Hi,
Does anyone own, or has anyone tried, one of the copper spun rim dobson banjos made by Rickard or Pisgah? If so, how did you like it? Would a 11" or a 12" pot most naturally complement the copper spun rim for tone, that is, might a 12" be too muddy, or an 11" to thin sounding?
Thanks for your thoughts!
Edited by - coreyowen on 09/14/2026 19:59:15
Just a picky comment: Those are Dobson style banjos, not Dobson banjos. “Dobson banjo” is a brand, not a generic term.
Well Pisgah calls it “The Dobson”
And Rickard calls it Rickard Dobson
So I would say they are Dobson banjos
I’ve owned both 12” and 11” and definitely prefer the 12for sound. But none of them were the copper spun. So I don’t have any input. But I do love the Dobson tone ring. Had 5 of them over the years
Dobson's have taken off in recent years. Being as musically isolated as I am in S. Oregon, I have never heard a Dobson "live." Ditto Pisgah, Ome and so many other great appealing banjos. I see so many interesting banjos here at BHO that I'd like to try but given all the prohibitions of shipping I remain in a literal state of great wonderment. I await for for one of those "golden opportunities" "just down the road," close by, but it is not happening so far. Must be many others in the same boat..... banjered
coreyowen - as it turns out I have both the 11" and 12" Pisgahs, both with copper spunover rims and standard scale cherry necks. I prefer playing the 11", mostly as a feel-thing. The 11" is also a bit more crisp and articulate than the 12", as one might expect. I would never describe it as "thin sounding".
Although this opinion is speculative, I don't believe you will hear as much difference between the copper spunover and other materials (steel, brass) as, say, the difference in neck timber (maple, walnut, etc.).
The copper does look good, though.
Thanks for your responses, everyone!
Silver_Falls For some reason, I imagined copper sounding quite different than steel, but sounds like not so much. I very much prefer the look of aged copper. I think I would go for a cherry neck as well--I have a cherry tubaphone that is my go-to.
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