I recently ordered a fretted gourd banjo from Jeff Menzies and am just curious as to your opinion(s) on a gourd banjo having frets(?)...
14 Comments |
 | Strumelia says:
8/31/2012 6:12:48 PM
Opinion? I think a gourd banjo is yummier without frets. -Just my own thing! :)
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 | CA Banjer says:
8/31/2012 6:17:32 PM
"Yummier"...I like that. Thanks.
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 | Nate Calkins says:
8/31/2012 8:18:33 PM
I've made one, by request. It kinda changes the whole primitive feel. it still sounds great, like a gourd banjo but it's a weird combo of modern and primitive. I prefer the naked neck.
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| CA Banjer says:
8/31/2012 9:02:57 PM
Thanks MR and Strumelia. Yeah, I'm kinda reconsidering the fretted gourd. I think I'm gonna go with a fretless gourd and maybe order a fretted tackhead from him a little later. I appreciate the input!
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| CA Banjer says:
8/31/2012 9:06:02 PM
Btw...you make some good looking (and I'm sure good sounding) banjers yourself, Muddy Roads!
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 | Gordy Ohliger says:
8/31/2012 9:38:04 PM
My 2-cents ~
First off; I like "Yummier" and "Naked Neck"....looks like I'm in the right company.
The gourd (#1), the fretless neck (#2) and the skinhead(#3) will put you into a completely different tonal quality....you will find things coming out of you that never happened before. I strongly suggest you go there.
We will meet you on the golden shore.
Each instrument/ banjo has it's song. it's all great fun.
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| CA Banjer says:
8/31/2012 9:49:19 PM
Thanks Gordy, I enjoyed reading that. The Golden Shore: I believe I'm on my way. I'm really lovin The Hangout right about now :]
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| CA Banjer says:
8/31/2012 9:49:34 PM
Thanks Gordy, I enjoyed reading that. The Golden Shore: I believe I'm on my way. I'm really lovin The Hangout right about now :]
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| Strumelia says:
9/1/2012 4:36:40 AM
Hey when you eventually get a tackhead, either: 1) you won't want frets anymore anyway...or 2) you can use the fretted tackhead like a minstrel banjo and tune it low- that's be yummy too! ;D
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| CA Banjer says:
9/1/2012 11:17:18 AM
Yeah, I used to have a Menzies tackhead and played mostly minstrel music on it. I was just thinking I'd like to have a fretted banjo I could tune low, but play more old time rep that you would play more on a standard tuned (G, C, etc.) fretted banjo, if that makes any sense. That was my original idea with the fretted gourd.
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| Strumelia says:
9/2/2012 5:42:27 PM
I understand. But you can also tune your regular standard fretted banjos down lower if you want, just put some heavier fat strings on them. But then you can't tune them up to double D anymore. With a fretless you do have bigger range cause you can also move the bridge.
That said...you can play most old-time repertoire on a fretless once you get used to it.
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 | flatfootjohnny says:
9/3/2012 12:06:48 AM
How about flush fret position markers... best of both worlds. I have an 1880s banjo with flush fret markers ... looks great and still sounds fretless.
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| Strumelia says:
9/3/2012 9:09:04 AM
But the advantage of fretless is that you can move the bridge up and down for different scales and keys. Flush frets are only good for the bridge in one exact position. They can become confusing once you move the bridge to accommodate a different key. Why limit yourself when fretless offers so much freedom?
Another thing about flush frets I find is that they encourage one to 'think fretted' and play the same way as with frets. Fretless playing involves many more semitones, slides, and linear thinking rather than chord thinking. I had to lock my fretted banjos in the closet for a whole year to 'get' fretless playing....I honestly think having flush frets would have made it even harder to escape from the fretted 'box' my head was in. If fretless playing is like ice skating, then fretted playing is a little more like snowshoeing. ;) Don't get me wrong though- I love them both!
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| CA Banjer says:
9/5/2012 3:38:11 PM
Thank you everyone for your input! All your comments were VERY helpful! I'm really glad I put this post up. I have decided to go with a fretless instrument, and am really glad I did. I had been discussing the details of the banjo with Jeff and he started work on my banjo Monday. I'm going with a very African inspired banjo. He's been sending me daily progess pics. If you're interested you can check out the pics on my page. Thanks again for all the great input! -Chris
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