SamM - Posted - 06/13/2011:  11:34:13

or you could put it back on the pen

erikforgod - Posted - 06/14/2011:  08:42:13

cool....I love it!!

Rob MacKillop - Posted - 06/14/2011:  09:14:47

My new album of solo banjo music was performed entirely on two Deering Eagle II banjos, a 5-string and a tenor. Have a listen (maybe even a purchase) 

cdbaby.com/cd/robmackillop2

courgettelawn - Posted - 06/14/2011:  10:38:26

I've posted this to the Beginner's forum in the Playing Bluegrass section but in case it is of interest to any folk here, I have started to chronicle my experience learning the banjo, a Goodtime Crow and there are a few pictures too on my flickr site:

tehmina.org/2011/06/12/learnin...1-buying/

and

flickr.com/photos/courgettelaw...17838541/

Best wishes,

Tehmina

justdrawinglines - Posted - 06/14/2011:  10:48:23

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rob MacKillop

My new album of solo banjo music was performed entirely on two Deering Eagle II banjos, a 5-string and a tenor. Have a listen (maybe even a purchase) 

 

cdbaby.com/cd/robmackillop2

 

 

---

Rob -

Just listened to the samples, and downloading it.  Beautiful!  Thank you!

Kathy

Rob MacKillop - Posted - 06/14/2011:  10:56:29

Thanks, Kathy. Spread the word.

Cheers,

Rob

Rob MacKillop - Posted - 06/14/2011:  14:28:45

Here is the 'cover'. You might noticed how we have incorporated some of the Deering inlay of the Eagle II into the image.

Click on the image to view full size.

Edited by - Rob MacKillop on 06/14/2011 14:29:33

justdrawinglines - Posted - 06/14/2011:  14:38:20

I thought it looked familiar!  Just finished listening to the whole recording - I want to play like you when I grow up!  lol

Rob MacKillop - Posted - 06/14/2011:  23:44:20

Oh, don't grow up! It's definitely overrated. Glad you like the recording!

firemx220 - Posted - 06/15/2011:  18:09:00

Rob nice job on the album. You really show how pretty the eagle 2 can sound!

gdoc - Posted - 06/17/2011:  00:21:54

Major disappointment the John Hartford model banjo was not at the Grass Valley Bluegrass festival to be seen, tried or heard.  I really wanted to hear that one.

bigal37 - Posted - 06/28/2011:  10:06:20

could you  advise me what capo would work best with a sierra? (need to capo sometimes C & D)

Rindill - Posted - 06/28/2011:  12:53:46

It's said the meek shall inherit the world - but I think it's the banjo players!....

Jen

Edited by - Rindill on 06/28/2011 12:54:36

dpete210 - Posted - 06/28/2011:  15:30:03

quote:

---

Originally posted by bigal37

could you  advise me what capo would work best with a sierra? (need to capo sometimes C & D)

---

Bigal37, any number will work with the Sierra.  Of the ones I've tried I prefer either the G7th or a Shubb.  The G7th is a little spendy at around $40 whereas the Shubb can be had for under $20.   One that I have not tried that I recently read some good comments about is the Planet Waves NS trio capo for under $20.  Some like the Paige because it can be easily stored behind the banjo nut.  I believe any of those will do a good job for you, but if you are like most, you will probably try different ones over time and find you have a preference.  Then, of course, there are the more expensive capos that run up to and over $100.  For under $20 the Shubb will work great and last for years.  The only capo I've had that has not been durable and dependable was the Kyser spring loaded capo because the spring broke and was the end of that one.  The spring loaded ones work but my experience is they will pull the strings out of tune.  The nice feature of the Shubb, the G7th and the Planet waves NS trio is you can adjust the amount of pressure on the strings to minimize pulling the strings out of tune.    Look over the design of the available ones and go with the one you believe would work best for you.  Any of them will work for you, it is just a matter of your preference.  

amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keyw...69wd4df_b

Janet Deering - Posted - 07/06/2011:  17:08:50

I have been traveling a lot this year and my blackberry would not work well on the hangout. I just got a new Druid with a larger screen yesterday. This is my first post to see how it will work on line from my phone.
Greg is playing bluegrass at the boy scout camp with his band as I type.

