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Paul Bock |
Paul Bock replied to topic 'Do We Play Too Loud?' 4 days
Paul Bock replied to topic 'Do We Play Too Loud?' 5 days
Hi guys (and gals),
First, an update on "banjo tinkering" (something I prefer to minimize as much as I can): "Snowflake" plus the Tennessee 20 tone ring has turned into a nice stable "marriage". Strong, solid, clear notes, great "crack" to the sound, and very powerful. In fact, just a little too powerful for playing in a condo (I swear that it could knock bricks out of the building if you played hard enough). To "soften" it just a tad, I bought one of those "Banjo Bolsters" online and stuck it inside the pot, and it does the trick. Sound is still solid and well-balanced, very clear & pleasing (meaning not "muffled") but it's "toned down" just enough that I can practice in the condo without really bothering anyone (condo-to-condo soundproofing is excellent in this building). Of course, I only practice during the daytime, never in the evening or too early in the morning. If I was in an outdoor jam I could always take off the resonator and remove the "bolster" to get back the extra volume if I felt I really needed it.
I did change the tailpiece from a Prucha gold Presto to a Prucha gold Kerschner, which I like much better. I used a Kerschner for many years, then sold the old one I had after I bought the Presto two years ago, so I was forced to cough up a lotta dough for the new Prucha but it is such a fine piece of work it was worth it. I also switched off of the old Snuffy Smith 11/16 bridge to a Huber 11/16 for a while, but just went back to a different Snuffy 11/16 with the Crowe spacing a couple of weeks ago to try the extra width. I'm beginning to think that the little bit of extra spacing helps with accuracy of my right hand, but I'll give it a while longer before I make up my mind. I also have a Huber 11/16 Crowe-spaced so I'll try both of the wider ones (Snuffy & Huber) and see if and/or how much the tone changes, but I think they're very close and that would amount to nit-picking, anyway, which IMHO is wasting time. Some of you readers may remember years ago when the late, great Sonny Osborne stated something to the effect that "these young players would be better off to stop tinkering with their banjos and spend more time practicing." That's good advice at any age.
As for progress: Picking skills are g-r-a-d-u-a-l-l-y improving, but you'd expect it to be slow for someone in their early '80s. It's a matter of rebuilding my muscle memory again and also building up hand strength, the latter being something that is definitely problematic as you get older or have suffered injury (and I've had injuries to both hands).
Now, about keeping good rhythm: Playing along with "slow jam" DVDs is one way, and I like the Murphy Method "Slow Jam" and "Picking Up the Pace". I haven't figured out yet how Murphy & Casey manage to keep smiling all the time, but whatever. Very helpful.
I've also hooked up with "Strum Machine" about a year or so ago and it is SOOOO much better than a metronome! I've even set up my own song list of what I want to work on; just type in the chords and bingo! you have a guitar, bass, and mandolin chops laying down that rhythm AND you can adjust the tempo with a mouse-click in 5 bpm increments. I even loaded the app onto my iPhone so that I can get timing/rhythm practice any place, any time. Here's a link: Strum Machine
And as someone famous once said, "Timing is everything."
Happy pickin'!
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grich replied to topic 'Looking for a "new" banjo. . .' 1 hr
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Genre: Popular
Playing Style: Other
Genre: Bluegrass
Playing Style: Bluegrass (Scruggs)
Genre: Bluegrass
Playing Style: Bluegrass (Scruggs)
Genre: Unknown/None Chosen
Playing Style: Other
Playing Since: 1956
Experience Level: Purty Good
Paul Bock has made 2 recent additions to Banjo Hangout
Interests:
[Jamming] [Socializing]
Occupation: Retired Navy (E-9) and retired electrical engineer.
Gender: Male
Age: 83
My Instruments:
Circa 1982, hand-built (by me) "Snowflake Special" 5-string flathead Bluegrass resonator banjo w/2-piece flange; in 2008 I swapped out the tone ring for a JLS No. 12, and in 2021 I changed over to a Tennessee 20 tone ring. Victor 5-string Banjola serial # 9.
Favorite Bands/Musicians:
Most everybody is a favorite now, especially Tom Adams & Craig Smith, but Don Reno, Allen Shelton & Earl Scruggs were my first favorites back in the early 1950s. Also have played a little bare-finger classic style on a nylon-string banjo.
Classified Rating: (+2)
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Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 2/23/2005
Last Visit 4/16/2025
Born in Richmond, VA, and raised on a farm. Started teaching myself banjo in 1956. Competed in the North Carolina State Fair Folk Festival banjo contest and took 2nd place in 1962 and 1st place in 1963. Played with local groups between 1960 and the late 1980s but had to quit due to injuries to the fingers of my right hand and then breaking my left wrist in 2014. I've been working diligently to get back "playing form" since 2020 and I'm encouraged by progress so far, but it's a long road and slow going. I also dabble occasionally with classic finger-style using nylon strings. My instruments include a 5-string banjola by Victor (formerly EVD) Instruments which is a lot of fun for folk music, jazz, classical & Irish pieces. **************************************************************************** In the real world, I'm a retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9) and a retired electrical engineer with over 25 years experience in radio broadcasting, defense electronics and telecommunications. I have B.S. and M.S. degrees, am a Life Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and co-holder of a patent in telecommunications equipment design. I also hold several commercial radio operator licenses (Radiotelegraph, Radiotelephone, and GMDSS Maintainer, all with the Ship Radar Endorsement. ***************************************************************************** My other hobbies include Amateur Radio (licensed as K4MSG since 1957 and have always been an avid radiotelegraph operator). I've also spent time dabbling in various digital modes including meteor scatter and Earth-Moon-Earth (aka "moonbounce") communications. I'm also a sporadic amateur astronomer. I love to read, especially history, and have dabbled in historical research on topics of interest including evolution of the 5-string banjo, development of certain types of telegraph keys, wireless telegraphy, the Revolutionary War involvement of my ancestors, etc. My wife & I enjoy travel, especially cruising on Princess Cruise Lines (21 cruises so far, including 8 transatlantic crossings).
