Dogface

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Gibson Ballbearing Owners Group

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All those who own or would like to own one of these wonderful instruments are invited to join.

120 Members, Created 1/26/2011 -

Administrators: Couchie (owner)

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From Dogface on 3/18/2016 4:46:25 PM

I've been a tenor player for years and had, among others, a '26 Gibson TB-3. I tried to sell it for a year or so but finally decided to make a short scale five string out of it. I have a bad left shoulder and can't reach all the way up on a normal fiver. Tommy George is making the new neck and I'll be good to go/learn. I have enjoyed reading all the posts on this forum and glad to hear that most like the bb tone rings. It presently has a clear head but I'll be changing that when I get it back. Always loved the scruggs style banjo but never learned all the rolls..now is the time. Left hand should be easier for me than other newbies...

3 Comments
	dhergert says: 3/19/2016 7:48:25 AM Hi Mark, a BB should make a good short scale 5-string. I'm guessing you'll still need to learn the left hand chords and runs, but the foundational left hand concepts should transfer over nicely from tenor. If you're already using an open tuning on your tenor then some or all of the chords may also apply; I use open Bb tuning (f Bb D F) on my '20s Vega Style M 17 fret tenor so all the left hand fingering transfers directly over to 5 string. You may want to use the same or a similar tuning depending on the number of frets your new short scale 5-string neck is going to have. I'm somewhat of a collector/player, so if it were my banjo I'd be trying to keep everything original with the pot and old neck so any neck changes could be completely reversed. But that's a call each owner needs to make for themselves. Whatever you do, I hope you enjoy playing this old beauty. -- Don
	dhergert says: 3/19/2016 7:53:56 AM P.S. Do you know Dan Martin, he's been pretty integral for the festival in your area. He's also a mountain man. A very nice fellow, and very fun to jam with... -- Don
	Dogface says: 3/19/2016 8:26:48 AM Don: Thanks for the reply. I am keeping all original parts of this so it can be re-converted at any time. The new neck is 19 fret and an exact copy of the TB-3 inlays. I've used standard tenor tuning all my playing life so chords will have to be relearned but since my left hand is used to making chords it should be easier than if I were a brand new player. Not sure when Tommy will have it finished and I'm not pushing him in any way... Nice man and I've done business with him before... No, I don;t know Dan Martin but will look him up.
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