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I'm looking to buy a vintage 5 string banjo, probably a conversion with a quality neck. I'm looking for a traditional sound, warm and sweet, kind of plucky, hopefully a Vega. I'm a little bit new to this and want to know if you have a suggestion or two. Thanks
Start by going to the Marketplace on the left side of the screen. That will take you to the classified ads where you can use the drop-down menu to refine your search however you want. See what you can find.
If you don't find anything in the ads that appeal to you, at least you will get an idea of the asking prices on instruments similar to what you want.
Thanks for the tip.
Maybe a non-Tubaphone Vega, but my ear says you’re looking more for a Dobson. You also describe the sound of my all-wood rimmed Stone banjo, which I got only last year from maker Steve Gerritsen. I’d take a look at what he offers.
Maybe a 12’ pot would be better for the kind of sound you are looking for?
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Originally posted by Bill RogersMaybe a non-Tubaphone Vega, but my ear says you’re looking more for a Dobson. You also describe the sound of my all-wood rimmed Stone banjo, which I got only last year from maker Steve Gerritsen. I’d take a look at what he offers.
Does Dobson refer to the tone ring itself?
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Originally posted by Bill RogerMaybe a non-Tubaphone Vega, but my ear says you’re looking more for a Dobson. You also describe the sound of my all-wood rimmed Stone banjo, which I got only last year from maker Steve Gerritsen. I’d take a look at what he offers.
+1 for Steve's banjos - here's mine:
https://www.stonebanjo.com/sold/23146x
And my review, about halfway down the list:
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Originally posted by geopatrickquote:
Originally posted by Bill RogersMaybe a non-Tubaphone Vega, but my ear says you’re looking more for a Dobson. You also describe the sound of my all-wood rimmed Stone banjo, which I got only last year from maker Steve Gerritsen. I’d take a look at what he offers.
Does Dobson refer to the tone ring itself?
A Dobson-style ring on a modern banjo, or any of the 19th c. Dobsons, which vary greatly.
I REALLY like my Stone banjo, wood rim, Nylgut Minstrel strings lowered down to D-E for singing, superb craftsmanship/materials/design and mellow sound just perfect for backing my vocal carnage. banjered
I've owned a LOT of banjos in the last 50 years, mostly vintage, but the two I've kept are my Vega Little Wonder conversion and my 1974 Ome. Having made quite a few banjos (and necks for pots), I've found the Little Wonders make some of the best sounding banjos for CH and 2 finger index/thumb lead.
Edited by - RG on 10/23/2024 20:47:51
Whose banjo sound do you like? What does s/he play? One of the interesting things about banjo is we can shape our sound with small instrument modifications (different bridge, strings, head, tailpiece).
What are you playing now? What would you like different?
You're going to get lots of advice from people who live and breathe banjos. My advice is to get something like a Vega Little Wonder or a modern replica with a small brass hoop tone ring. These offer the most flexible sound. Setup and playability are more important than a barrel of opinions, and if you get into the perceived qualities of different tone rings, you will only confuse matters. The simplest solution is the best solution.
I’m curious about “traditional clawhammer sound”. That has changed significantly in the last two to three decades.
To my ear, the traditional clawhammer sound starts with Wade Ward, Uncle Dave Macon, Tom Ashley, all of whom played Gibson resonator banjos. Other fingerstyle players like Doc Boggs and Charlie Poole also played Gibson resonator banjos in their later recordings.
The clawhammer sound evolved a great deal in the past half-century, and most of what we hear today can in no way be called traditional. Someone mentioned recently that a great deal of clawhammer playing was influenced by the Kyle Creed sound; delicate, clean and with a lot of fifth string punctuating practically every melody note.
In my opinion, the traditional clawhammer sound is that of Fred Cockerham and Glen Smith of Hillsville, VA. If you can get your hands on any of Glen Smith's old home recordings, it's about the most perfect clawhammer playing imaginable.
