Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/162048
rvrose - Posted - 11/06/2009: 19:40:31
I uploaded two mp3 files of a little banjo test I did. I am playing 3 songs on each banjo (I know it's not like Earl played it). One of the files is a Helix Hurricane long neck - capoed to open G. The other file is my Deering Calico open G tuning. I played at the same intensity and same distance from mike. Check them out - see if you can tell which is which? There is a slight delay before the last song on each file while I am retuning to open A. Which one is the Helix and which is the Deering? Have fun
Try to overlook my poor playing...
Banjo # 1 -
banjohangout.org/myhangout/med...cid=14948
Banjo # 2 -
banjohangout.org/myhangout/med...cid=14949
Edited by - jazzylynne on 04/20/2010 09:34:44
banjo1930 - Posted - 11/06/2009: 19:48:06
#1 Helix
#2 Deering Calico.
Grey Dog - Posted - 11/06/2009: 20:03:26
Not sure, but I like #1 better
][ Grey Dog in NH
Nosferatu - Posted - 11/06/2009: 20:06:50
1 Helix
2 Deering
3 Playing Advice Forum?
Thank you,
"Count" Hugh
"I bent over him, and tried to find any sign of life, but in vain." -- Jonathan Harker, Dracula
stevedi - Posted - 11/06/2009: 20:07:06
I'd also guess that #2 is the Calico.
Steve
RB5 - Posted - 11/06/2009: 20:20:31
I would say that #2 is the helix and # 1 the Calico. I must say that the Helix packs a nice punch.
That's my story and I'm sticking with it!
Robert.
dpete210 - Posted - 11/06/2009: 20:41:08
I'm not sure which is which, I like them both and both sound pretty darn good through my headphones. Now that's something when the Helix can compare favorably or even sound better, depending on which one it is, than a Calico, which is a very fine banjo! Either way, rvrose, you've got a couple nice banjos there! Good goin!
Any day playing music is a GOOD day. 
1four5 - Posted - 11/06/2009: 21:12:34
Yep, I'm going to have to agree #1 is the Helix and #2 is the Calico. I hope I get this right, as I own one of each as well
Dean
Ottawa - Posted - 11/06/2009: 21:50:08
Ditto. #1 helix, #2 calico
Steven
youdog - Posted - 11/07/2009: 04:15:05
#1 Helix
youdog
eagleisland - Posted - 11/07/2009: 05:23:54
1 Helix
2 Calico
eagleisland
"I was halfway to Old Kentucky when the drugs began to kick in." - Hunter S. Monroe
mybote - Posted - 11/07/2009: 06:59:21
#1 Calic0
#2 Helix
1four5 - Posted - 11/07/2009: 07:01:04
Rick, just out of couriosity, tell us more about the Helix. Resonator or open back, tone ring, hoop, or woody? What kind of wood? BTW, great picking
Dean
rvrose - Posted - 11/07/2009: 07:47:06
Guys,
The Helix is a curly maple open back (I played the Calico with resonator). The Helix has a brass ring press fitted right on top of the rim just under the head - not like you would think of as full tone ring with holes. It is really light weight even with the Gold Tone long neck. I was wanting something that was light, bright and loud, with a long neck, that sounded good Scruggs style. I think I got everything I wanted - (and for less than an arm and a leg). I thought it miked so well that you would have to listen close to tell the difference.
What do you think - would you guys use it to play 3 finger gigs? I'm planning to.
Rick
Cornflake - Posted - 11/07/2009: 07:51:19
1. Helix
2. Calico
I love this little test, even though I don't know squat about either banjo. I hope others on BHO will offer us the same experiment. Some day when I figure out how to load files on here, I'll do the same thing.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The opposite of a profound truth may well be another truth.
Neils Bohr
jeremy blankenship - Posted - 11/07/2009: 07:58:54
Rick this is great! I also hope other members start doing this. It will give everyone the chance to compare banjos they are looking into.
#1 helix
#2 calico
thats my guess also.
jeremy
Hatfield Special #26
shut up and pick!!!
1four5 - Posted - 11/07/2009: 08:15:48
quote:
What do you think - would you guys use it to play 3 finger gigs?
YES! I have been gigging with my Helix since I got it, and it mic's incredable, with a much bigger sweet zone than my resonator banjos. It's a wall of tone (obvious from your recording!) and I have not found any dead spots. I think he puts a little magic into his rims
Mine is also maple with the brass ring.
Dean
Edited by - 1four5 on 11/07/2009 08:17:05
Catching Second - Posted - 11/07/2009: 09:58:01
Here ya go bud.
Ricky
Gibson TB-00 conversion
rvrose - Posted - 11/07/2009: 10:06:10
Thanks Ricky,
How did you do that?
Rick
Grey Dog - Posted - 11/07/2009: 10:10:13
What kind of tone ring is in that Helix?
][ Grey Dog in NH
rvrose - Posted - 11/07/2009: 11:29:38
Grey Dog,
It is a simple Stew Mac brass ring. In the pix - you can barely see it shining through the head right next to the head. The larger ring it sets on is the Maple rim.
Here is a link - stewmac.com/shop/Hardware,_par...Ring.html
Rick
rvrose - Posted - 11/07/2009: 17:35:26
Thanks all for your input. The answer was (drum roll here..) 1- Helix 2 - Calico.
Rick
dpete210 - Posted - 11/07/2009: 19:40:40
Nice sounding banjo 10gauge! Good going!
Any day playing music is a GOOD day.
Catching Second - Posted - 11/07/2009: 20:33:33
quote:
Originally posted by rvrose
Thanks Ricky,
How did you do that?
