hova1 - Posted - 04/18/2013:  11:08:46

Does anyone know what kind of banjo(s) Bob Carlin is playing on John Hartford's _The Speed of the Old Longbow_? I love everything about that album, especially the banjo tones, and I want a banjo that sounds like that some day. Thanks in advance!

jojo25 - Posted - 04/18/2013:  14:37:47

Hova1...don't know if Bob will see your post...so I sent him an e-mail relaying your question...inquiring minds need to know, right?

but be advised that it is often the player, not just the banjo, that makes the sound

hova1 - Posted - 04/18/2013:  14:51:16

quote:

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Originally posted by jojo25

 

Hova1...don't know if Bob will see your post...so I sent him an e-mail relaying your question...inquiring minds need to know, right?

but be advised that it is often the player, not just the banjo, that makes the sound

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Thank you! And I understand about tone coming from the player. I'm asking because I want to upgrade from the Goodtime I've been playing for the last 10 years and want to know everything I can about banjos that have the tone I'm after.

jojo25 - Posted - 04/19/2013:  10:21:27

here is what I got back from Bob Carlin...

"joe: thanks for the query. "Speed" was recorded with a Bart Reiter custom Bacon-style:  dished stew-mac toner ring, internal resonator with holes all around, extra wide fingerboard, 27" scale, 11" pot, birdseye maple neck, maple pot. it's the same banjo i used for 99.9% of all my recording and performing with John Hartford between 1993 and 2001.

best bobcarlin"

there you are

FYI...the banjo Bob describes is very sim to my old standby...an Arthur Smith Shellbourne II...with a Washburn style (bigger than the stew-mac, I think) dished brass ring...internal resonator like the Bacon

these style banjos are very "ringy"...for lack of a better term...you may want to have a listen to some of the older recordings on my homepage...recorded with that Smith...per his web site, Bart Reiter is still making this style of banjo

here is a bit of what that web page says about this style of banjo:

"The Bacon tone ring is very bright, similar to an arched top tone ring. The internal resonator brings out the bass and gives a more powerful fourth string. Incidentally, the internal resonator does not make the banjo louder. When used in conjunction with an internal resonator the best of both treble and bass are achieved."

For more go here:

reiterbanjos.com/faq.html

I hope you find a banjo that "fits" you...I strongly recommend you go someplace and try out lots of them...someplace like Elderly Instruments

hova1 - Posted - 04/19/2013:  20:01:03

Thanks for the info! I have a feeling it'll be quite the task finding a fitting banjo, as I'm way down here in rural New Mexico. Anyway thanks again for relaying my question!

jojo25 - Posted - 04/20/2013:  12:08:26

yeah...got no good ideas on where you could shop near NM...perhaps someone here on BHO knows of a shop...otherwise it is shop on-line or plan a trip...to Elderly in Michigan or to Clifftop...in the meantime...keep playing and having fun!

hova1 - Posted - 04/20/2013:  19:39:37

I know there's a builder near Phoenix, White Mountain maybe... And I think there's a shop in ABQ that might have a selection. Clifftop would be nice. Maybe next year. Thanks again!