I took my longneck to the Suwanee Banjo Camp last week. I think I was the only one there with a longneck. It amazes me how many people that play banjo have never even seen one or even heard of them. I get odd looks at jams when my banjo is capoed in a 'weird" position. I have two longnecks and will never buy another regular size one again. I love it.
9 Comments |
 | TonyS says:
3/26/2023 5:35:04 PM
Ha! Agree, for my uh, average singing!
|
 | phdm says:
3/26/2023 9:22:45 PM
Yes, I have always maintained that a longneck banjo is the most versatile of banjos. It isn’t perfect for all situations – wouldn’t likely blend in well with a hard-core bluegrass group, but in most other situations, it’s great. I jokingly call my longneck my key of E & F banjo. It has become especially useful as I age, and have to lower songs from higher keys, but with a longneck banjo, I usually have several extra frets to rely upon to lower the capo.
I only know of one other person here in the greater Seattle area who plays a longneck banjo. The best stringed instrument shop here in Seattle, Dusty Strings, has on occasion had a longneck for sale, usually on consignment, and they seem to hang in their shop for years. I actually bought my second longneck – a mint condition 1962 Vega Pete Seeger model there. It is my pride and joy.
A random, irrelevant question for discussion – is “long neck / longneck” properly one word or two?
Peter
Seattle
|
| TonyS says:
3/27/2023 5:07:43 AM
uh? In English 2 words, in music slang one word?
Not much help there.....
|
 | Lew H says:
3/27/2023 5:40:27 AM
I've had my Gibson RB175 since 1967. It was my only banjo for a few years, then the BAS bug hit me. I play it less as I've aged.Like phdm said, my voice has dropped a bit, but my joints are more arthritic, so my left arm gets achy if I have to play in E or F. Still, the thing has great tone and retunes without lots of tuning and tinkering, so I use it for open mics and occasional gigs.
|
| Lew H says:
3/27/2023 5:43:11 AM
Oh, I forgot to mention that I took my longneck to Suwannee Banjo Camp over a decade ago. It was one of two there at that time. The "new kids" seem to want lightweight banjos with brass fittings and a sock inside.
|
| TonyS says:
3/27/2023 5:45:23 AM
... if you can, slide the pot to the left, bringing the neck down a bit to regular length (my pains too lol)
|
| phdm says:
3/30/2023 10:31:09 PM
Yes, I have always maintained that a longneck banjo is the most versatile of banjos. It isn’t perfect for all situations – wouldn’t likely blend in well with a hard-core bluegrass group, but in most other situations, it’s great. I jokingly call my longneck my key of E & F banjo. It has become especially useful as I age, and have to lower songs from higher keys, but with a longneck banjo, I usually have several extra frets to rely upon to lower the capo.
I only know of one other person here in the greater Seattle area who plays a longneck banjo. The best stringed instrument shop here in Seattle, Dusty Strings, has on occasion had a longneck for sale, usually on consignment, and they seem to hang in their shop for years. I actually bought my second longneck – a mint condition 1962 Vega Pete Seeger model there. It is my pride and joy.
A random, irrelevant question for discussion – is “long neck / longneck” properly one word or two?
Peter
Seattle
|
 | Claude Grassley says:
3/31/2023 5:30:50 AM
I don't know if it's one word or two but when I check the classifieds, I'll do two searches because some folks post it one way or the other so you have to search twice. I have one of mine listed now in the classifieds so I made sure I spelled it both ways for easy searching.. To your point Peter about sitting in the shop a long time, I have one listed in the classifieds now and it's been there for months. Not in a hurry to sell so not a big deal. I guess there's not a big demand for long necks but I would never be without one now.
|
| Claude Grassley says:
3/31/2023 5:34:00 AM
Some time ago, I saw one for sale somewhere with a Mastertone tone ring and a resonator. I'm thinking a long neck with a resonator would be a little awkward to hold. Has anyone in the group played a long neck with a resonator?
|
Post a Comment
|
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.
|
