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BANJOJUDY - Posted - 05/23/2013: 07:41:26
I currently own three banjo ukes. The very first one I bought was a Kevin Enoch and it is a lovely instrument. It is a bit loud if I want to sing over it, so there's always a rag handy in case I want to stuff it, and it is my very favorite to play.
A recent acquisition is the Janet Klein "Kleinette" banjolele. It is actually manufactured by the folks who make the Flea, but it has a distinctive head, artistically created by Janet Klein, and I opted for geared tuners and a wooden fret board. It plays really nicely, and is very light weight.
Last year someone sold me a very old Clarophone banjo uke for $ 60.00. I added about that much in repairs, and although it is a cutey, it is not very playable. It just doesn't play all that well for me as I creep up the neck. It is pretty good if I don't go beyond the 5th fret, but let's face it - closed chords up the neck do sound better than open ones close to the bridge - at least to my ear.
I own some wooden ukes, as well, but this is the BANJO HANGOUT forum, so I am limiting my talking to just the banjo uke.
Judy
ndlxs - Posted - 05/23/2013: 08:45:36
I have a little Stella banjo-uke that I got for EBay for less than $60 years ago, when sellers still called them "child's banjo"s. It has a skin head, and it is not of the highest quality, but it is playable. I have the gut strings on it, and that really helps its sound. You can clawhammer it pretty easily.
I'll try and get a photo of it up.
pbaker0815 - Posted - 05/23/2013: 09:24:53
Dumb question--are these banjo ukes tuned like a uke or like a banjo?
BANJOJUDY - Posted - 05/23/2013: 15:42:43
My banjo ukes are tuned as shown:
4th string - high G
3rd string - C
2nd string - E
1st string - A
On my regular ukes, the G is a low g. For the banjo uke, one can clawhammer nicely with a high G - I don't know anyone who has a low G on the banjo uke, but maybe there is a reason to do that - that's why we have this cool forum, huh?
Judy
cb56 - Posted - 05/23/2013: 17:16:34
I have a Gold Tone BUC concert size banjo uke, I just love it!
I Tune all my ukes high G. Gold Tone Does make a baritone banjo uke that is tuned DGBE same as chicago tuning on a tenor banjo.
Here's a video of me playing my banjo uke
youtube.com/watch?v=SIgqFEFQhr...p;index=5
and here is a video of all the gold tone banjo uke series.
youtube.com/watch?v=IZ6cx7Iwg4c
jduke - Posted - 05/23/2013: 19:34:51
Clawhammer style banjo is my first instrument and still my favorite, but I also play banjo-uke in our group. I've had several banjo-ukes over the years, but my Gibson UB 2 was my main player for nearly 10 years. Imagine my delight when a few years ago I built a banjo-uke, including turning the rim, that I felt surpassed the old Gibson in playability and sound! I still have and play my Gibson, but the JD Uke is now my main player.
BANJOJUDY - Posted - 05/23/2013: 20:18:50
I am learning to use closed chords on most of the swing and jazz tunes I perform. It is of course easier to use open chords, but they just don't sound as good.
For Bye Bye Blues, try playing it using these chords in a closed position:
(C)Bye Bye (Ab) Blues
(C)Bye Bye (A7)Blues
(D7)Bells Ring-(G7)Birds Sing
(C)Sun is (B7)Shining (Dm7)no more (G7)pining
It has taken a little practice, but now I feel really comfortable substituting closed chords for open - just another of many options on the ukulele.
Judy
Jim Yates - Posted - 05/23/2013: 21:10:26
I have an old May Bell by Slingerland, a very loud banjolele. I also have a short neck S.S. Stewart tenor that is strung with nylon strings and tuned gCEA, making it a banjolele. My newest member of the uke family is a Johnson resophonic concert uke. This one sounds great with closed chords as Judy suggested. I just tried Boodle-Am Shake using all closed chords:
(C)Boodle am(G7)boodle am(C)boodle am(E7)boodle am(A7)boo
(D)Doodle am, doodle am(G7)doodle am, doodle am(C)doo(G7)
(C)Shake a leg(G7)shake a leg(C)shake a leg(E7)shake a leg(A7)now
(D)Break a leg, break a leg(G7)break a leg, break a leg(C)Ow!(C7)
(F6)I know this song don't mean a(C) thing(C,B,C,C#)
(D)Just do that good old Charleston (G7)Swing(G#7)(G7)
(C)Boodle am(G7)boodle am(C)boodle am(E7)boodle am(A7)boo
(D)Doodle am, doodle am(G7)doodle am, doodle am(C)doo
C-5433 G7-4535 E7-4445 A7-6757 D-7655 F6-5555 G#7-5646 B-4322 C#-6544
I just tried Bye Bye Blues too. Thanks Judy.
mikeyes - Posted - 05/24/2013: 07:36:40
I have a Bacon style No. 1 banjo uke that is a wonderful instrument. I bought it at auction and it came with the original sleeve case. I put Aquila banjo uke strings on it. I've been thinking about adding a GT resonator to it as they are made for an 8" pot.
