A recent thread on the BHO website got me interested in the Gibson Ballbearing banjos. In specific, it mentioned the somewhat indiosyncratic tone qualities of these instruments. I have checked out some of the links here and also on Youtube, but I don't feel that the speakers of my computer truly do justice to what these banjos sound like. Are there any CDs or other sources where I could listen with better quality audio (especially interested in 3-finger style on the 5-string)? Or even better, are there any owners near Wilmington, NC, who would be willing to show me what these Gibsons can do? I will appreciate any guidance in getting to know the Ballbearings better.
16 Comments |
 | banjerman says:
4/29/2013 3:57:03 AM
Listen to anything by Jim Reed here on BHO. Buying his cd is probably best as your gonna like the tone.
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 | loggerhead says:
4/29/2013 6:37:20 AM
Thanks. I'm off to do just that!
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 | Fathand says:
4/29/2013 10:58:26 AM
I have one style 3 and played bluegrass on it regularly til I got my Stelling. Very nice tone for Bluegrass although less volume, I like the tone for frailing too which is why I bought it to play both.
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| Fathand says:
4/29/2013 10:58:48 AM
I 2nd the suggestion to listen to Jim Reed.
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 | gdoc says:
5/2/2013 7:28:57 PM
There's just a "warmth" these banjos have. I can play a song, or just pluck a strng, and the banjo makes music out of anything I do. It's just a beautiful sound none of the other banjos have.
Some people say lacks volumn... I can drown out any guitar or mandolin... how loud do you need to be? And I use light guage strings.
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| gdoc says:
5/2/2013 7:32:51 PM
Youtube, I have a tune, Rustic Dance.
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| banjerman says:
5/3/2013 3:59:11 AM
I lucked out doc. Mine is loud too if I bear down on it. I am amazed at the even-ness in tone. I think the banjo is easier to control than my others
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| loggerhead says:
5/3/2013 6:05:53 AM
Thanks, all, for the comments, links, and testimonials (that's a fun tune, gdoc). I've ordered the Jim Reed CD and am looking forward to receiving it. I'm curious what I might expect to pay for a decent ball bearing banjo. If I get bitten by the bug, I'll be asking lots more questions here, so I beg your indulgence while I learn.
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| Fathand says:
5/3/2013 9:15:12 AM
Loggerhead
Style 3 With a conversion neck should run you between $2 -$4 K depending on condition. They seem to have increased since Gibson stopped building banjos.
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| loggerhead says:
5/12/2013 7:08:05 AM
Thanks, Fathand. Still waiting for the Jim Reed CD. Any good sources for finding these banjos at a fair price--either ready to go, or for conversion? Thanks.
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| banjerman says:
5/12/2013 5:22:13 PM
Its a hunt and find thing Gill. Do not buy one till you hear it to be sure its a good one. Not all of em are what you want. Did Jim send you a shipped confirmation?
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| loggerhead says:
5/13/2013 2:02:55 PM
Thanks, Wally. I've sent Jim Reed an email asking whether there has been a problem. I understand your caveat that it's best to hear the banjo before buying. Even if I like how Jim Reed's sounds, the next one may not play quite like his. But are you recommending only looking at original 5-strings ($$$$$) or successful conversions ($$$$) that I can actually play and hear? What about getting a tenor or plectrum (maybe for 1/2 of $$$$) for conversion? Is that just a crap-shoot, with no guarantee that it'll sound any good, or do most of the conversions actually turn out well? The closest pre-war guru is Jim Mills up in Raleigh, but I do not know whether the ball-bearings are his thing.
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| banjerman says:
5/14/2013 4:09:59 AM
Jim Mills isnt a BB guy, at least that I know of. His deal is all flathead Gibsons. Im talking successful conversions rather than original 5's. I did do mine as a tenor to a 5 but I was taking a pretty big risk I know. A good neck maker will get around 1g for a 5 string neck. I seen Flalin has one for sale here recently as a tenor. So add another 1g to that price. I seen that you had down you were a novice player and I was being thoughful of that as you may not have a lot of experience dealing with banjo's etc. John Boulding did my neck and its a beauty. He takes a while to get it done but it was worth the wait as I had other jo's to play in the while. Arthur Hatfield can do a fine job also on a 5 neck. Take your time in your quest to find a good one is my best advice and its best if you can actually play the jo first to be safe. Ill talk to Jim Reed about the CD. Jim recently went back to work and he may not be checking his e-mails like he was.
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| loggerhead says:
5/14/2013 5:47:15 AM
I appreciate your perspective as someone who has been around banjos awhile, and has done a conversion. I am in no hurry to plunk down big bucks, and will take your advice to wait for "the" banjo to come up. Meanwhile I have a couple of nice ones to play, even as I look for the one with that elusive sound which differs from player to player, but which each player knows when he hears it. As for the CD, Jim is sending it out today--he'd simply missed the order. No big deal, though he was very apologetic. He also kindly answered a question or two about the banjo on the recording. Nice fellow. I'm glad folks can make a few dollars while keeping the music and the instruments alive.
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| banjerman says:
5/14/2013 9:25:29 AM
Jim's 25 Granada is legendary. So is Jim for that matter. Sammy Shelor looks up Jim to jam with when hes in town. Im learning Banjo Hell from that cd hes sending you. When you get a good one you will hear it right off Gill. Banjers are just like people in that they all are just different enough to keep it interesting..haha.
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| gdoc says:
5/17/2013 7:43:01 AM
I have a 25 TB3 and a 26 TB4. Both converted to 5s. I was thinking about selling the TB4 for $4,500 until I read above that Gibson has quit making banjos, and now I'm thinking keep it. That's the one I played Rustic Dance on YouTube with, also have an exploded picture of it on my homepage.
2-3 years ago the TB3 banjos were selling for about $1,700 to $2,500 give or take for one converted, or buy the tenor and convert it for still the same cost. You could also find one to three on Ebay just about every week. But lately I haven't seen but a couple in a long time. But as mentioned above, in the last year or two, since Gibson quit building banjos, the price has gone up, maybe people are holding on to them for that reason.
They are still out there though, and often listed on the Hangout here.
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