Spudwheat - Posted - 06/28/2025:  05:07:09

What do you know about a Carver fretless tack head banjo? How does it sound, is it difficult to play? How does it compare to a cello banjo? I am looking for something that plays lower than my Americana. I like the bass sound of the cello banjo but have never really heard a minstrel banjo. Any other thoughts are also appreciated. Thank you for your reply.

jduke - Posted - 06/28/2025:  07:09:01

I've never owned or played a Carver Minstrel banjo, but I suspect they are pretty good. I play a Gardner Minstrel banjo (Gardner's Dulcimers) and enjoy the lower tuning and darker fretless sound. I did own for a while, a Goldtone 5-string Cello Banjo, but I did not like the full-octave lower tuning. I could have changed strings I suppose, but instead elected to get the Gardner.

While the cello is tuned a full octave lower, minstrel banjos are usually tuned only a 5th lower. To me, I just like the pitch of the minstrel tuning. It's a different sound, but still sounds like a banjo, while the cello, to me anyway, seemed like a bass trying to be a banjo.

davidppp - Posted - 06/28/2025:  07:17:44

"Plays lower?"? Why not just try heavier strings tuned lower? For a given scale length and tension, the pitch frequency is roughly inversely proportional to the diameter. It ends up about 6% per half step in pitch.

trapdoor2 - Posted - 06/28/2025:  11:18:51

quote:

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Originally posted by Spudwheat

What do you know about a Carver fretless tack head banjo? How does it sound, is it difficult to play? How does it compare to a cello banjo? I am looking for something that plays lower than my Americana. I like the bass sound of the cello banjo but have never really heard a minstrel banjo. Any other thoughts are also appreciated. Thank you for your reply.

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Very dependent on strings.

There really isn't a "minstrel" banjo, just period specific build styles. The minstrel shows ran from 1840s thru the 1960s...so anything from tackhead to tenors.

Generically, a tackhead likes lower tension strings. There are many tackheads out there that have modern standard scale lengths and head sizes. You can go nylon and any tuning you like.

I just looked at the Carver. 24" scale...my fretless is 28". You may find thinner strings are more suitable.

I like Briggs tuning (dGDF#A) and the common clawhammer equivalent (dGDGA). For strings, I prefer to buy two nylon guitar sets and use the trebles for 1,2,3&5...with a wound 4th.

Edited by - trapdoor2 on 06/28/2025 11:23:38

Silver_Falls - Posted - 06/28/2025:  11:25:51

Carver's site includes many samples of customers playing his instruments. This should help you get an idea of sound in a variety of settings.

He also hosts a discussion forum where you could post additional questions.

Also, his "versatile string set" allows you to setup your banjo in a variety of tuning ranges however you like.

I have one of his tackhead banjos built from a kit. I like it and it's fun to play. I have it tuned low, though not all the way down to cello tuning, dGDGA for double C (relative).

A Drum On A Stick - Posted - 06/28/2025:  19:00:54

I like mine. The kit came pretty much ready-to-assemble with just some sanding and staining/finishing needed.



I usually play mine tuned down a bit, but nowhere near as low as a cello. But any banjo can go that low if you choose the right strings.



Here's a quick demo of mine. Basic melody of Goin' round this world. I've spared you from my singing.

 

moziller - Posted - 06/28/2025:  20:14:32

I have one of his short scale minstrel tackheads and it has a good sound. It kind of has 3 different capabilities depending on the strings. With his versatile set you can use two wound strings and it allows for tuning way down to cello, if you use one wound then it excels from B up to D# or E. If you string it with nylgut or La Bella nylons it takes on a bit more sparkle and goes up to standard or A. Its super light weight. I played it constantly until I bought a spunover pot and made a cherry neck for it, then made like 4 other tackheads.

Spudwheat - Posted - 06/28/2025:  22:24:42

quote:

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Originally posted by A Drum On A Stick

I like mine. The kit came pretty much ready-to-assemble with just some sanding and staining/finishing needed.



I usually play mine tuned down a bit, but nowhere near as low as a cello. But any banjo can go that low if you choose the right strings.



Here's a quick demo of mine. Basic melody of Goin' round this world. I've spared you from my singing.

 

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Oh, how lovely! Thank you for the private recital... :)

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 07/05/2025:  14:44:53

All depends on what you're trying to do.

I have a Model 1865 Bowlin Fretless that is strung to play dADF#A or eBEG#B   

I also have an  24" scale Brooks  that I've  tuned as low as eAEAB with Nylguts and a 3/4" bridge with my regular string set.

As Trapdoor says. it's a function of string gauge v. scale length.  You may have to take action height into account as well.

John Hartford sometimes tuned down to "E", and I believe Deering  makes a Hartford model that has a couple extra frets.

So, unless you want the specific sound of a tackhead fretless, there is more than one way to skin the cat you already have.

Wobba - Posted - 07/05/2025:  15:38:35

Hey Spudwheat,

I don't know if you noticed, but it looks like currently all of his kits are out of stock. At least that's what it says on the page of every kit. You might want to reach out to Brian Carver by email and ask him when he will have kits available again. Sometimes it takes him a couple of months before stock is available for purchase again.

You might notice that currently there are no "Buy" buttons like there usually are on those pages. 

Edited by - Wobba on 07/05/2025 15:42:19