If I am so fortunate as to win the bid on this banjo, please allow me to play it at least a couple of times before Miz Diane kills me for buying it. Amen.
Better have it shipped to my house. I'll keep it safe, you can come and play it whenever you like (when I'm not playing it, that is), and Miz Diane needs never know.
Nice! Is this the same one from awhile back? I was sorry to see that you missed out on that auction. Best of luck.
Nope, this one appears to be one nobody (well, at least collectors I've asked) has seen before. I guess there are still gems out there to be discovered!
While I'm going to be bidding at a very serious level, I'm well aware that there are some deep pockets out there. I'm going to do my best and keep my fingers crossed!
I really like the idea of people who are part of the same community (BJH)not getting into bidding wars with eachother. It keeps the general price of things down,and stops ebay setting unrealistic precedents on values. I have had folks tell me that such and such a banjo is worth x amount,because one sold on ebay for that much etc etc. While I would like to own the Stewart Cello,I probably wouldnt pay as much as Trappie would so if I bid against him,we both lose,he pays more,I dont get it. I would suggest more people take this course,communicating with eachother like friends,and standing aside if we dont REALLY need or want the instrument and somebody else does. This would depend on being honourable and not abusing the system,but its a nice idea....
This is really one of those cases where I can admire the banjo, respect the bidder, and know deep in my heart that I wouldn't play the banjo in question. I'm also sure that the seller will get a fair market price. Everyone wins!
This is really one of those cases where I can admire the banjo, respect the bidder, and know deep in my heart that I wouldn't play the banjo in question. I'm also sure that the seller will get a fair market price. Everyone wins!
LOL, if I win it, I can assure you that she will be played a lot! I don't believe in owning 'non-participatory' banjos.
Having a case for such a monster is a huge benefit. I really hate trying to transport caseless instruments. My banjeaurines and my piccolo do not have cases...and they languish somewhat because of it.
I won it. It cost a lot more than I expected but it turns out that my wife has a better feel for this stuff than I do. She took one look at it and said, "That thing looks like it has been in a museum most of its life...it is going to go higher than you think!"
She suggested a number that was a good bit higher than I estimated...and she was happy to "let" me bid on it. I think she was chewing her nails as much as I was at the last moment.
I won it. It cost a lot more than I expected but it turns out that my wife has a better feel for this stuff than I do. She took one look at it and said, "That thing looks like it has been in a museum most of its life...it is going to go higher than you think!"
She suggested a number that was a good bit higher than I estimated...and she was happy to "let" me bid on it. I think she was chewing her nails as much as I was at the last moment.
Yup, sound file will be made, pix, video, the whole nine-yards. These aren't really "solo" instruments but I'll come up with something.
The seller sez it should be on my doorstep Mon or Tue (USPS). I'm so damned excited, I may take the day off to wait for it!
I have been advised that the one big problem with the Stewart CB is that it takes really long strings...39"-40" for the 2nd and 3rd strings. Bernunzios apparently has Nylguts that are appropriate for it. I would prefer to find a natural gut set eventually...I have had very good luck with natural gut on banjos. The last set I had lasted me about 6 months of daily play/practice. Of course, a CB set would probably run over a hundred bucks...
A 'cello needs gut, steel, or steel-wound nylon because monofilament nylon (or nylgut for that matter) doesn't react well to the friction of a rosined bow. With a cello banjo, however, this is not a concern and you can simply use affordable nylon strings. You can buy Savarez nylon harp strings relatively cheap and in any length or gauge and you'll probably get great, consistent tone from them.
Thanks y'all, I'll check out Bob and the Saverez Harp strings.
Once I get it here and measure the scale length (guessing around 30"), I can calculate the appropriate strings for it. I would guess that it might take a wound 3rd and 4th. Haven't been able to find out what was sold for it originally. Looks like it is currently strung with solid nylon.
Yes. The one in the video is probably a few years older (3 or 4?) than the one I purchased. The S/N on mine puts it around 1895. The one in the video doesn't have the Stewart patent neck adjuster, so that puts it prior to '94.
Yes. The one in the video is probably a few years older (3 or 4?) than the one I purchased. The S/N on mine puts it around 1895. The one in the video doesn't have the Stewart patent neck adjuster, so that puts it prior to '94.
Wish we could hear it. I see Tim's hand moving and I see strings vibrating, and I hear the fiddle back off for the banjo to take the lead--but that's about it.
Damned big banjo. 29" scale length, has a set of solid nylons on it and appears to have been tuned like a normal banjo.
In very good/excellent but dusty condition. Must have been under someone's bed for a loooooonnnngggg time.
Always something odd with old banjos. This one has a very neatly installed 5th string spike installed at the 7th fret. Not really an HO gauge spike like you'd see on a BG banjo but curved like a candy-cane to accept a thick gut/nylon string. Interesting!
Now I have to find a set of strings for it. It will need strings that are long enough (like 38-40 inches), the CB set from Gold Tone isn't long enough to use. I'm going to try a set of Aquila classical guitar strings I have lying around. I think they'll get me close. Bernunzio's recommended trying std. classical strings (using the wound basses). I guess I'm in for some experimentation!
Me too! I took a half-day off to make sure I was home in time to meet the mailman so it wouldn't spend the night in the PO.
The Aquila "Alabastro" high-tension nylguts (guitar set) appear to be working fine. I think it might be able to use a 1/2" bridge (currently a bog-std. 5/8" Grover).
Stentorian! I'll make a vid of it tonight or tomorrow. The strings will not hold tune just yet. I'm very pleased with Daddy-O!
Wow, he's a monster, alright. What is the string tension like? Being tuned so low, I'd assume the string tension is pretty low, but I don't see those string flopping around when you play like I might expect.
I don't believe it! While you were talking, I was thinking "I've got to hear Skeleton Dance on that thing!" But just the A and B parts, because all that banjo twaddle in the middle doesn't make any dang sense musically. (I own a Greenop patent banjo, but do you think I can play Skeleton Dance? No!).
Wow, he's a monster, alright. What is the string tension like? Being tuned so low, I'd assume the string tension is pretty low, but I don't see those string flopping around when you play like I might expect.
Surprisingly, string tension is only just slightly south of 'normal'. I really can't tell much more than the feel is not sloppy at all. I think the 29" scale for strings normally mounted on a 25" scale (classical guitar) and then tuned down just a bit generates a very similar tension. I thought the 5/8 bridge would be needed to compensate for the floppy swing of the bass string but it seems nice and tight...so I'm going to experiment with a 1/2" bridge.
Sarah, the minute I got it to hold tune for 30sec, it begged me to play the first few bars of "Skeleton Dance". I've been practicing it a bit for Halloween so when I get used to the long reach of that 29" scale, I'll post a full version of the tune.
I'm completely in love. I don't think the sound in the video does it justice at all...I'm not a recording engineer. It has an amazingly penetrating growl and is very sensitive to attack.
