Me, playing the T-12.
4 comments on “Goose Acres T-12 banjo”
John Herrington Says:
Sunday, January 25, 2009 @1:25:26 PM
Good looking banjo, Paul, tell me about it. Who made it? Looks like it has a large pot, etc.
Ol' John on the Big Horn in Wyoming
rendesvous1840 Says:
Monday, January 26, 2009 @6:33:19 PM
My pride & joy was made by Goose Acres Folk Music, formerly in Cleveland, Ohio. The owner, Pete Smakula, retired 2 years ago and closed the store. He passed away last summer. The banjo has a walnut neck, and12" maple pot, stained to match the neck. I couldn't get past the deep mellow sound of that big pot, although the 11' classic model I played sounded great, too. The classic model came with a spun nickle overlay on the pot, and had a bright sparkle to the sound. Alas, too little funds to buy both, and they closed before I could save enough for a second banjo. Pete's son, Bob, owns Smakula Fretted Instruments in Elkins, WVa.
Tom Berghan Says:
Monday, March 29, 2010 @7:07:10 PM
RE: Goose Acres
Looks great Paul! My favorite clawhammer player is John Balch (member of the BHO). Now John has had probably a hundred banjos over the span of his banjo career . . . and has had some REALLY fine banjos . . . some very collectible and valuable . . . but John says his best banjo ever is his old Goose Acres. So there you go!
jbalch Says:
Monday, March 29, 2010 @7:34:47 PM
Paul...I have T-12 #708. I bought it from Thomas Bailey (formerly of The Forge Mountain Diggers & Freighoppers). Thomas listed it on ebay...and I won it for a crazy low bid. I had no idea who the seller was. Later Thomas e-mailed to say that the banjo originally belonged to David Bass (Freight Hoppers). I've sold it twice...and bought it back. After all of that...I finally decided it is not going anywhere. It is a very powerful sounding banjo with great tone...a real clawhammer cannon.
I understand how you feel about your T-12!
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