New Group - gathering place for folks interested in H.C. Dobson banjos - H. C. Dobson Banjos Group Blog

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H. C. Dobson Banjos

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For all things related to banjos by Henry C. Dobson.

113 Members, Created 11/28/2011 -

Administrators: jbalch (owner)

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New Group - gathering place for folks interested in H.C. Dobson banjos

From jbalch on 11/28/2011 4:41:35 PM

I started this group in response to a discussion regarding gathering information about banjos by H. C Dobson. The focus shall be banjos made by Henry C. Dobson, inventor of the patented "silver bell" tone ring and many other significant innovations. (not to be confused with the other Dobsons: Charles, Edward, Frank or George)

Please feel free to add your photos and comments here and to link all relevant discussions.

5 Comments
	henwaddle says: 11/28/2011 5:29:50 PM John thanks for kicking off this valuable addition to BHO. I recently purchased what I believe to be a HC Dobson banjo which I had Jason Burns do some restoration work on. Like others on BHO I am curious to know information about the history of this banjo and other general history of the Henry C Dobson line of banjos. I will post pics in the near future.
	David McLaughlin says: 11/28/2011 5:37:38 PM Wow, who would have thunk. I remember in the 1960s when everybody laughed at me for my plunky Silver Bell banjo. In the 1960s and 1970s nobody wanted them. You could not GIVE them away!
	Bill Anderson says: 11/28/2011 6:02:54 PM Thanks John for starting the group.... David I didn't know what one was till Frank Lee played some hybrid thing with a weird donut tone ring with the Freight Hoppers. When I heard Adam "the man", it all became clear that was the tone. You could give me one now. While talking with Doug Unger today, he mentioned that none of the guys collecting years ago were impressed with Dobson.....they didn't appreciate them enough to compile data, etc.
	David McLaughlin says: 11/28/2011 7:09:15 PM Bill, Even today, many people can't get out of them what people like Adam or Richie can. I often pass a Silver Bell to a fellow jammer only to have them bewildered at not being able to get any good sound out of it. For starters, IMO they are not good sounding banjos for hard playing or thrashing.
	Bill Anderson says: 11/29/2011 7:17:05 AM That makes sense David, it seems that the more gentle musicians are attracted to these tones. I love the solo sound it brings when completely exposed as though a solitary banjoist is playing on the porch after a hard day's work......as equally the way it blends and perfectly fits into the spaces of a stringband. Guess I haven't heard a flogger play a Silver Bell, hope I never will. To my ear, the Silver Bell tone attracts me from its first note, while lots of other banjo tones are aggressively still trying to convince me. The Silver Bell is an OLD sound...
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	(untitled) Linked by Stephen John Prior 2 years ago: 3/8 and 5/1th head Silver Bell bolts and brackets.
	Dobson parts Linked by Stephen John Prior 2 years ago
	Dobson parts Linked by Stephen John Prior 2 years ago
	H.C. Dobson Silver Bell Linked by mrphysics55 3 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by mrphysics55 4 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by jbalch 5 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by jbalch 5 years ago
*Classified: SUPERB* Antique Vintage 1880s HC Dobson Silver Bell 5 String Open Back Banjo** Linked by montananmrk 8 years ago
	Headstock on Dobson Silver Bell Linked by Newl Post 9 years ago: Another photo of my recent purchase. Strange shape, eh? I'm skeptical that the "ears" on top are original.
	Dobson Silver Bell, full frontal Linked by Newl Post 9 years ago: I posted comments a couple days ago. Here's a full frontal of my recent purchase.