heruka - Posted - 11/05/2023:  16:17:40

I now want to learn the clawhammer style. Is a normal 5 string banjo capable of this? There's a Pisgah for sale near me, though it's an a something so it's smaller. Would a simple deering goodtime be suitable

Bill Rogers - Posted - 11/05/2023:  16:52:53

Any functioning banjo is fine for clawhammer—from a resonator mastertone to the simple Goodtime you mention. If you own a playable banjo and want to try clawhammer, use the one you have until (and if) you see a need for another one. A fair number of great traditional clawhammer players used resonator banjos. Nothing at all wrong with that.

Edited by - Bill Rogers on 11/05/2023 16:53:54

Alvin Conder - Posted - 11/06/2023:  07:34:23

If it has five strings on it and it is playable, more than adequate to learn clawhammer banjo.

Emiel - Posted - 11/06/2023:  09:39:29

Which type of five-string banjo is a good clawhammer banjo, is a matter of taste…

Loud_Inn - Posted - 11/06/2023:  12:03:45

As others have stated any 5 string banjo can be used to try Clawhammer. If you have a resonator banjo you can start there.

Pisgah's are excellent banjos. The A scale means it has a slightly shorter scale and can be tuned up to A, but you can also tune it to the open G tunings.

The Goodtimes are acceptable instruments, but the Pisgah is superior.

OldPappy - Posted - 11/07/2023:  08:52:23

Agree that the Pisgah is superior to a "Goodtime", far superior.

A number of Clawhammer banjo players prefer the shorter scale.

Dwight Diller was one who preferred a 23 1/2" scale, of which I built him several over the last dozen years. After I started building the short scale banjos I too found them very well suited for the style.

In my opinion a Pisgah banjo is a lot of banjo for a reasonable price.

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 11/08/2023:  11:31:00

quote:

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Originally posted by Bill Rogers

Any functioning banjo is fine for clawhammer—from a resonator mastertone to the simple Goodtime you mention. If you own a playable banjo and want to try clawhammer, use the one you have until (and if) you see a need for another one. A fair number of great traditional clawhammer players used resonator banjos. Nothing at all wrong with that.

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What Bill said.

I played a $40 pawnshop bakelite Harmony for 5 years, then a 1974 Gibson RB-250 with and without a resonator for the next 17 years until I bought a Ramsey in '96.

Make sure you're going to stick with CH before dumping money into a banjo.

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 11/08/2023:  16:20:05

...and, every old-timer I knew in the 1960's played a used Kay, a Sears Silverbell, or the like.  Vintage banjoes became the the cat's meow of the revival crowd, but most of the old-timers, when they had money to spare, would buy themselves a fancy (BG) resonator banjo.

I find it amusing that in his day, S.S. Stewart, whose mission it was to "elevate" the banjo, railed against the "ham-handed bangers" of the earlier "pugilistic" banjo age.  I'm betting he'd be annoyed that his banjoes are often the holy grail of the modern CH crowd- definitely not what he'd intended.  

Now we're in the age of boutique designer banjoes.  That's fine- wonderful days.  We're in a golden age of banjoes, and I myself possess some instruments from all three categories.

One thought might be; if there's a particular player you like, you might get a banjo like he plays if resources allow.  Otherwise, play what you have/like- there aren't any restrictions as long as your instrument is fulfilling its purpose.

Edited by - R.D. Lunceford on 11/08/2023 16:23:48

Paul R - Posted - 11/10/2023:  08:04:48

If it's playable and sounds good to your ears, it's suitable for clawhammer.

Don't wory about the clawhammer police.

Paul R - Posted - 11/10/2023:  08:06:07

The Pisgah is clearly the better choice.

Edited by - Paul R on 11/10/2023 08:08:37

heruka - Posted - 11/11/2023:  20:26:50

quote:

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Originally posted by OldPappy

Agree that the Pisgah is superior to a "Goodtime", far superior.



A number of Clawhammer banjo players prefer the shorter scale.



Dwight Diller was one who preferred a 23 1/2" scale, of which I built him several over the last dozen years. After I started building the short scale banjos I too found them very well suited for the style.



In my opinion a Pisgah banjo is a lot of banjo for a reasonable price.

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A little late for that info. I picked up a recording king. Cheap and playable. There's a pisgah possum near me for a grand. The small one. I still see it's still for sale in see at $900. it's the a scale. 

I just didn't want the heavyweight of my Alvarez in the mix. 

Edited by - heruka on 11/11/2023 20:42:41

OldPappy - Posted - 11/11/2023:  20:58:48

Yeah, I agree two days is a little late in responding.

heruka - Posted - 11/11/2023:  21:52:33

quote:

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Originally posted by OldPappy

Yeah, I agree two days is a little late in responding.

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I picked it up the recording king this morning. Should I buy the Pisgah?? Still tempted.

minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram...5730.html

OldPappy - Posted - 11/12/2023:  06:45:40

My suggestion is to play what you have for a while. After you have done that you will have a better idea of what you want.