Slingerland - Posted - 01/07/2012:  17:30:00

Here is a cool old banjo built by Leonard Glenn of Sugar Grove, NC ca. 1940-50s. It has a quarter sawn oak rim w/ a maple neck. After talking with Clifford Glenn about the banjo, it was determined that the banjo's head was most likely cat skin, which was quite common during that time in the region. The head is much thinner than deer or groundhog. It has a very interesting texture. I don't think our Maine Coons would like to hear about this.

Any cat skin or other unusual animal skin banjo owners out there? Jim D has one of Stanley Hicks's banjo with a groundhog head and even has an extra unmounted groundhog skin of Stanley's!

Here are the Maine Coons as well.

Edited by - Slingerland on 01/07/2012 17:31:46

kirbonite - Posted - 01/07/2012:  18:51:53

interesting piece of history.

Personally, I am thankful for plastic heads.  

Cleitus - Posted - 01/07/2012:  19:04:50

If my cat throws up one more time on the lounge settee that banjo might have a cousin!

pluckyfingers - Posted - 01/07/2012:  20:51:19

I bet she purrs real nice, the banjo that is.

Strumelia - Posted - 01/08/2012:  09:47:36

Lee Hammons (born 1886) of WV told Dwight Diller of how he and his young cousin once killed their aunt's mean old tom cat and used it's skin on a banjo.  They let it dry in the sun after stretching it on an old junk banjo, and then played the banjo at the next local dance... and their aunt was dancing to music while still wondering whatever became of her old cat.  Lee said the older tougher tom cats made the best banjer skin and it was much thinner than groundhog, but that it really smelled awful when you skinned them.   

Edited by - Strumelia on 01/08/2012 09:48:46

Slingerland - Posted - 01/08/2012:  19:43:47

quote:

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Originally posted by Strumelia

Lee Hammons (born 1886) of WV told Dwight Diller of how he and his young cousin once killed their aunt's mean old tom cat and used it's skin on a banjo.  They let it dry in the sun after stretching it on an old junk banjo, and then played the banjo at the next local dance... and their aunt was dancing to music while still wondering whatever became of her old cat.  Lee said the older tougher tom cats made the best banjer skin and it was much thinner than groundhog, but that it really smelled awful when you skinned them.   

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Thanks for the sharing. Interesting story. 

Mountain Jack - Posted - 04/06/2012:  15:50:38

quote:

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Originally posted by Strumelia

Lee Hammons (born 1886) of WV told Dwight Diller of how he and his young cousin once killed their aunt's mean old tom cat and used it's skin on a banjo.  They let it dry in the sun after stretching it on an old junk banjo, and then played the banjo at the next local dance... and their aunt was dancing to music while still wondering whatever became of her old cat.  Lee said the older tougher tom cats made the best banjer skin and it was much thinner than groundhog, but that it really smelled awful when you skinned them.   

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Thanks for the sharing. Interesting story. 

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It is an interesting story. Now where did my wife put that damned cat!?!

On a more serious note, does anyone have enough experience with natural skin banjo heads to comment on the differences in sound? Just how many critters does one have to skin to get the perfect sounding banjo? I wonder if I could get a gov't grant to study that question? Hmmmmm...