As an aside, I have been able to buy ukuleles at ridiculously low prices at local auctions, usually a dollar or two apiece - and found some nice instruments dating from the thirties including a koa wood uke. I didn't pay a dollar for the Bacon but I still did well with it. This seems to be the best way to buy a vintage uke.
Mike
Jim Yates - Posted - 05/24/2013: 08:44:49
As Jake Shimabukuro once said, ""
Edited by - Jim Yates on 05/24/2013 08:55:09
thalbergmad - Posted - 05/24/2013: 10:51:33
I have a Grafton and a Gold Tone deluxe, the latter being my favourite and a superb instrument.
I feel the urge to get them out as it is indeed George Formby's birthday on Sunday as well as mine.
Thal
NYCJazz - Posted - 05/25/2013: 11:32:39
Iquote:
Originally posted by Jim Yates
As Jake Shimabukuro once said, ""
I gave a uke years ago to the guitar playing son of a friend of mine, and I told him:
"the chances of you becoming the greatest guitar player in the world are pretty slim, but you have a pretty good shot at becoming the world's greatest ukulele player"
NYCJazz - Posted - 05/25/2013: 13:22:38
I have a no-name banjo uke (probably Slingerland) that I use tune gDF#A, which is a fifth up from plectrum tuning CGBD.
I use Aquila banjo uke strings which work great!
raybob - Posted - 05/27/2013: 08:24:23
I have recently been gifted a Bacon style 1 from the mid-'20's with the original rear entry case. It's all there with the original Rogers head and hardware. Tuners seem to work ok. I need to get a bridge and some strings for it. Somewhere along the line the heel was broken on this, it was repaired albeit not professionally. When I get the bridge and strings I'll be able to tell how it will set up for play. Fingers crossed :-)
ukulele_gardi - Posted - 05/27/2013: 13:00:28
I love ukuleles and banjo-ukes. I've been trying some banjoleles over the years and now settled (while I can't afford a Ludwig Wendel Hall) with my Gibson UB2.
I've had a few chinese Rally banjoleles, concert size and two soprano sized, but they weren't great. Then, a soprano openback Wim van der Leden (a dutch maker), and I didn't love it as well. After that I bought a resonator backed, concert size Lanikai, which was better than the others but didn't satisfied me as well. I decided to buy a vintage banjolele and got my UB1 on Ukulele Underground forums. It was so great that I got a UB2 afterwards on eBay. Both are great, but since I'm saving for a Martin, I sold the UB1. If anyone is interested in a banjo-uke, I'd recommend the Gibsons - your money will be very well spent.
EDIT: Also, I think all banjoleles sound better tuned I step up (ADF#B). I always used Aquila strings on the ones I had, and now I'm using GHS clear nylon and they sound GREAT on the UB2, despite being really cheap strings that sound awful on wooden ukuleles. I also recommend the use of calfskin heads on vintage banjos and why not on new ones too? There's a guy on the facebook group "Banjolele Underground" that fitted a natural skin head on his new banjolele and reported an improvement on sound.
Edited by - ukulele_gardi on 05/27/2013 13:03:41
Joven - Posted - 05/28/2013: 08:54:44
I have a Liberty banjo uke, that I play ocassionally. Very loud and good sounding, I have aquila strings, low G. Yes, uke banjos are fun.
I think it is from the 20's. Resonator and fancy inlays. Tone ring and straight neck. WOuld not trade it. Not a collectors but a player
White xmas chord progression sounds like it was written for the UKE!
Thank you Judy. I will try the songs.
Ivan
Jim Yates - Posted - 05/28/2013: 09:18:12
How often do you folks change your ukulele and banjolele strings? I change guitar strings for each gig (unless I have two in one weekend), banjo and mandolin stay on longer, sometimes a few months. Autoharp stays on till they break. I've put 3 new whole sets of Autoharp strings in my life. I love the sound and feel of new steel strings, but I'm not sure about Nylon strings.