Rick
I did a write-up a month or better ago that kind of bit the dust, but it did help out some people. Here is the link.
banjohangout.org/forum/topic.a...ID=158112Ricky
Gibson TB-00 conversion
saphine - Posted - 11/08/2009: 01:57:44
Don't know anything about your banjo but I loved your version of FMB. Thanks also for link to uploading music..how too.
Elizabeth
Be who you are and happy, life's a party, go and have some fun.
saphine - Posted - 11/08/2009: 02:00:36
Sorry I meant to say upload photos not music. Ta
Be who you are and happy, life's a party, go and have some fun.
mybote - Posted - 11/08/2009: 06:07:28
That's a great testament for a Helix banjo. Of course, my guess was wrong because I thought you were playing a prewar Helix, not the ones produced after Helix bought out Gibson and merged with Recording King. Just goes to show, It's the quality of the banjo, Not the popularity of the name.
rvrose - Posted - 11/08/2009: 11:49:42
quote:
Originally posted by Catching Second
[quote]Originally posted by rvrose
Thanks Ricky,
How did you do that?
Rick
I did a write-up a month or better ago that kind of bit the dust, but it did help out some people. Here is the link.
banjohangout.org/forum/topic.a...ID=158112
Ricky
Gibson TB-00 conversion
Thanks Ricky - very helpful!
Rick
rvrose - Posted - 11/08/2009: 11:56:58
quote:
Originally posted by mybote
That's a great testament for a Helix banjo. Of course, my guess was wrong because I thought you were playing a prewar Helix, not the ones produced after Helix bought out Gibson and merged with Recording King. Just goes to show, It's the quality of the banjo, Not the popularity of the name.
Mybote - I was not aware of the prewar or Gibson Helix. I don't know much about the vintage banjos (just wish I had one). This is a new banjo made by Larry Hill - he calls them "Helix".
helixbanjos.com/home.phpSorry for the confusion.
Rick
Catching Second - Posted - 11/08/2009: 13:00:37
You're quite welcome.
Ricky
Gibson TB-00 conversion
johann - Posted - 11/08/2009: 13:08:24
quote:
Originally posted by rvrose
quote:
Originally posted by mybote
That's a great testament for a Helix banjo. Of course, my guess was wrong because I thought you were playing a prewar Helix, not the ones produced after Helix bought out Gibson and merged with Recording King. Just goes to show, It's the quality of the banjo, Not the popularity of the name.
Mybote - I was not aware of the prewar or Gibson Helix. I don't know much about the vintage banjos (just wish I had one). This is a new banjo made by Larry Hill - he calls them "Helix".
helixbanjos.com/home.php
Sorry for the confusion.
Rick
I think the post was a joke. There was no company named Helix that bought Gibson out and merged with RK.
Not yet anyways. The point was well established though, that long neck helix sound fantastic! You sir are extremely lucky to have two great banjos in the house. I am so jealous!
It has been my personal dream to have exactly a Calico (or a GDL) and a Helix long-neck as the only two banjos I own. Now you have vindicated my belief that this is the way to go.
Thanks for sharing!
xnavyguy - Posted - 11/09/2009: 06:15:58
Rick,
I've been away so this is the first time I've been on the thread. I picked the Helix as #1 before I
saw your reveal of the answer. Nice job, & thanks for the thread. Following is another sound
sample from my (use to be) aluminum Aria that has a home-built (sort of) Helix (TM) rim that I
built out of Douglas Fir, just in case anyone is interested in hearing another recording, using
a banjo with a rim that was inspired by Larry's unique design.
banjohangout.org/myhangout/med...cid=14042
Jerry
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance."
rvrose - Posted - 11/09/2009: 06:48:15
Jerry,
Thanks for the the post. Your D.Fir has a very nice ring to it. Good picking too. What did you use for a tone ring?
Rick
xnavyguy - Posted - 11/09/2009: 06:57:54
The tone "ring" is a round hoop that I bent out of 1/4" brass rod.
Jerry
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance."
moparcolt - Posted - 11/09/2009: 13:01:17
the interresting thing is that the Helix is an open back and the deering has a resonator the fact that they sound that close is awesome testement to what a HeliX can do, and just a brass hoop as well!!
Chris
greyfolk - Posted - 04/20/2010: 08:24:52
this thread helped me to decide on ordering my Helix. only 89 more days. lol
I'd like to see more Helix reviews in the review section. If you have one, please review!
10gauge - Posted - 04/20/2010: 09:21:02
I'm glad you're joining the club greyfolk. I think that Helix banjos sound great and have their own sweet tone. I like the sound of my banjo better and better everyday. Since Larry started making his own necks and doing inlay, the banjos look better then ever too.
greyfolk - Posted - 04/20/2010: 09:27:02
i can't wait for my banjo. Gunna lock myself on the porch.
Grey Dog - Posted - 04/20/2010: 10:29:07
quote:
Originally posted by greyfolk
this thread helped me to decide on ordering my Helix. only 89 more days. lol
I'd like to see more Helix reviews in the review section. If you have one, please review!
Mine is in the works as well....
Can't wait!!!
rvrose - Posted - 04/20/2010: 19:12:48
quote:
Originally posted by greyfolk
this thread helped me to decide on ordering my Helix. only 89 more days. lol
I'd like to see more Helix reviews in the review section. If you have one, please review!
Craig, glad to hear. But what is with the 89 days? Are you saving up or is Larry all backed up with orders?
Rick
Grey Dog - Posted - 04/20/2010: 19:14:23
Larry's backed up a bit....but seems to be chugging along at a good rate, regardless.
'Banjo Kicker' 1 hr
'Good Sunday Morning' 6 hrs
'Singing Birds' 12 hrs
