1961 Ode Model 21

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Long Neck Banjo

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... for those of us who prefer the tuning and singing differences the LN provides. All questions & help welcome!

273 Members, Created 1/30/2011 -

Administrators: TonyS (owner) , Gary Blanchard , pastorharry , vega long neck

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From Claude Grassley on 6/6/2021 6:04:55 AM

I recently purchased a 1961 Ode long neck. I have been playing it for a few months now and I must say I really enjoy the flexibility of it and love the sound. While the capo mostly sits on the 3rd fret in Open G I find myself using open E or F once or twice a week.

I would like to hear from others on how they use and play their long necks. I play mostly at Bluegrass jams (frailing) so I stand out a little.

Thanks

Terry

7 Comments
	kwfolk1 says: 6/6/2021 7:56:02 AM Congrats on the Ode LN. While I use several different tunings: gDGBD, gDGCD, gCGBD & gCGCD, I tend to favor the two C Tunings. While I can't sing a lick, I do the best in the Key of B & B Flat and so I capo on the 1st & 2nd frets of my LNs. However, when I just playing tunes, I capo on the 3rd fret. Odes are fine banjos IMHO. I have two of their LNs, plus a Baldwin LN & a Martin built PS LN.
	Shmockiebaby says: 6/6/2021 9:57:35 AM I tend to leave mine in G tuning (down of course, to E). I have a capo living permanently on the headstock, and a Shubb long bar for the 5th. I was reading an article and listening to a podcast about learning the chord & arpeggio positions up and down the entire neck. It occurred to me that I should set aside my Reiter and pull out the old Gibson long neck for this exercise. Might start on that later today....
	Joe Connor says: 6/6/2021 10:14:40 AM Doesn't Roger McGuinn play an Ode longneck these days? I think that's what he played when I saw him in concert a few years ago.
	Claude Grassley says: 6/6/2021 11:01:49 AM kwfolk1: My wife would never let me own so many banjos! LOL - I can't sing a lick either but I do it anyway. I get a lot of requests, but I sing anyway. shmockiebaby: I had a bunch of rr spikes installed. The Shub tuner that was on mine when I bought it never held down the 5th string. I probably should have bought a new one instead but I went with rr spikes.
	petersj12 says: 6/6/2021 11:06:25 AM I have a Richelieu long neck and a Deering Calico Long neck. Love them both! The benefit I see with a long neck banjo is that when needing to play (or sing) in the Key of E & F you are able to do so by lowering the capo instead of raising it like you do for the Key of A or B. Handy. And the sound of that lower register on the long neck is really nice. I use standard G tuning usually. The long neck works best for a folkie sound but putting the capo up the neck will work to give you a Bluegrass sound. I also have a resonator banjo to get the "real" Scruggs sound if needed. But the long neck will do in most cases. Flexibility is nice with the long neck. You also get a real work out stretching your fingers on those frets near the peghead. Enjoy your banjo.
	Claude Grassley says: 6/6/2021 11:09:06 AM petersj12: I guess I'll never have the "true bluegrass" sound since I frail anyway so the longneck suits me fine!
	TonyS says: 5/8/2022 3:47:26 PM Yes, I like capo3 for G songs but really like the E or 1/2 up to F. Have Pete's book but not using his C tuning right now. Sadly, learning songs not music, the opposite of what I instruct my young friends lol
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