Larry Ramos Tribute

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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 percyfam on 5/7/2014 12:28:18 PM

I was saddened to learn last week of the passing of Larry Ramos, the banjo player in the original New Christy Minstrels. Although he achieved greater notoriety as an early member of the Association, Larry proved himself to be a most competent banjo player through his work with the Christies in the 60's. I was fortunate to see him in person with the Christies in 1964 when I was just a grade-schooler. Even then I was inspired by his ability to move easily between a conventional folk-style strum/pick and a 3-finger style with a distinct Scruggs-style flavor. His banjo picking was always smooth and tasteful.

In 1964 Larry began performing with a new and very distinctive banjo. It was a gold-plated longneck Gibson bow tie which for a longtime I assumed was an RB-500, possibly the first 500 made. After researching this banjo for the last few years through numerous photos (album covers and promo shots), I am convinced that it was a gold-plated RB-250. It had no purfling on the neck and resonator and was fit with cam tuners, a geared 5th-string peg, Grover guitar-style tuners and interestingly, what appears to be an Ode sliding 5th-string capo and an Oettinger tailpiece. At one time Larry even had an electric pickup mounted on this banjo.

I believe that this may be the only factory-assembled Gibson longneck resonator banjo. I have seen a couple of other longneck Gibsons with resonators but both appeared to be RB-175/180's retrofit with resonators.

As you can tell from the length of this post, the "Ramos banjo" has become a major interest of mine. For a few years now copying the banjo has been on my "bucket list". However fearing that I may lose this post due to its length, I will finish it in a subsequent post with the rest of the story.

Hereford Percy

6 Comments
percyfam says: 5/7/2014 12:15:03 PM The next chapter: For the last few years I have been accumulating the necessary/appropriate parts for the Ramos banjo. I found though that I did not have the time or expertise to complete the project as it should be. To that end I contacted the "longneck guru", Wyatt Fawley, who accepted the challenge. Over the last several months Wyatt has taken this from just a wish to a reality. He has sent me numerous photos at different stages of completion which has only served to increase my excitement. The banjo is now only days away from completion and I'm looking forward to finally holding it my hands. My intent when this project got started was to eventually contact Larry Ramos and obtain more details on the history of the original but sadly that opportunity has been lost. Now I am hoping to find a tune or two that I may be able to work this banjo into a bluegrass setting during our band's performances. In any instance this banjo will be a tribute to one of my early influences in banjo playing. The next chapter of this story will be the arrival of the completed banjo at which time I will post some pictures of it and the original. Thanks for your patience in allowing me to post this story. I hope that it conveys the joy that I have had in pursuing its completion. Hereford Percy
	mainejohn says: 5/7/2014 12:15:49 PM Very informative. Thanks, Hereford.
CleitusDELETED says: 5/8/2014 7:32:10 PM great story - many thanks for it and good luck with the new banjo.
	john bange says: 5/11/2014 9:40:59 AM me too...great story. I always loved the Christy's...waiting for the photos... thanks, john
	raymond66 says: 5/16/2014 10:26:25 AM Can't wait to see the pix. I too thought that was a really cool banjo and had never seen another one quite like it. I thought of making a long-neck, resonator banjo, but where would I ever find a case for it?
	Newl Post says: 5/17/2014 7:58:31 AM Wonderful story! Can't wait for the photos.
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