My new Kala uke, which I got 3 years ago, still has the Aquilas that it came with and the Johnson resophonic that I just bought has Worths that the former owner put on 5 years ago. Any old ukes I have still have the strings that I put on when I bought them. They still sound fine to me. Would new strings improve the sound of my ukuleles, or should I not worry about it?
captbanjo - Posted - 05/28/2013: 09:32:41
Well, if it sounds good it must be good!
I found the same thing with ukuleles. Strings seem to last a long time on them. Regardless, I do change my strings at least once a year for the uke.
Wayne
BANJOJUDY - Posted - 05/28/2013: 10:26:24
I usually only change the nylon strings on the ukulele when something occurs that forces me to do so - like a string breaks because it gets smashed when carelessly closing the case, or something like that. The nylon strings seem to last forever.
The WOUND low g string on the standard uke requires changing when it frays to the point of not being playable. Hence, I recommend changing it to a nylon string and then not worry about changing it in the future.
I am going to start a new UKE thread - with just posts of lyrics and chords for favorite songs. I tend to write my own chords that work best with my voice, so if you see one of my tabs in a non standard key, that's because I like it in that key.
A recommendation, if you like APPS, get ONSONG or something like it. With the flick of a finger, all the chords change - cool! ONSONG also allows me to print in pdf format for the following instruments (showing the chord structure):
piano, guitar, 4 string, 5 string, mandolin and banjo.
It (ONSONG) doesn't say WHICH 4 or 5 string the chords refer to, but maybe someone can tell us if I tell you the chord structure for F on a 4 string is 1000 and for a 5 string, it is 01000.
So, look for the new thread....ok? And those of you who have posted exercises and/or songs with chords, please repost to the new area.
Jim Yates - Posted - 05/28/2013: 18:08:11
Let us know where to find it Judy. Thanks in advance for starting this.
Jim Yates - Posted - 05/28/2013: 20:03:38
Here's a nice one that a friend asked me to set up for him. I was sad when he came to get it back. It's a J.R.Stewart Domino banjolele. It has dominos on the fingerboard, the head and the resonator.
Here's the back of the resonator
Here's the side of the pot. As you can see, I had to take the action down quite a bit.
![]()
api.ning.com:80/files/BdFIdh8v...78209.jpg" alt="Side View" height="450" id="xj_photo_img_tag" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/BdFIdh8v3rll9ZraOk-P8BPqXoDI1mCN-zXuTDzOiERWl92ykWzPb8SFF3tZY2AqrFd5RocHUvIdErrr31WlxOX1vlKdIbt5/l_9438986616398b833a53a82164f78209.jpg?width=600&height=450" width="600" />
Edited by - Jim Yates on 05/28/2013 20:18:00
Jim Yates - Posted - 05/28/2013: 20:25:15
My friend Jimmy Bowskill gave me this old May Bell by Slingerland. I was surprised how loud it was. I played it for one song with a fiddle and a National guitar at a jug band gig the night I got it and I had no trouble being heard.
Jim Yates - Posted - 05/28/2013: 20:37:23
I played a gig in the town of Picton and showed up early, so I checked out the local music store. This little instrument had just been turned in on trade and had a twisted neck, so the owner let me have it for $15. It says "BANJO-ETTE Elkhart, USA" on the Gumby shaped head-stock and the skin head is covered with autographs, probably of friends and relatives of the owner...Dad 4/19/31, Peggy Ennis Oct. 20/31, Flo Jones, Wood River 1935, Margaret MacMillan, 137 96th St., Edmonton... I'd love to get it playable again.
