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Gariepy Banjos

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Icons of the 60's, these banjos honor the brief, brilliant--but ultimately sad--legacy of California luthier, Art Gariepy.

13 Members, Created 2/4/2017 -

Administrators: tucsonsean (owner)

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From vega nut on 2/25/2022 11:51:35 AM

I spotted a Gariepy 5-string on craigslist 2 weeks ago offered for $250. I read about them here on BHO and became interested. After listening to a few of them on youtube I was convinced. I contacted the owner and found it still available. Sight unseen, I gambled and offered him an extra $50 if he would hold it until I could drive up from where I live near San Diego to Sherman Oaks north of Los Angeles, a 291 mile round trip. Two days later I met with the owner, a very nice fellow who waited an hour for me at a grocery store parking lot as I struggled with miserable clogged LA freeways on the way up. He told me that his father bought it for him new around 1967 when he was a kid. Trouble was, that he is left-handed and the banjo is right-handed. He took a few lessons but never could cotton to playing banjo right-handed so he gave it up. The banjo was stored in the closets of his various houses ever since. It's the basic model with solid aluminum open back rim, 6 dot markers on the fret board and 2 dots on the black peg head. The banjo (production # 1-1611) is in excellent all original condition and is a veritable canon with excellent tone and mega-twang. It's very fun to play and the sound is extra rich. It has become an obsession, I can't put it down. When I'm not playing it, it now resides in a special place in my closet.

10 Comments
	jun3machina says: 2/22/2022 9:06:06 PM congrats! i was about the contact the seller of this and then it dissapeared. I was hoping a BHO member got it!! would love to see some pictures! congrats!!
	John Gribble says: 2/22/2022 11:29:00 PM Lucky you! I have a similar instrument, rim #1155, which I've had since 1964. It currently lives on a stand in my home office. It has suffered numerous indignities over the years, but I continue to love it.
	vega nut says: 2/25/2022 11:44:03 AM Here's some photos, although they look just like any other Gariepy, but they lend authenticity to my original claims and boasts. Note the tasty case candy, an unmolested Ace Deluxe never taken out of the plastic case Style 1102 banjo strap. (I'll molest it myself later.) Other case candy included original nut wrench, some picks, a set of rusty LaBella strings and the ubiquitous plastic pitch pipe. Sadly, the original cardboard case is literally falling apart at the seams
	vega nut says: 2/25/2022 11:54:44 AM Somebody what to tell me how to attach photos to this thread? I expected an box or something to click on to add photos but nothing was forthcoming. I'm not completely inept (but close) but I have attached photos to other BHO functions without problem.
	vega nut says: 2/25/2022 12:05:27 PM Somebody what to tell me how to attach photos to this thread? I expected an box or something to click on to add photos but nothing was forthcoming. I'm not completely inept (but close) but I have attached photos to other BHO functions without problem.
	vega nut says: 2/25/2022 12:06:41 PM I've added some photos which (hopefully) can be viewed when checking out my 'profile'. Good luck.
	vega nut says: 2/25/2022 12:28:20 PM I've added some photos which (hopefully) can be viewed when checking out my 'profile'. Good luck.
	vega nut says: 2/25/2022 12:29:29 PM told you i was inept...
	vega nut says: 2/26/2022 7:58:34 AM Dear Gariepy Group Members, It took a while, but I accidently stumbled upon how to post my Closet Case photos. Sorry for the excessive clutter.
	tucsonsean says: 2/26/2022 10:12:38 AM Thanks for the pics, VN. Your find is in better shape than mine was when I found it (#1-1307). Mine was original except for a tension hoop when I found it at the Folk Shop in Tucson, AZ. I I eventually sourced one from a Gariepy tenor parts banjo. Anyway, welcome to the group, and take the time to read about the luthier, Art Gariepy, and his interesting and somewhat sad history.
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