TimFoster - Posted - 03/29/2026:  09:48:46

I play Scruggs style banjo in a small bluegrass/americana trio alongside accordion and acoustic guitar/mandolin (example)... Seems like it'd be a pretty quiet setup, but we often wind up playing in breweries and bars that have a TON of background noise (folks are there to DRANK and socialize, we're just there for background ambience).  And so the volume through the PA can get pretty loud.

With that... lately I've been infatuated with the sound of clawhammer fretless banjo.  I've dabbled in CH in the past, but never progressed beyond "beginner".  I'm currently without an openback, but want to invest some real time improving my CH playing -- and ideally I'd love to incorporate it in a band setting here and there.  Even moreso I'm drawn to the fretless nygut string sound...  I like the warm plunky tone, but suspect it's not going to cut well enough in the sort of environments we play in (and also wonder whether I'd miss being able to do double stop/bend licks given nylon strings)

Just looking for some advice on what sort of banjo/string/tonering setups I might consider given all this?   Was thinking a steel string semi-fretless (something like the semi fretless Rickard with the brass plate in the lower position) might be the best blend?  Or is fretless in general asking for trouble?  



Might as well add that I've only had a tubaphone tone ring openback (fretted, with steel strings) and it's a bit brighter than the sound I'm picturing... though the darker fretless tone might mitigate that.  And for the live setup I'm using a DPA 4099 clip on mic, which has pretty high feedback rejection.

anyway... appreciate any advice.

Edited by - TimFoster on 03/29/2026 09:51:34

Americanraga - Posted - 03/29/2026:  11:18:35

You might check out the Pisgah, especially one with Dobson ring. I've got one and my wife won't let me play it in the house and a player here who has one calls it " the paint stripper", although I don't think the nylgut strings will work in the environment you describe.

Dry Ridge - Posted - 03/29/2026:  11:31:26

You could always play CH on a resonator banjo. BTW Stringbean played CH and 2 finger when he was part of the Bill Monroe band.

TimFoster - Posted - 03/29/2026:  11:50:20

quote:

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Originally posted by Americanraga

You might check out the Pisgah, especially one with Dobson ring. I've got one and my wife won't let me play it in the house and a player here who has one calls it " the paint stripper", although I don't think the nylgut strings will work in the environment you describe.

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Lol -- tyeah, I've been banished to playing banjo in the basement with a "Mike's Mute" strapped to the bridge... and still get in yelled at by the wife! ;-)



It does seem like volume and brightness often go hand in hand, but I do wish I could achieve a warmer plunkier tone somehow.



i'll check out some of the old Stringbean stuff Dry Ridge, though in a perfect world would love a purpose built openback, maybe slightly wider fretboard, scoop, etc.  even though I'm probably getting ahead of myself as a novice.

Dry Ridge - Posted - 03/29/2026:  13:11:04

Remember, banjos are like potato chips, one is never enough and you can’t stop with just one!

Americanraga - Posted - 03/29/2026:  14:08:13

You could look at the two Dan Drabeks for sale by Mark Hickler in the classifieds here.l I boughta third one that Mark is putting in the mail on Monday. Drabek played both bluegrass and clawhammer and built his banjos for both. They are obviously worth far more than the asking price, but Dan has passed on and Mark is doing the family a favor by trying to make sure they get into good hands. He sent me sound bites of all three. They are some of the most beautiful banjos I have ever seen.

BanjoBrandolf - Posted - 03/29/2026:  15:58:18

quote:

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Originally posted by Americanraga

You might check out the Pisgah, especially one with Dobson ring. I've got one and my wife won't let me play it in the house and a player here who has one calls it " the paint stripper", although I don't think the nylgut strings will work in the environment you describe.

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Also recently got a Pisgah with Dobson. Its got some good sustain and volume. It's my first upgrade. The gentleman who sold it to me had lots of good info and included a 2nd tailpiece and the other head. (No-knot and a hawktail, Renaissance head and Goatskin). The goat sounds really nice, but as the season is changing I found I was adjusting it a lot, so I took the all the j-hooks, shoes, tone ring, and dobson ring off and cleaned them real good. Put on the rennaisance head to try it out. Definitely has some bright volume.

Makes me want to try another Pisgah for a different sound (something more like the possum with a wood tone ring). Then I have a banjo for every situation. Bright and loud. Softer and plunkier.