Well folks, I'm not a Buckbee expert but I do admire the man's/shop's work. There are many examples still out there ... most of which bear the names of others.
I recently acquired a A-Scale [22 inch] with a 9 inch pot. It is marked F.H. Douglas but is undeniably a Buckbee. I intend to do some restoration.
Having the small banjer in my hands inspired me to start this Buckbee Banjo Group. I'll update you as this little banjer gets some "spit and polish".
11 Comments |
 | gabeeg says:
5/17/2014 12:28:31 PM
Glad you started this group! I have a almost guilty love for Buckbees. You read most collector "what is this banjo" posts and you will see the almost dismissive "It's only a Buckbee" response. Buckbee might have been the ubiquitous banjo for every no-name retailer wanting to have a house banjo to sell, but that does not mean it is not a good solid banjo. I have owned two Buckbees and loved both. both were light and durable and in decent shape for being over a 100 years old. Most importantly both have/had great tone. I still have one that I keep just because of the great old-time tone. Its fretboard has shrunk requiring filing the frets and has left a gap between it and the pot, it has a mix of new and old brackets, screws are rusted, the wood rim is a bit rough and the spun-over rim is dinged and needs polishing but the neck is straight and the banjo solid...and plays great. Even the one I don't own anymore was nice player and will probably last another 100 years. Every time I see a decent Buckbee for sell (usually pretty cheaply) I am tempted to buy it.
|
 | BlowingRockNC says:
5/20/2014 1:21:17 PM
Buckbees come in all types. Some sold by Sears. Some custom made for top professionals of the day, and some for other big name banjo companies. You can't judge this banjo by it's name.
|
 | mrphysics55 says:
5/22/2014 7:02:31 AM
Hi there BlowingRock,
That's one of the things I find most fascinating about these banjos. They run the gamut from workingman to professional.
|
 | TriMD180 says:
10/12/2018 3:19:13 PM
I haver three that run from barebones, middle of the road, and upper end. I enjoy them all!
|
 | rwbacon says:
1/11/2019 7:49:29 PM
Fellow Buckbee banjo enthusiasts:
A recently-published book with new findings about prolific banjo maker John Henry Buckbee was introduced at the 2018 Banjo Gathering in Bristol, Va. (November 1-4, 2018).
In the presentation about the book, Chauncey Richmond & "The Old Buckbee": The Story of a Banjo, Its Maker, and Its Player (Variety Arts Press, 2018), the author (yup, that's me!) revealed new discoveries about the individual(s), the establishment of the business and factory after the Civil War, its location(s) in the Bronx and Manhattan (N.Y.), and the dissolution of the business in 1897.
To learn more about the book, to read the introduction and table of contents, and to order the book, visit the publisher's website: varietyartspress.com/RichmondA...bee.html.
To be sure, despite the new findings, the earth continues to rotate on its axis. But I'm still glad to contribute to the understanding of the prolific but resolutely anonymous banjo maker, John Henry Buckbee.
Reg Bacon
Independent Museum Professional
& Circus/Vaudevillian Emeritus
(... and tenor & 5-string player for 45+ years)
|
 | yetmeng68 says:
3/2/2019 11:47:32 PM
hello and thank you for letting me join i didn't know i had a buckbee until 2 days ago it was made under license of Alfred D Cammeyer Id show pics but i don't know how to on here this buckbee site yet lol
|
| mrphysics55 says:
3/3/2019 7:44:26 AM
Welcome yetmeng68 and thank you for joining us. Enjoy your stay.
BTW. You can always post photos on your home page and we can go there to look at your banjer.
|
 | Jersey Jeff says:
12/27/2021 6:04:43 PM
I just bought what may be a Buckbee variant. Please see my post titled Mystery Banjo and let me know what you think.
|
| mrphysics55 says:
12/27/2021 8:19:22 PM
Looks very cool. I believe the pot is from the Buckbee factory.
|
 | ParsilCanyon says:
7/20/2022 2:18:54 PM
Hi...
I recently acquired a Buckbee banjo and have been working on restoring it. I've really only taken it apart and cleaned it up. It has a walnut fretboard, friction pegs, a round oak dowel, and is in good condition except for a new head, a bridge, strings, and a fastener to attach the tailpiece to the end of the dowel. It's marked JHB on the heel. Is there info available on Buckbee varieties? Is there a way to post photos here? Does anyone have a similar tailpiece with a pic of the fastener I don't have?
|
| mrphysics55 says:
7/20/2022 2:37:49 PM
Welcome Donald,
Good question about posting pictures here. I’m clueless but maybe another member has some insight.
A Work-Around would be to Post Photos in a suitable Forum and then Link the post to the Group.
|
Post a Comment
|
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.
|