![]()
api.ning.com:80/files/jzfnReeZ...rm=rotate(90)" alt="Banjo-ette tuning head" height="600" id="xj_photo_img_tag" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/jzfnReeZQFCQ73BehOWra5fUVVHbu-k2Xdrh9uQAbCwZCPAYrVM97r4AMjLJAl52ds*9hJOdOI*AGXWlsYtqKMBS6ew3sVN4/176.JPG?transform=rotate%2890%29&width=450&height=600" width="450" />
![]()
api.ning.com:80/files/*jI0RXSv...a/178.JPG" alt="Autographed Head" height="480" id="xj_photo_img_tag" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/*jI0RXSvj-4ggwGDDZp8NR0EA**8lZ5poy8k2VkOXukDSVDhGZFem-QOl8duQhmSD0bcNOK6-1-lBfdbT7X-Cb2N8L4udosa/178.JPG?width=640&height=480" width="640" />
![]()
api.ning.com:80/files/qSQ8YKN0...2/177.JPG" alt="Back of Banjo-ette pot" height="480" id="xj_photo_img_tag" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/qSQ8YKN0WubEItYOY47DbH*C7NmtMfuqzgDaoKHZ6Fzu2-ayiLQc7v-4SF9CPrUJi3J*aub3GWemb4fUhyl-FZ36rKurODe2/177.JPG?width=640&height=480" width="640" />
![]()
api.ning.com:80/files/XEU85OyK...rm=rotate(90)" alt="Banjo-ette" height="600" id="xj_photo_img_tag" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/XEU85OyKfBWTV3xgmiqK4*OQT4txMedgPSDs2FrzLNLOBn8OBV7nFjtpJJVMiTazfJbrww0bNDoGV*mJuS*jQKXufB0e11j9/179.JPG?transform=rotate%2890%29&width=450&height=600" width="450" />
Edited by - Jim Yates on 05/28/2013 20:46:07
Jim Yates - Posted - 05/28/2013: 20:49:31
And finally, an S.S.Stewart Tango banjo that I have strung with nylon strings and tuned (with a capo permanently on the second fret) gCEA. I just noticed that the capo was removed for this photo. It must've been taken while it was still tuned CGDA with steel strings.
Edited by - Jim Yates on 05/28/2013 20:56:10
maryzcox - Posted - 05/29/2013: 05:32:20
Hello Judy,
Although my daughter would not ask us to play at her wedding-- she wants us dolled up and walking down the aisle -- I did ask if I could play one waltz on my banjo for the father/daughter dance-- but she said no.
but she said she would consider letting me sing and play "Somewhere over the rainbow " on my Uke.
By the way -- I have to audition and if she doesn't like it -- I'll be replaced with rap.
:) mzc
Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 05/29/2013: 08:30:15
Mary,
Do instead at the audition maybe sing and play "Someday You´ll Be Sorry".
BANJOJUDY - Posted - 05/29/2013: 08:53:42
quote:
Originally posted by maryzcox
Hello Judy,
Although my daughter would not ask us to play at her wedding-- she wants us dolled up and walking down the aisle -- I did ask if I could play one waltz on my banjo for the father/daughter dance-- but she said no.
but she said she would consider letting me sing and play "Somewhere over the rainbow " on my Uke.
By the way -- I have to audition and if she doesn't like it -- I'll be replaced with rap.
:) mzc
That's really funny, Mary. I have to see what you two are wearing - you have so many great ideas about what to wear, for sure, but it is Natalie's wedding, and you cannot be prettier or flashier than the bride. Too bad!
I think you should audition with "Who's Sorry Now." Let me know the outcome.
Jim Yates - Posted - 05/29/2013: 11:58:23
I bought this banjo uke at a yard sale in Hamilton in pieces. I paid about $5 and it took me an afternoon to get it playable. It's probably worth about $10 now.
I plan to take it to my 2 year old grand daughter in St. John's, Newfoundland this fall. She has a uke, but she needs a banjolele.
Edited by - Jim Yates on 05/29/2013 12:01:51
ukulele_gardi - Posted - 05/29/2013: 13:16:43
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Yates
How often do you folks change your ukulele and banjolele strings? I change guitar strings for each gig (unless I have two in one weekend), banjo and mandolin stay on longer, sometimes a few months. Autoharp stays on till they break. I've put 3 new whole sets of Autoharp strings in my life. I love the sound and feel of new steel strings, but I'm not sure about Nylon strings.
My new Kala uke, which I got 3 years ago, still has the Aquilas that it came with and the Johnson resophonic that I just bought has Worths that the former owner put on 5 years ago. Any old ukes I have still have the strings that I put on when I bought them. They still sound fine to me. Would new strings improve the sound of my ukuleles, or should I not worry about it?
Sometimes the strings stop intonating well, that's the moment when I change it.
maryzcox - Posted - 05/30/2013: 06:43:33
quote:
Originally posted by Polle Flaunoe
Mary,
Do instead at the audition maybe sing and play "Someday You´ll Be Sorry".
No way--my daughter is still ticked at me that I clapped and yelled too loud when she won an award at an art show for her painting. Evidently you are supposed to act more dignified--like its an everyday ocurance instead of the first time (which it was )
ps. It is not easy to have a bumpkin banjo mom 
Edited by - maryzcox on 05/30/2013 06:45:16
BANJOJUDY - Posted - 05/30/2013: 07:03:31
quote:
Originally posted by maryzcox
quote:
Originally posted by Polle Flaunoe
Mary,
Do instead at the audition maybe sing and play "Someday You´ll Be Sorry".