Grinnin&Pickin - Posted - 07/06/2011:  17:22:44

quote:

---

Originally posted by Janet Deering



I have been traveling a lot this year and my blackberry would not work well on the hangout. I just got a new Druid with a larger screen yesterday. This is my first post to see how it will work on line from my phone.

Greg is playing bluegrass at the boy scout camp with his band as I type.

---

 Welcome back Janet!  It would be nice to hear some stories of your travels.

Bizdoc - Posted - 07/06/2011:  18:51:56

Janet:

I think you'll like the droid better than than the blackberry (better for email/internet worse for security), i use a thunderbolt, but still, imo, its just too small for serious emails.

Janet Deering - Posted - 07/08/2011:  08:37:12

Yes, well the Droid is taking some getting used to.  It's got a whole new learning curve, but I will be able to stay better in touch since I've become a world traveler. I'm on a regular computer this morning.

To fill you in on our travels - in April we went to Frankfurt to the Musikmesse Show. Then in May we went to Italy for the International Guitar Meeting in a fortress in Sarzana, Italy. Greg taught three two hour sessions on banjos, the history, how to make them, and all the set up and adjustments for luthiers.  Many Italians had never picked up a banjo.  I had a wonderful time learning that I could sell banjos in a country that doesn't know anything about banjos, to guitarists who have never touched a banjo and inspite of the fact that they didn't speak English.  It is an amazing experience to overcome all obstacles and have a great response to the banjos!  Italians are great people and love music as much as we do.

   Greg and I took a few days before that show to visit Cremona, Italy where Stradivarius and many other great violin makers lived.  We happened to arrive on the night of their summer music festival at the Stradivarius Museum and the museum had a live stage in the courtyard with musical acts performing. The museum was open for free until 2 am!  We were serenaded by a concert violinist while we studied the displays or Stradivarius' tools and jigs and patterns in the exhibit room dedicated to his craft.  I think it was meant to be!  What an amazing experience.

  Following Italy we went to England where we enjoyed seeing lots of delightful banjo players at the Eagle Music Deering Days event in the end of May.

   Shortly after returning from Europe we drove to Grass Valley, CA to the California Bluegrass Associations Father's Day Bluegrass Festival. The weather was perfect and we had a great time. Greg's banjo workshop had a full house.

  July is even busier.  We leave on Tuesday for Oklahoma City for the Fretted Instrument Guild of America convention and the American Banjo Musieum is inducting our beloved Vega Banjo Company into the 4-string Banjo Hall of Fame on Wed. night and Greg and I will be there. We are staying the week and  we will have display of our 4-string banjos in each brand that we make, Deering, Goodtime and Vega.  This will be our first time displaying our tenor and plectrum banjos at the national four-string banjo convention. We've been shipping many of our 4-string banjos to Europe and really haven't focused on the American 4-string market. So this will be fun. I love Dixieland Jazz.  We are looking forward to being there. Greg will bring his tool kit naturally, and will be happy to help anyone who needs a set up.

Greg has two Boy Scout Summer camps this month.  He has 28 scouts at the local camp Mataguay Scout Camp this week.  Then at the end of the month I will join him in our first trip to Hawaii.  Albeit, we are taking a Scouting crew of 15 to the Scout base on Oahu, so it won't be the most romantic trip, but we'll have fun.

So with all our travels, sales have picked up this year.  Banjos are being played all over the world more today than ever before and in all musical genres. It's great to see!

Janet Deering - Posted - 08/01/2011:  20:33:08

dmiller - Posted - 08/01/2011:  21:28:35

G7th capo.  

Rindill - Posted - 08/01/2011:  23:48:47

Actually, I love your "Druid!! I was thinking you saved money by getting a messenger wren! LOL! that would certainly stump technology, is acoustic, and can weather satellite transmitter /storm outages and dropped calls -

erikforgod - Posted - 08/02/2011:  05:40:51

Hello Janet - My name is Eric and I recently purchased about a month ago a new Goodtime Crow banjo and I must say I couldnt be happier with my banjo.



Since I see you have been a little more active in the posts here as of late I had a question...well actually "two" to be exact.