As the more astute folks say in the early music racket, what you hear today is the sound of now, and has very little to do with the sound of the past.
Thanks for the helpful comments. For me, hard to beat the banjo play of Wade Ward. Wonder what banjo he played. Love the earthy sound.
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Originally posted by geopatrickThanks for the helpful comments. For me, hard to beat the banjo play of Wade Ward. Wonder what banjo he played. Love the earthy sound.
Wade Ward played a Gibson resonator banjo with a simple brass hoop as a tonering, steel strings, a Gibson RB-11:
Edited by - Emiel on 10/24/2024 09:07:39
There were (are?) about as many “traditional clawhammer sounds” as there were players. Resonator banjos were not the norm. You can certainly fiind A traditional clawhammer sound, but I would hesitate do designate THE traditional clawhammer sound. Though Galax and Round Peak aren’t that far from each other (by today’s standards), their banjo styles and sounds are distinct. And so on.
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Originally posted by Emielquote:
Originally posted by geopatrickThanks for the helpful comments. For me, hard to beat the banjo play of Wade Ward. Wonder what banjo he played. Love the earthy sound.
Wade Ward played a Gibson resonator banjo with a simple brass hoop as a tonering, steel strings, a Gibson RB-11:
I don't believe that he actually played this banjo--- no "scoop" AND the addition of a finger rest/pick guard? Impossible to play in clawhammer style!!!
The O.P. shouldn't take Joel Hook's words too literally… This should be Wade Ward himself in a YouTube video clip, playing this banjo, at a later age. He seems to have lost the pickguard…
youtube.com/watch?v=lWNw1qwYzIo
Anyone familiar with the banjos of Bill Rickard? I saw/heard the Dobson Model on his website. Sounded so good, kind of the sound I'm looking for.
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Originally posted by EmielThe O.P. shouldn't take Joel Hook's words too literally… This should be Wade Ward himself in a YouTube video clip, playing this banjo, at a later age. He seems to have lost the pickguard…
youtube.com/watch?v=lWNw1qwYzIo
I believe Joel Hooks was indulging in a bit of irony, which sometimes does not translate well not only to non-native English speakers, but also to those who take things literally and those of us who came up in a different era where playing the guitar was known as spanking the plank.
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Originally posted by Eulaliequote:
Originally posted by EmielThe O.P. shouldn't take Joel Hook's words too literally… This should be Wade Ward himself in a YouTube video clip, playing this banjo, at a later age. He seems to have lost the pickguard…
youtube.com/watch?v=lWNw1qwYzIoI believe Joel Hooks was indulging in a bit of irony, which sometimes does not translate well not only to non-native English speakers, but also to those who take things literally and those of us who came up in a different era where playing the guitar was known as spanking the plank.
I know what Joel meant and I understand the irony. I just was afraid the OP, being new here, might not…
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Originally posted by geopatrickAnyone familiar with the banjos of Bill Rickard? I saw/heard the Dobson Model on his website. Sounded so good, kind of the sound I'm looking for.
After trying a bunch of high-end banjos (Music Emporium in Lexington, MA) a decade or so ago, I chose a Rickard. Bill's 12" Dobson banjos are the cat's meow: beautifully made, highest quality parts, and perfect for clawhammer IMO. I love the playability and sound.
Edited by - wileypickett on 10/27/2024 06:53:01
That's so good to hear, Wiley. After a whole lot of listening and research, I just ordered an 11" Rickard Dobson in walnut.
Bingo! That’s a lifetime banjo.
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Originally posted by Bill RogersMaybe a non-Tubaphone Vega, but my ear says you’re looking more for a Dobson. You also describe the sound of my all-wood rimmed Stone banjo, which I got only last year from maker Steve Gerritsen. I’d take a look at what he offers.
I agree. Try a handmade C. Waldman, made in California, with a Douglas fir tone ring. It has the tone you want and weighs only four pounds. I have nylon strings on mine, but a good stroke with a finger gives me over 100 dB. Louder than my OME Grand Artist.
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