No way--my daughter is still ticked at me that I clapped and yelled too loud when she won an award at an art show for her painting. Evidently you are supposed to act more dignified--like its an everyday ocurance instead of the first time (which it was )
ps. It is not easy to have a bumpkin banjo mom
My kids don't like having a mother named "banjojudy" - goes with the banjo territory, though. I tell them they should be proud that they have a mother with an eccentric name - not that their mother is eccentric. You too, Mary?
captbanjo - Posted - 05/30/2013: 07:46:16
Oh yeah? My kids had to grow up with a superhero named CaptBanjo as their father!
Wayne
maryzcox - Posted - 05/30/2013: 16:05:15
quote:
Originally posted by BANJOJUDY
quote:
Originally posted by maryzcox
quote:
Originally posted by Polle Flaunoe
Mary,
Do instead at the audition maybe sing and play "Someday You´ll Be Sorry".
No way--my daughter is still ticked at me that I clapped and yelled too loud when she won an award at an art show for her painting. Evidently you are supposed to act more dignified--like its an everyday ocurance instead of the first time (which it was )
ps. It is not easy to have a bumpkin banjo mom
My kids don't like having a mother named "banjojudy" - goes with the banjo territory, though. I tell them they should be proud that they have a mother with an eccentric name - not that their mother is eccentric. You too, Mary?
LOL :) My youngest son ran away to NYC for 7 years to escape me--once he flew home absolutely livid at me because he had been at a party and a guy in B-52 asked about getting some of my cds. Another time, a movie star he sat with at a party asked about me. You cannot imagine how frustrating it is to try and get away from a bumpkin banjo mom in an obsure southern town--to travel to the big city and have the very people you'd like to impress ask about your mommy
If any of our kids come out to watch us play at a festival or concert--we always have them stand and introduce them--which they absolutely hate--although my daughter has finally become a good sport about it and stands up and smiles and waves now. A couple years ago--we asked her and her brothers to stand at the Florida Folk Festival and they were just going to sit there with snarls on their faces and some lady sitting behind her--poked her in the back- and told her to "stand up right now--your mother's famous." --which isn't exactly true--but ever since--I think she's been scared to just sit there in case someone else decided to correct her 
Judy--did you get the pix I sent of her in her bride dress? I can't post it publicly because she doesn't want her husband to be to see it in advance by accident.
My oldest son does not find us as embarrassing because he seems to have his own niche in the science world
beezaboy - Posted - 06/02/2013: 04:41:59
I've been thinking about writing a little piece about ukulele banjo history. Currently gathering some images and data. Attached are a few images that you might enjoy. My missing link is a period article about the fad of autographing the ukulele banjo head. I would be grateful for any clues about where I might find such an article. So far my research has turned up empty. My working title is "The Banjo-Uke Goes To College" (see image of ladies at train station).
Cottonmouth - Posted - 06/02/2013: 15:16:15
John, I will get around to scanning a snapshot of my dad playing a banjo uke at the Naval Academy ca.1922. I'll have to scratch around to locate it, but I definitely still have it.
ukulele_gardi - Posted - 06/05/2013: 12:46:05
quote:
Originally posted by beezaboy
I've been thinking about writing a little piece about ukulele banjo history. Currently gathering some images and data. Attached are a few images that you might enjoy. My missing link is a period article about the fad of autographing the ukulele banjo head. I would be grateful for any clues about where I might find such an article. So far my research has turned up empty. My working title is "The Banjo-Uke Goes To College" (see image of ladies at train station).
this is PURE GOLD! People on UU Forum will LOVE it and maybe they can help you. There's the facebook group "Banjolele Underground".
dewbanjo - Posted - 06/06/2013: 05:09:34
Good morning, "if" you had to choose... Soprano or Concert size.... which would you prefer and why?? (I am thinking about getting a banjolele) And would you suggest (brand) ?? any help??
Muskrat - Posted - 06/08/2013: 16:44:34
John Croft is writing a book about the history of Banjo-Ukulele. He used to have some of it posted on his website, but then took it down (the history) when he started working on the book. I have probably the best collection in the USA of banjo ukes.