1.) "I noticed Deering is beginning to advertise that they are accepting financing for the purchases of..well at least the Goodtime ( I saw that you could put a percentage down by credit card and pay the rest in installments ) I think this is an "excellent" idea....will this carry over to some of the other banjo models Deering has available?



2.) Can the fretless Goodtime be ordered without the frailing scoop? If so will there be extra cost incurred?



Thanks Janet

Edited by - erikforgod on 08/02/2011 05:41:56

bigal37 - Posted - 08/06/2011:  17:42:36

I purchased a new Sierra about a year ago (one with the new neck inlays) and I just noticed that the 2nd and 3rd strings both rub against the 1st and 4th tuner nuts. Is this normal? Could this effect the sound or tuning?

Dog Break - Posted - 08/06/2011:  18:32:34

When you re-string, try wrapping the strings in the opposite direction around the 2nd and 3rd pegs.  On my Eagle II, they are very close to hitting 1st and 4th, they definitely would touch if I was wound in the other direction.

bigal37 - Posted - 08/08/2011:  11:33:22

the strings are wrapped in the traditional manor, wrapped to the inside.

starhopper - Posted - 08/08/2011:  17:47:47

quote:

---

Originally posted by bigal37

I purchased a new Sierra about a year ago (one with the new neck inlays) and I just noticed that the 2nd and 3rd strings both rub against the 1st and 4th tuner nuts. Is this normal? Could this effect the sound or tuning?

 

 

---

BigAl - I have the same model Sierra.  All you have to do is make sure that when you wrap the string around the post, wrap it so that when the string comes off the post, it is a little ABOVE the hole in the post.  If you wrap the string downwards so that it exits the post below the hole, then the string will indeed be so low that it rubs against the nut of the other post. So, in essence, you're simply raising the height of the string by wrapping it a little higher on the post - that way, it clears the nut of the other tuner!  Piece of cake.

Lyle

Janet Deering - Posted - 08/09/2011:  14:29:57

Yes, Lyle is correct.  The one thought I would add to his suggestion is the first string winding we always wind below the string coming out of the post and then the rest of the windings we wind above the hole on the tuner post.  This way the bottom winding locks the string from slipping as the lower winding and the upper windings lock the string in place so it doesn't slip.

Thanks for all the good input from everyone here. I appreciate it.

Janet Deering - Posted - 08/09/2011:  14:35:32

Janet Deering - Posted - 08/17/2011:  12:40:35

Here is a fresh new video - it looks like she really enjoys playing the banjo!

youtube.com/watch?v=HiqyJZiSV5g">Taylor Swift - Our Song - CMA Fest 2011 - YouTube

It may not be traditional banjo, but she's bringing an appreciation of the banjo to millions of people.

DeanT - Posted - 08/17/2011:  16:45:27

Thanks Janet!
Great video, Taylor can sure make a banjo look good! Sounds pretty good to!

Gomer - Posted - 08/17/2011:  19:14:30

maybe it's on account of her arms being skinny but the neck on that banjo surely looked large. Also, I think there may have been too many strings. The girl was so pretty to look upon that I kept losing count around 3 or 4. Put that girl in a  red gingham blouse tied high over her waist and an old pair of bluejeans and teach her to play on a tobacco-honey colored Calico, and I won't be getting too much sleep.

mrboajangles - Posted - 08/17/2011:  23:56:46

Hello all,
Can someone please advise me of what strings are standard on the Eagle II (5 string). I can't tell if they are lights or mediums as I have nothing to compare to.
Cheers.

firemx220 - Posted - 08/18/2011:  15:42:50

They are lights

mrboajangles - Posted - 08/18/2011:  21:12:19

Thank you.

Janet Deering - Posted - 08/19/2011:  14:20:44

To be more specific,  on all Deering banjos including the Eagle, we currently are installing  10, 11, 13 ,21,10.

We used to use 9.5 gage on the first and fifth strings, but we changed to 10 gage on all our upper line banjos not long ago.

stevew443 - Posted - 08/19/2011:  14:55:29

I just found this site and I am happy that I stumbled upon it. I have owned a Deering Intermediate since 1979, and I have no need for any other banjo. This Intermediate was one of the best purchases I ever made.

Gomer - Posted - 08/20/2011:  13:49:27

quote:

---

Originally posted by stevew443



 I have no need for any other banjo.

