The rosewood fretboard has pitted? Sort of a divot on the 1st and 2nd frets. Any possible cause to this?

TheChief - Posted - 11/25/2018:  13:26:27

Mike:

I don't know if I have seen one do that. Maybe acid from your hand, but only if you don't wipe the fret board each time it's used, I'm not even sure that would do it...inferior rosewood is all I know to tell you at this point. I'll call Frank Neat tomorrow and get back to you. If he thinks it could be a fault with the rosewood, I'll get it fixed for you.

But, I hardly ever wiped the fret board and I never owned a new banjo, so that would rule out age... and pitting never happened.

I remember when you and your Dad bought those banjos. Thank you again!

s 

Silber - Posted - 11/25/2018:  13:58:13

Thanks for the reply, I dropped a note to Frank also. BTW, my dad passed in 2016 due to a failed heart valve surgery, I adopted his, the #54, which has always been my favorite. I can say, he spoke highly and frequently of meeting you and getting the banjo-he also attended a banjo camp which you were a part of, I think it was a great high moment in his life! Thanks, Sonny.

TheChief - Posted - 11/26/2018:  14:36:11

Bill Evans and I had a great banjo camp here in Nashville. I miss it. I'm glad your Dad got to make one and that he enjoyed it...I'm sorry to hear of his passing from this life.

You be sure and let me know the outcome of the fingerboard dilemma. We'll make it right.

Merry Christmas.

s

jrimes - Posted - 11/28/2018:  06:08:55

Sonny,
Thank you for getting back to me on the wide variety of great instruments over the years. I love to hear your opinions on the good, bad, and indifferent. You are truly our direct link to the past. To us banjo players and enthusiasts you ARE the primary source.
OK...let me ask you another question... What was Lester Flatt like?
Josh

TheChief - Posted - 11/28/2018:  14:35:19

GREAT GUITAR PLAYER TO PLAY THE BANJO WITH.

His vocal had a sincerity about it that very few capture...Ira Louvin and my Brother Bobby are good examples...they make you believe. Of course there are more but those come to mind.

Lester was one of the the nicest, most "laid back" people I have ever known. An absolute PRO through and through. His main objective in life was to have "peace in the family" which included his association with Earl. I'll try and put this in a neutral tone as I do not intend to show partiality. Without Earl, I doubt that I would be here, then by the same token, without Lester I doubt that I would be here. Is that clear? Of course not. But I is what I is.... 

What I'm saying to you is what I know....Earl wanted to move on to the next level, and Lester did not. Earl told me that there was only so many ways a "feller could play Cumberland Gap"...Lester told me "he just wanted to keep peace in the family!" I hated the day that I woke up to hear that there was not a Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs! Some of you younger folks won't understand....But the importance of Flatt and Scruggs can not be measured. Liken it to Henry Ford or The Dodge Brothers to the automobile, or Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, Chubby Checker, or Jerry Lee The Killer to Rock and Roll...Babe Ruth, Henry Aaron...and on and on.

They were partially responsible for my career and life...and I cried! Yep, I did! And I'm not one damned bit ashamed to admit it....(if you will pardon my German I will be forever grateful.) Thank you Lord!

s

That really went way too long and I apologize.

s

Edited by - TheChief on 11/28/2018 14:42:33

jrimes - Posted - 11/29/2018:  06:43:02

Don't apologize Sonny, those stories are great! I'm so glad to hear that Lester was a nice guy. Being too young to have ever met him, every video I watch of him or hear people (Earl, Marty Stuart, etc.) talk about him, he just seemed like the perfect front man to have in a band.
Now his style of guitar playing....wow... it is a LOT harder than it looks. I've studied it over and over and his right hand is like a metronome! Right when it looks like he's out of time throwing that thumb and finger around like crazy, BAM, he throws a lick in there and is right on....every time! I never realized how good Earl really had it, with a guy like that behind you laying down a solid rhythm. And that guitar...shoot he didn't even need a microphone, that thing sounds like a cannon in every performance. Keep those stories coming Sonny... I love em!
Josh

How about this one.... Have you and Bobby ever been cheated or not paid for a performance?

Lost 54 - Posted - 11/29/2018:  09:25:08

Sonny,did you and Bobby ever play with the late great Roy Clark.

TheChief - Posted - 11/29/2018:  19:17:02

Bobby and I didn't lose too many pay days. The reason you have that is small crowds. Bu we had our share I guess. If we determined that the promoter did his job...Good advertising ETC ETC...and a small crowd showed up (Or didn't show up) we did our best to give a show free. Once in Georgia, not many showed up and he was honest with us..."You can see boys, We don't have enough money to pay you..But you are welcome to go take all you want from the concession stand.." We did...hot dogs, hamburgers, pop corn, loaves of bread. Un real...the life of a hillbilly picker. Great education.

s

TheChief - Posted - 11/29/2018:  19:21:29

We worked several dates with Roy. Did Hee Haw once.

Roy always treated us with respect...really nice caring guy. 

s

RandyB - Posted - 11/29/2018:  21:03:36

Sonny did you ever pick any with Cousin Jake Tulock. I know he was with Lester and Earl but figured y’all crossed paths somewhere. They have a Cousin Jake Memorial Festival here in Etowah every year at the old Gem Theatre.

Gary Griffin - Posted - 11/30/2018:  05:50:11

Sure was good to see you guys on That Nashville Music this past Saturday night doing "Georgia Mules and Country Boys" and "I Can Hear Kentucky Calling Me"! You and Wynn were sure handling it up well!!!!!!!

RandyB - Posted - 12/01/2018:  20:34:39

Sonny I want to thank you again here on the hangout. You and Judy have went above and beyond to get me my new Ugly Tuners. If anyone is looking for D Tuners I must say that they can’t go wrong with these. Set and forget
Thanks again.
Sincerely
Randy

Ebanjo - Posted - 12/02/2018:  13:53:19

Sonny, What you said above about Lester and Earl, I know where you're coming from.
Eric Ellis

davidcava - Posted - 12/02/2018:  15:46:04

I LOVED your story about Lester..... Sonny. When I was learning banjo as a teenager...Lester's voice was always in the Equation...and it really is a part of the whole picture for me. I tried to sing like him at the time of course, but if you have any other stories you could tell, about the Bluegrass scene of the time.....I would truly treasure it. Thank You Sir.

David

TheChief - Posted - 12/04/2018:  06:53:04

Earl and I became pretty good friends. Bout 1965. I visited some. I learned a valuable lesson.

DO NOT, under any circumstance, shoot pool with Earl. He was good. If you wanted a shot, you break and hope something goes on the break. After that, you may as well put your stick up.

Greatest banjo player...Pretty darn good pool player...boy could shoot some pool!!

s