Has any clawhammer players here played a converted Gretsch Orchestrella?

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All Forums / Playing the Banjo / Playing Advice: Clawhammer and Old-Time Styles

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Sep 6, 2024 - 5:50:31 PM

frankabr.

625 posts since 1/8/2005

I'm thinking of converting a 1925 Gretsch Orchestrella into a five string, but i'd like to know opinions as to sound for old time banjo?

Sep 7, 2024 - 6:38:09 AM

David Deacon

USA

64 posts since 8/2/2005

I play Irish on a banjo with the same body as an Orchestrella. It's a very loud and bright banjo, so much so that I don't play it out much. I prefer a mellower tone. I have a 5-string neck on an Orpheum pot, but I don't like it much. That's just my preference, but for clawhammer, I like more bass response than I get with an archtop. For clawhammer these days I'm playing a Waldman with a 12" pot and a wooden tone ring.