Scarecrow - Posted - 05/10/2007:  02:51:11

Anyone have any insight into how Mr. Mc.K gets that magic tone? I wonder whether it goes beyond his choice of instrument, into set-up and technique. Any information or opinions would be welcome.

"A man's gotta know his limitations."

Emiel - Posted - 05/10/2007:  08:01:36

His main instrument is a Clifford Essex tenor resonator banjo with a Whyte-Laydie-type tonering, if I'm not mistaking. And there is of course playing technique. Don't know about setup though.

Correction: I think it's a Clifford Essex Paragon resonator tenor banjo, that one has an archtop tonering of the type you also see in Paramount banjos.

Emiel


http://www.nowhereradio.com/emiel
http://www.bluerounders.com

Edited by - Emiel on 05/10/2007 11:18:14

Emiel - Posted - 05/10/2007:  14:54:31

Could be real skin…

Emiel


http://www.nowhereradio.com/emiel
http://www.bluerounders.com

diarmaid - Posted - 05/10/2007:  20:26:06

i reckon its got a lot to do with the paragon...theyve a pretty unique sound...the distance from the bridge he strikes the strings...the many years of practice...and most importantly all the drinking he does!

DanielT - Posted - 05/12/2007:  11:01:59

I don't believe that the tone ring he has in his Paragon now is the same one it originally came with - I heard somewhere that he switched it out, maybe for a cast ring...a flat top, or one of those kinds of arch top where the arch looks makes it look more like a flathead (like those weird Gibson ones that came out in 24-5). I don't remember the details about it, but I do remember that the ring's skirt looked inconsistent with the rest of the banjo.

It IS a Paragon, though. And the resonator's beat up so badly that you feel nervous about touching it because it might fall apart.

There's a bunch of pretty good shots of it in this video. The arch so clearly evident in Emiel's picture is conspicuously absent:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81E3FnYyezo

Scarecrow - Posted - 05/14/2007:  06:23:01

Thanks, chaps.




Give God a laugh: tell him your plans.

pweller - Posted - 05/14/2007:  16:26:25

Yeah, I sometimes wonder how Barney gets such a piercing, clean sound. I think it´s angle of attack coupled with a real skin head. Listen to his tremolo sometime on old Dubliners records. That man has one heck of a right hand!