Back to Ode after an 8 year absence

Premier Sponsors

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to our privacy policy which includes details of cookie usage. Hide this notice

Ode Banjos

Join This Group

For those who love, own & play Ode Banjos

180 Members, Created 2/6/2011 -

Administrators: kwfolk1 (owner)

< Back to Home

From Lane_Narrows on 10/12/2015 8:05:31 AM

As a teenager in the late 70's, I saved my money and bought a Model C. Bought it unseen from Elderly in Lansing MI, and it came inlaid on the ninth fret instead of he tenth. I was so excited overall that I kept it, but as you can imagine, picking up and playing other banjos was always a challenge.

About 8 years ago I decided I'd had enough, time for a change. Sold my Ode and bought a nice plain Sullivan.

But this weekend I found a Baldwin Ode at an estate auction. Plain headstock, "Baldwin" on a metal plate, "ODE" inlaid. Plain dot inlays on the neck. Archtop. It was incredibly crisp and loud, and I bought it.

So I know the whole Baldwin / Ode story is a little convoluted, and my knowledge of banjos isn't that extensive. I've got a model 6510 with a cast aluminum pot. I don't know anything about this model, but I intend to keep this one and sell my Sullivan. Can someone point me to a site or previous forum thread that will give me some info?

Honestly, I don't need to know the production details - what I'd really like to know is - what's the advantage/ disadvantage of the aluminum pot? I've never been around one and had no idea how this banjo was built until I brought it home from the auction and took off the resonator. Surpise!

So why the aluminum pot, and what do people think?

Thanks

2 Comments
	rbfour5 says: 10/11/2015 8:02:41 PM Check this older forum post: banjohangout.org/group/odebanjos/blog/6997 Also, Ed Britt (here on the Hangout) is one of the ODE guru's that can shed more light on your aluminum pot Baldwin ODE. Congratulations on your 6510!
	Lane_Narrows says: 10/12/2015 7:57:05 AM Thanks rbfour5. After a lifetime of reading about tone rings and wood, the aluminum pot really surprised me. I played this banjo a total of about 5 minutes in an open field before I bid on it. Fortunately the strings and setup were good. I always liked the Ode necks, my hands are wide and my fingers aren't exceptionally long so a thin neck suites me. I noticed right away how loud it is, but it doesn't seem harsh - a lot of archtops sound harsh to me and I like a strong low range. I'm looking forward to hearing what this banjo will do.
Post a Comment
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.

	Gibson Mastertone RB-800 1980 Linked by june-apple 1 year ago: I have double name Baldwin ode model D!
	.38 Special Banjo Tone Ring Linked by june-apple 1 year ago: I like their crispy sound!
	Jerusalem Ridge on Banjo–Fast & Slow Linked by alwaysintune 3 years ago
	For Sale 1962 ODE Model 23, Longneck 5-String Banjo Linked by 35planar 6 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by jun3machina 6 years ago
	Ode model 21 long neck w/hsc Linked by john bange 7 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by 35planar 7 years ago: Looking for an ODE 5-string neck, pre-Baldwin, dowel stick or no dowel stick, long or standard, tuners or none as long as the truss rod, frets, and wood are decent with no twist. I know, seems futile.
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by 35planar 7 years ago
Tablature: Bach prelude to cello suite #1 in G major Linked by zeemie 8 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by john bange 8 years ago