 Steven, Steven, Steven. You mustn't be silly or say silly things. Of course you need another banjo.

stevew443 - Posted - 08/20/2011:  20:40:23

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gomer

quote:

---

Originally posted by stevew443



 I have no need for any other banjo.

 Steven, Steven, Steven. You mustn't be silly or say silly things. Of course you need another banjo.

---

Until I find another job that pays what I made before I was laid off, or until my wife finally gets another job, I do not need another banjo :-)  I even have started selling off some of my guitars, but that Deering will never see another owner while I am alive.

Stephen ;-)

dannnjo - Posted - 08/21/2011:  11:43:20

who manufactures the deering strings (if u are allowed to say) ?

Janet Deering - Posted - 08/23/2011:  16:23:57

We are installing D'Addario Strings on our banjos.

firemx220 - Posted - 08/23/2011:  17:14:51

Just put new Deering light strings on my Eagle II today and ordered more.

DIV - Posted - 09/01/2011:  22:38:13

After trying different gauges on rosewood Calico I now am very pleased with 10, 11, 12.5, 20, 10. Enough richness, but not to stiff on the fingers...perfect!

erikforgod - Posted - 09/07/2011:  05:46:03

I feel the same way...my Deering Goodtime Crow is a keeper...and I hope that santa claus ( or maybe at least the wife ) will bring me a goodime fretless for christmas :)

erikforgod - Posted - 09/07/2011:  05:50:32

quote:

---

Originally posted by Janet Deering

We are installing D'Addario Strings on our banjos.

---

Janet - I have a question regarding Goodtime banjos...I cant understand why the fretless model costs more than the standard Goodtime? Shouldnt it be less parts and labor because it doesnt have frets and shouldnt that bring the costs down, or is their some other reason why the fretless retails for more...and quite a bit more at that.

Thanks and looking forward to hearing back from you :)

Gomer - Posted - 09/07/2011:  10:53:00

I am pretty sure that one of the big factors contributing to the higher cost of a fretless model is that you are getting more wood on the neck since they don't cut the slots for the frets.

I have always liked the 9.5 series on my Deerings. My instructor, ARAU the Unshakeable, uses them on every Deering in his stable thereof. 

starhopper - Posted - 09/07/2011:  10:55:48

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gomer

I am pretty sure that one of the big factors contributing to the higher cost of a fretless model is that you are getting more wood on the neck since they don't cut the slots for the frets.

---

 Now that's a WHOLE LOTTA EXTRA WOOD!

Lyle

Janet Deering - Posted - 09/07/2011:  14:38:00

Our tooling is such that the nut slot and the fret slots are cut in each neck at the same time.  So in order to make a fretless banjo we must spend quite a bit of extra time to set up to measure and cut the nut slot by hand.  The cost of the fretless feature is compensating for  the labor involved in specially handling the neck as a custom neck.

We only get about 3 requests  for fretless banjos a year .  If we had more interest in the fretless style of banjo we would endeavor to make the special tooling to do this and incorporate it into our no cost options.

Who would buy a fretless Goodtime today if the feature was no added cost?

erikforgod - Posted - 09/07/2011:  14:41:29

I would.....I am really interested in one :)

erikforgod - Posted - 09/07/2011:  16:04:36

quote:

---

Originally posted by Janet Deering

Our tooling is such that the nut slot and the fret slots are cut in each neck at the same time.  So in order to make a fretless banjo we must spend quite a bit of extra time to set up to measure and cut the nut slot by hand.  The cost of the fretless feature is compensating for  the labor involved in specially handling the neck as a custom neck.

We only get about 3 requests  for fretless banjos a year .  If we had more interest in the fretless style of banjo we would endeavor to make the special tooling to do this and incorporate it into our no cost options.

Who would buy a fretless Goodtime today if the feature was no added cost?

 

 

---

I didnt realise the fretless Goodtime banjo hasnt sold as much ....I am so happy with my Goodtime Crow, I thought the fretless would be like my already beloved Crow but with a fretless sound :) I am already saving to purchase one...and I just wanted to say ( as if it isnt already obvious ) that I really LOVE my Goodtime...and I think it is a seriously underated banjo.