Posted by frianm on Monday, September 19, 2011
Just before I departed Vermont for Lima this month I put together another banjo. This time a Baldwin necked plectrum.
http://www.banjohangout.org/myhangout/photos.asp?id=18327&albumid=6044
The neck was an eBay purchase for less than $50. It had obviously been on an aluminum rim as there was zero angle on the heel. I had a walnut three ply rim sitting around that took shoes and cut for a long skirt ring. I had just sold a Huber and was regretting it tho I needed the cash. Along came an HO member selling a JLS #4 which I knew had the sort of Huber sound and it was a long skirt. I also had some old hardware from a Baldwin Ode aluminum rimmed banjo. The end result is a great plectrum banjo for me to play down here in Peru where I do not use a resonator as I am playing alongside nylon strung classical style guitars. Anyway I sent the neck and rim to Arthur Hatfield who did a masterful job of re-cutting the heel and fitting it to the rim. Once assembled at home I put on Waverly tuners a Farquar bridge and an old Ome tp. I love this banjo! It totes around in an old Reunion Blues gig bag as does my other summer acquisition an Ome XX openback from 1973. New banjos for a new season.
7 comments on “New banjos for a new season in Peru”
erikforgod Says:
Monday, September 19, 2011 @2:19:55 PM
I live in Argentina and one of my best friends is Peruvian and lives in Lima..he attends Calvary Chapel in Lima. I have been thinking about the next missions trip my wife and I do and taking my Goodtime banjo with me.
erikforgod Says:
Monday, September 19, 2011 @2:20:32 PM
He and I were classmates at the bible institute in Santiago de Chile :)
frianm Says:
Monday, September 19, 2011 @2:37:08 PM
You can just play my banjo - you are probably way better than I am - but it is fun to jam a bit. I have introduced 4 banjos to folk here and one has really taken to it. We live in Miraflores, Lima.
erikforgod Says:
Monday, September 19, 2011 @2:39:39 PM
Thats great....these things are great for opening doors to sharing the gospel...My church is planning on visiting an orphanage here soon that has a bunch of kids who were either abandoned..or some of them come from poor large families, and there parents send em there for like weeks at a time to live. ...its very sad. Anyways My pastor has given me permission to carry my Goodtime banjo along with me...I am looking forward to it :)
frianm Says:
Monday, September 19, 2011 @2:54:08 PM
I carry mine - which is why I use an Ome w/ silver spun rim as it is light. I spent years singing Bible School songs in English and they still go down well. The Goodtime is a great choice.
erikforgod Says:
Monday, November 28, 2011 @6:51:37 AM
Ian you can get Kno-not tailpieces from Elderly Instruments in Michigan..
frianm Says:
Monday, November 28, 2011 @7:01:14 AM
I know - however I am hoping someone may have a used one for less than $50!
Meanwhile I have replaced my Elite head on my Ome with its earlier fiberskyn one - I am experimenting with different sounds and set ups. I can let you try out the Elite if you have anyone traveling here who can bring it to you - I do not trust the mail!
Blessings - Ian
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