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New to long neck . . . advice needed
From Jock Elliott on 9/2/2018 2:05:32 PM
Some introductory hoo-hah first. I've been playing banjo since 1969 or thereabouts. I used to watch the Beverly Hillbillies just so I could hear the theme.
My only current banjo is a Vega Whyte Laydie that was built in 1910. It has one peculiarity: a very low bridge . . . just 13/32 . . . in order to give it very nice action. I play Scruggs and clawhammer.
Lately, I've gotten interested in lower-tuned banjos. I tried the Gold Tone Missing Link 1, but it has a bridge almost 1 inch tall, and it made for a very awkward hand position (I felt like I was reaching UP to get to the strings).
Anyway, I've been thinking that maybe a long neck might be the ticket. I don't want to spend a huge amount. I see Gold Tone makes three different long necks; Deering has one around two kilobucks (really more than I want to spend), and a friend has a mid-60s Gibson RB175LN (?).
The problem, of course, is that it is really hard to find any place with even one long neck to play, let along several long necks that could be compared.
In addition to playability, I prize clear tone.
Advice?
Cheers, Jock
10 Comments |
 | Pauls Pretty Good Stuff says:
9/2/2018 2:24:57 PM
I have 35 long necks. Please come visit. Paul in Tucson
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| Pauls Pretty Good Stuff says:
9/2/2018 2:25:40 PM
Soon!
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 | Jock Elliott says:
9/2/2018 2:34:12 PM
Shop the Folk. First: Wow! Second: I'm in upstate New York. Hmmmm.
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 | kwl says:
9/2/2018 4:38:08 PM
I had an RB175. It was my first banjo and very nice. I found that because my arms are short I kept it capoed all the time, so eventually I went with a shorter necked banjo. I do miss the sound of the RB175.
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CleitusDELETED says:
9/2/2018 9:56:13 PM
I still have an RB175 and they were going for very cheap almost ridiculous prices a couple of years back - mine was $705 US I recall on ebay. Failing that I like my ancient Framus longneck and that should be less than $400 used on ebay or craigslist.
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 | John Gribble says:
9/3/2018 2:32:21 AM
Hi, Jock. That's a lot of territory you covered!
First off, you aren't going to find a "modern" with as low a bridge as your Vega has. When your banjo was built, a 1/2 inch bridge was the norm. Now, 5/8" is the norm, but many think that's too low. You are going to have to adjust your right hand, no matter what banjo you get. Try resting your pinkie on the bridge itself when playing 3-finger style.
Given that you want something low-pitched but with a bright tone, a long-neck may be the best option. A used Gibson 175 may be your best bet. They have a simple brass ring, but set up right they still have a lot of pop. And the price is still pretty low--under $1000 with a good case. I have one which I like a lot.
If you can find one, a Wildwood longneck may be something you'd like. They have tuba-phone tone rings. I'm pretty sure Wildwood is no longer in production (the owner is retiring), but there may be something around at a comfortable price. I have a regular-neck Wildwood which is a nice machine.
I have no experience with the Gold Tone instruments. I do play the fancier Deering longneck with the tubaphone ring occationally. It belongs to a friend. It is a very nice instument. But new it is around $5000. The less-expensive version is probably similar in quality to the 175.
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 | darwinyarwin says:
9/3/2018 8:40:32 AM
Re Bridge Height:
Jock, both my Ode LN and my RB 175 have had 7/16" bridges on them and they fit quite nicely . The action is just where you'd want it, I suspect.
As has been discussed here many times, (Check to older posts here) Long Neck prices are still too low. Since I can't get the intrinsic value out of my RB175, I quit trying to sell it last year. It is a permanent part of my "arsenal" now. John Gribble's comment is truth. As of late we've seen sellers asking $1000-1200 for Gibson RB175s and having them sit for more than a year. One seller dropped his price to $600 - original hard case included - and barely got an offer. If you shop hard, you certainly ought to be able to pick up a quality LN for around that price. Most of us long-neckers already have a closet full of them we've purchased during this low low LOW market. :(
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 | tucsonsean says:
9/3/2018 9:00:21 PM
Follow up on Paul's offer (ShoptheFolk). He really does have a slew of longnecks. He's honest and a good guy to deal with. (Used to own The Folk Shop in Tucson--retired now.) Maybe you guys could get together on Skype or FaceTime. That way you could see and hear the banjo without actually traveling here to the desert.
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| tucsonsean says:
9/3/2018 9:03:51 PM
Paul has Merlins, Vegas, Gibsons, Bacons--you name it, he probably has it. I got a really nice Christy from him not too long ago.
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 | giweb says:
9/5/2018 6:08:48 PM
I have several LN banjos. Welcome to the group!
You can't go wrong with a Gibson RB 175.
One of the best shaped necks ever made.
giweb
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