Banjo-L was a listserv discussion forum that flourished in the years before the rise of the Banjo Hangout. I noticed a post from Don Borchelt, who, like me, was a regular on Banjo-L, which led me to wonder how many members of BHO are alumni of the now-defunct Banjo-L?
[For the curious, Banjo-L was created and run by Sean Barry, who passed listowner duties to Marc Perdue. Donald Zepp helped foster Banjo-L, and was a significant presence during it’s run. When Perdue retired and no longer had access to a list server, Banjo-L passed into history.]
So if you were on Banjo-L, check in. How many of us are here and at least semi-active?
Gee, I haven't thought about Banjo-L in years. I was on there, but at the time, I was still pretty new at the banjo and lots of their converersations were way over my head.
I presume I'm one of the semi-active members (G)
I was there. I "lurked", quite a bit of the time because I felt like I was a relative novice.
Yah. I was there. Last year, I found a small pile of ASCII tabs from Nate Torkington that I'd downloaded from Banjo-L.
I was on Banjo-L and it became part of my daily routine for several years.
Did some buying and selling as I recall.
I was there early in my Banjo Journey. Totally brightened my day scrolling through the list.
Not for nothing, but I recently received an email banjo-l Digest Mon, 15 Sep 2025 (1/1)
The subject was Subject: You're Invited Robert F.
Robert F. sent you an invitation for a
Special Party
There were a number of links to RSVP.
This looked completely suspect so I didn’t click anything. Anyone else receive this?
I was not computer savy yet--But I found some good fiddle tunes from a place called fiddle l if that was related
I was there as a lurker, and learned a lot. It was a great resource.
Me too. I feel that I learned more about banjos – build, materials, design, tone, playing, etc. – in a year than I would have by myself in a lifetime. There were so many "how to" questions, "what's the best way to..." There were the argument trollers, beginning builders, lots of old timers with old time stories (like cats for banjo heads). It was a wild and wooly time for banjo nerdanologists (me!). So much learning and fun! banjered
I lurked there quite a bit and contributed once in a while. I was a newbie so didn’t have a lot to contribute, but I learned a lot from those that did.
Yep, I was there.
Lurker…
Ah yes.....Banjo-L....Sean and UC Davis. Spent a lot of time there. Those were good, exciting days.
Yes, I got an internet connection on our computer in 1999, when I needed e mail a.s.a.p.
Setting up the browser, I found the Deering website, containing a link to Banjo-L. And the rest is history....
With help from Banjo-L members, I managed to contact Curtis McPeake who helped me determining what old Gibson banjo I actually had.
Towards the end of Banjo-L as a mainstream medium, I discovered the Banjo Hangout that proved a lot more user friendly.
And I'm still here....
I was there
Oh yeah, I was there.
I was a regular user of Banjo-L back in the day and still do. I Loved the site in fact I'm on it now.
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Edited by - 5stringpicker2 on 09/25/2025 05:35:07
I was there - checked Banjo L nearly every day for numerous things. It was a good site for sure.
I heard about it back then but never checked it out. I did spend a lot of time on the
UseNet's alt.banjo news group, way before the Hangout, and met a lot of good folks over there, some of who are here on the Hangout as well.
Yes but am not revealing my screen name other than I also used it for a few AOL vintage guitar boards back when.
I didn't have time enough for any computer stuff until I got out of lobstering.
I participated and still have some email correspondence.
Also, if interested:
https://web.archive.org/web/20241226023123if_/https://banjo-l.org/
Edited by - carlb on 09/28/2025 10:24:30
Banjo L was a huge influence on the introduction of my kat eyz banjo bridges . At the time i was extremely elementary about chat lines and computers in general . i remember getting butterflys in my stomach when i would get home from work to check Banjo-L knowing there had been talk the day before about my bridges and how i might respond to possible questions asked of me .
I really enjoyed banjo L, but it got pretty contentious at times. If I’m not mistaken, we originally had a few real pros on the list who dropped off due to some idiotic comments.
It sure was fun though!
I was wondering if anyone here had also been on "banjo free-for-all" back in the day?
I believe that was Wyatt Fawley's creation...
Well I suppose most online specialty sites get contentious at times and no doubt that causes some folks to leave. Don’t get or allow conversations to get personal, and don’t be overly sensitive! Also I think the moderators here do a good job of keeping things on track, three cheers for them!