Cottonmouth - Posted - 06/09/2013: 12:28:05
I borrowed this 2012 photo from the Mt. Airy Fiddlers Convention web site. I am almost certain this hide head did not come from friend John Balch of Murfreesboro, TN. Perhaps the owner is on the Hangout and can tell us more about the instrument and the tonal qualities of a sparsely-shaven hide, be it calf, goat, groundhog, 'coon, whatever!
ukulele_gardi - Posted - 06/12/2013: 06:00:55
quote:
Originally posted by dewbanjo
Good morning, "if" you had to choose... Soprano or Concert size.... which would you prefer and why?? (I am thinking about getting a banjolele) And would you suggest (brand) ?? any help??
definately soprano
Bum Arm Bob - Posted - 06/12/2013: 19:00:21
I too have a Gold Tone BUC and really enjoy it...
My first one was a Gold Tone BUB baritone but I sold it after having to switch to steel strings to get the GCEA tuning. Then I bought an Oscar Schmidt banjo uke but sent it back after having it about a day. IMHO, it was a POS.
quote:
Originally posted by cb56
I have a Gold Tone BUC concert size banjo uke, I just love it!
I Tune all my ukes high G. Gold Tone Does make a baritone banjo uke that is tuned DGBE same as chicago tuning on a tenor banjo.
beezaboy - Posted - 06/13/2013: 06:56:14
**John Croft is writing a book about the history of Banjo-Ukulele. He used to have some of it posted on his website, but then took it down (the history) when he started working on the book. I have probably the best collection in the USA of banjo ukes**
Dan - Thank your the notice about John Croft's book. I will certainly get a copy when it is published. Currently I have noticed that the ukulele banjo is treated only briefly in in ukulele history books.
I notice that John Croft is based in the UK. theukuleleman.com/
I wonder if his book will emphasize the British experience with the ukulele banjo with focus on the Keech contribution to the instrument. I personally have been struck by the Bolander contribution which apparently was more brief and lesser known.
I am curious about your ukulele banjo collection which you advise is more likely than not the best (most complete?) collection here in the states. It seems to me that the 1920's ukulele banjo was more of a novelty instrument so most of them are made quite simply. It seems to be rare to find a ukulele banjo with the upscale features offered in tenor banjos of the 1920's era. Has that been your experiance?
lc47 - Posted - 06/13/2013: 10:02:39
Muskrat & Beezaboy
If you find out when John Croft's book is due to be published I would appreciate if you could let me know.
Didn't see anything on his website about it.
Regards
Linda
Jim Yates - Posted - 06/13/2013: 18:56:17
quote:
Originally posted by Cottonmouth
John, I will get around to scanning a snapshot of my dad playing a banjo uke at the Naval Academy ca.1922. I'll have to scratch around to locate it, but I definitely still have it.
Ken, my dad is the guy with the button accordion in this photo. I'm not sure who the guitar and banjo uke players are and anyone who could tell me anything about this photo is long gone. I just know it was taken sometime during WWII.
BANJOJUDY - Posted - 06/13/2013: 20:04:38
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Yates
quote:
Originally posted by Cottonmouth
John, I will get around to scanning a snapshot of my dad playing a banjo uke at the Naval Academy ca.1922. I'll have to scratch around to locate it, but I definitely still have it.
Ken, my dad is the guy with the button accordion in this photo. I'm not sure who the guitar and banjo uke players are and anyone who could tell me anything about this photo is long gone. I just know it was taken sometime during WWII.
Wonderful! I love seeing these old pictures. Thanks for sharing.
dewbanjo - Posted - 06/14/2013: 05:24:58
Good morning ukulele gardi, is the neck on a soprano banjolele about the same as a soprano uke? (I mean the "width" at the nut and the first few frets). None of the music stores in the area carry banjoleles and I am trying to figure out what to get with out touch/feeling it.
ukulele_gardi - Posted - 06/14/2013: 07:00:25
dewbanjo,
It depends. The newer banjoleles I played had a thicker neck and wider fretboard than the vintage ones. I don't have the numbers in my head, but the fretboard of the Gibson UB1 I owned had 3/4 of the width of the one of my Kamaka pineapple. I like the narrow fretboard on banjoleles, though. Makes it easier for Formby-style playing.
Soundwise, I strongly recommend a vintage, especially a Gibson. I had a Lanikai LBU-C, that's not a cheap instrument ($540) and it didn't sound as I liked. The Gibson UB2 is my to-go banjolele and sounds like a dream.
Cottonmouth - Posted - 06/14/2013: 17:11:28
Here are a few pics to click on. One of George Formby's banjo-ukes at auction, expected to bring between $39,000 and $68,000; unknown lady; Beatle George Harrison; hula dancer; some children street musicians.
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