More plastic head info californiabluegrass.org/an-ear...stscript/

There is a lengthy article by Mike Longworth claiming that the Groundspeed banjo was a 1930 RB 4 (FON 9639-9). He states that he bought the banjo from Scruggs who borrowed it back specifically for the session that yielded Groundspeed because his Granada was being repaired.

Yes, there is a letter from Mike to Oldtwanger that states the banjo played on “Groundspeed” was the RB-4. Louise Scruggs maintained that Earl used the Granada exclusively on all of his recordings.
It is fact that Earl traded in pre-war Gibsons to buy and sell. Who knows for certain which one was used on “Groundspeed “? There are obviously differing opinions.I really don’t have an opinion on the subject , only years of research. I think Earl once told someone that it was the RB-4 on that recording ( correcting Louise when she wasn’t nearby).

Nonetheless , he sounded just like Earl.
YMMV
Scott

Yes, he always sounded like Earl. Even though Groundspeed has more of an archtop sound, that could be due to the fact that he put on a plastic head for the first time and probably over tightened it as if were a skin head. I guess we’ll never know for sure. I read the Longworth article quite a while ago and the archtop Granada idea is new to me. I don’t where it came from and I don’t have the same degree of documentation that I have from the Longworth article. In any case, whichever banjo it was, it sounded pretty fine.

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Originally posted by Bronx banjo

Yes, he always sounded like Earl. Even though Groundspeed has more of an archtop sound, that could be due to the fact that he put on a plastic head for the first time and probably over tightened it as if were a skin head. I guess we’ll never know for sure. I read the Longworth article quite a while ago and the archtop Granada idea is new to me. I don’t where it came from and I don’t have the same degree of documentation that I have from the Longworth article. In any case, whichever banjo it was, it sounded pretty fine.

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It seems that the only certainty about what banjo Earl played when on what song is that he sounded like Earl. Three "authorities" place three different banjos in Earls' hands for the "Groundspeed" recording. 
Me , I'm glad that we're still in search of Earls' magic. I know that after 55 years that I'm still chasing it and love it. 
 

YMMV

Scott

i always took earls picking as it was ,,, to me his playing style was always happy sounding no matter what he was playing... had the bounce like a kid does skipping down the sidewalk.
some pickers have an aggressive style and others laid back ,, and some are very staccato sounding... but earls banjo was always happy.

It’s likely that in an era where access and high-exposure was limited to far fewer players, that context will have exerted a powerful effect on shaping  and tacitly 'approving' an ‘ideal’ sound. A 'validated' sound to be emulated.

In our contemporary digital world that singular focus and influence has evaporated. Sources of inspiration have vastly expanded both in number and date-range. We are enabled to be cherry-pickers of the entirety of banjo history at the click of a mouse, rather than single-focus acolytes living in the moment of a b/w TV show or a live wireless broadcast.

Passion and diligent practice hasn't changed; that is a feature of human nature and activity. More of us are simply listening to different sources and combinations of sources. That doesn't 'lead' to a 'new sound', potentially it liberates diversity of sound.

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Originally posted by 1935tb-11

a lot of these things mentioned above do bear into the reason for the change in sound. but i am not really talking bout recordings from the 40s thru the 70s.. i mean as late as the the 80s and early 90s . i know recording equipment is changed since 1985 and technics have also.
but go back and listen to hot rize,, johnson mountian boys with tom adams ( i know richard underwood used an archtop). JD on the early BAB albums. terry baucom.. those recordings still had some pop and crackle to them.
i think its is like most said ,, the set up and a desire for a more kinder gentler sounding banjo for the mix . most of todays top artist have a smoother more homogenized sound when you hear them on the recordings.
i am not saying its better or worse just different.... but once in a while don't you want to hear a young kid making a banjo pop and crack like a ball of fire ???????

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In a nutshell , dang right !^^^ A firecracker going off in a #10 wash tub ! That's what first set my ears on fire.
 

YMMV

Scott

i was always told that earl used a 1928 Gibson RB-Granada #9166-1 on the ground speed recording (an arch top of all things) LOL.....
still sounds like earl..... i think tony williamson owns it now.

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Originally posted by bamabanjo

Wasn’t “Groundspeed” recororded with an arch-top Granada ? Check Greg Earnest’s site, it lists two Granadas of Earls; THE Granada 9854-3 and an arch-top Granada 9166-1 listed as the “Groundspeed “ Granada, a tube and plate , 40 hole arch top.
YMMV
Scott

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I made a mistake concerning GREG Earnests' website.