I have in the shop a HC Nelsen 6 string ( Two strings on the bass side, two 5th strings) 12-1/2"---12-3/4" +/- head.
Ther owner wants it strung up with the 2 side pegs.
Any idea how it was tuned ? How old ? ECT ?
Thanks,
Tom
More photos
Edited by - TLG on 03/21/2023 14:57:03
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Originally posted by TLGMore photos
Very cool! Looks like it's made from 1890ish J. B. Schall parts, but I have never seen a neck with two drones by them. Two drones were from an earlier time, pre 1880's. Jim Jacquet has one of those earlier two drone banjos and was seeking the same info about tuning at the time, maybe he'll post about what he found out.
Edited by - TriMD180 on 03/21/2023 15:18:20
Wow! Never seen or heard of such a banjo!! I would love to see it strung, and hear it??
I don't know really much about banjos from this period, but understand that they were tuned in D: dGDF#A. Looking at the frets, it seems like the tuning would be gdGDF#A. Maybe someone from the minstrel banjo side could weigh on whether this would make sense. I remember seeing a post saying that Mike Seeger tuned his two drone banjo dcADGA. It would be great to see how one or both of these tunings would work on this banjo. Other banjos that have been pictured had the first drone string at the 7th or 8th fret, where this one has it at the 11th fret. It is a really interesting banjo, that is for sure.
There is no HC Nelson listed in the Banjo Patents book, so am assuming nothin* unusual other than the double drone.
This is probably circa 1880s, perhaps later. Tuning would almost certainly have been based on gCGBD.
I notice the standard 5th is actually in between the 5th and 6th position...but still most likely tuned to g (same as the 1st string, 5th position). The 2nd chanterelle is between the 10th and 11th position...probably similarly tuned to the 10th position, 1st string...F.
This is more likely to be a fingerstyle banjo. Having a high F might be nice playing in C, F, Bb, etc., up the neck. A half-step higher (F#) would do well in G, D and A, etc.
These extra chanterelles show up occasionally (Stewart built one). I think they were experimental, somebody's idea that didn't work out.
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Originally posted by trapdoor2This is probably circa 1880s, perhaps later. Tuning would almost certainly have been based on gCGBD.
I notice the standard 5th is actually in between the 5th and 6th position...but still most likely tuned to g (same as the 1st string, 5th position). The 2nd chanterelle is between the 10th and 11th position...probably similarly tuned to the 10th position, 1st string...D
This is more likely to be a fingerstyle banjo. Having a high D might have some advantages.
These extr chanterelles show up occasionally (Stewart built one). I think they were experimental, somebody's idea that didn't work out.
Exited. C, not F!
Edited by - trapdoor2 on 03/21/2023 22:25:50
H. C. Nelson (sometimes seen as Nelsen or Nielsen) was a banjo seller/manufacturer from Chicago and Evanston, IL. His instruments were built by, assembled from, or heavily influenced by J. B. Schall's work.
Double drone banjos do not seem to ever have caught on. Most examples seem to be one offs, including those made by large scale manufacturers. In addition to a handful of unmarked examples, I've seen them from Stewart, H. C. Dobson, and now Nelson.
Yeah, the tuning would have most likely been based on gCGBD, not dGDF#A.
When I see these, I often think they were somebody's idea to make two instruments in one. Slap a capo on the 5th fret and you have a banjeaurine (if it was tuned gcCGBD).
The only one I've handled had no appreciable playing wear to indicate anything though.
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Originally posted by trapdoor2When I see these, I often think they were somebody's idea to make two instruments in one. Slap a capo on the 5th fret and you have a banjeaurine (if it was tuned gcCGBD).
The only one I've handled had no appreciable playing wear to indicate anything though.
There could be something to this theory. That capo with the extra rod that holds the 5th string down was advertised as to be used just for that reason.
The first double drone I’ve seen was that early fretless owned at the time by Mike Seeger. As noted, He brought it to a Banjo Collector’s Gathering and played a wonderful tune. Perhaps one of the attendees will recall the tune and which of the two tunings he used that day as he played both drones.
I am the present owner of a double drone banjo with, as I understand it, the first patent for a “donut” tone ring by Henry Dobsons brother, C. E. Dobson. Dated May 14, 1878. It is a slothead with geared tuners for the two drones.
I owned the Seeger " double drone" ( had an ebony neck and was British ) for a while but it didn't stay in the collection. I have a Fairbanks & Cole with double drone, nicely carved heel, fairly fancy saw cut inlays which will stay - at least for the immediate future. This setup was more common in British banjos and early minstrel era American banjos. The Nelson is quite interesting - I've only seen one Dobson, one Stewart and my F & C from the classic period with the double drones besides this new Nelson find.
Thanks for everyones input.
Tom
