Wanted - Banjo

**TheKiltedWonder** · 24th November 07, 06:38 PM

are there any pawn shops about? With the earning power of a banjo player evidently lacking, they'll be pawning about all they have, right?

**beowulf67** · 25th November 07, 04:50 PM

I've seen used ones on consignment at some music stores for decent prices. Might be another option for you to check.

**Jeff_MacDonald** · 25th November 07, 06:30 PM

I did all the research on beginner banjos about this time last year and bought one with my birthday money (my mom's still good to me even after 53 years!). I decided on the GoldTone CC100 as being the best beginner banjo for the money. From what I've read, many professional banjo players (Hey! You! Stop laughing!) keep one around as a throw-away if they need to take a banjo to the other side of the tracks so to speak and don't want to have their good banjo stolen or busted up by using it for self-defense. For the same money the GoldTone has features you won't find on the Deering Goodtime or others. As for vendors, you can't go wrong with the great folks at banjo.com though I've also had good experiences with elderly.com and janetdavismusic.com

Make sure you know the difference between bluegrass and old-time before you buy a banjo. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. I'm having a blast with it.

-- Jeff

**Amoskeag** · 26th November 07, 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

Just remember...it is truly said that you will never hear the sentence: "That's the banjo player's Porsche." ever in your life.

Best

AA

Not to get too far off topic but.... My car just up and croaked (ten year old Escort; true banjo player's car). My neighbors were selling their car at the same time; a Mercedes 300E and I guess they like me, or my wife, or maybe my kids, but they sold it to me dirt cheap. It was such a good deal that I had to buy it. Unfortunately it runs like crap unless I'm wearing my tank and a PC and won't even start with the banjo in it.

**Jeff_MacDonald** · 26th November 07, 07:38 AM

Oops. Meant to add that, just as there is X-Marks for the kilted, there's the very excellent BanjoHangout for the banjers of the world.

-- Jeff

**thatcelticband** · 26th November 07, 08:46 AM

Look into Epiphone. Made by Gibson. The cheap banjo form them is like $299.00 with lifetime waranteehttp://www.epiphone.com

**Colin** · 26th November 07, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by TheKiltedWonder

are there any pawn shops about? With the earning power of a banjo player evidently lacking, they'll be pawning about all they have, right?

Originally Posted by beowulf67

I've seen used ones on consignment at some music stores for decent prices. Might be another option for you to check.

I have been checking the local pawn shops for a few months. I have also been checking out ebay(will avoid if humanly possible) as well as craigslist.

Originally Posted by Jeff_MacDonald

I did all the research on beginner banjos about this time last year and bought one with my birthday money (my mom's still good to me even after 53 years!). I decided on the GoldTone CC100 as being the best beginner banjo for the money. From what I've read, many professional banjo players (Hey! You! Stop laughing!) keep one around as a throw-away if they need to take a banjo to the other side of the tracks so to speak and don't want to have their good banjo stolen or busted up by using it for self-defense. For the same money the GoldTone has features you won't find on the Deering Goodtime or others. As for vendors, you can't go wrong with the great folks at banjo.com though I've also had good experiences with elderly.com and janetdavismusic.com

Make sure you know the difference between bluegrass and old-time before you buy a banjo. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. I'm having a blast with it.

-- Jeff

There's a difference? I am almost certain thsi will be used around the fire with buddies. I can't see him taking it up as a living given what he makes as a heavy duty mechanic.

Thanks for the tips guys.

**Jeff_MacDonald** · 26th November 07, 11:49 AM

Music played on the banjo tends to be of two different kinds: old-time and bluegrass. For an excellent presentation on the two, google "beth wilson" "mandy kent" bluegrass old-time and grab the PowerPoint file. Briefly, bluegrass is what most people think of when they think of banjo music. Flatt and Scruggs. The intro to CarTalk on NPR is bluegrass. Old-time is often, though not always, a little more relaxed. The banjo music played during the PBS series "The Civil War" was old-time. Bluegrass banjo is usually played "up pick" with picks on the thumb and two fingers. Old-time is usually played "clawhammer" (down pick) style using only the pad of the thumb and the back of one fingernail. For a truly excellent example of old-time clawhammer playing search YouTube for big scioti clawhammer . There are many other fine examples on YouTube if you search for clawhammer banjo

Of course, the reason you need to know this before you buy a banjo is that the two styles of music are typically played on two different kinds of banjo. Bluegrass music is usually played on a bluegrass banjo. Old-time (aka clawhammer) is typically played on an "open-back" banjo. The major difference between the two is that bluegrass banjos have a resonator that is attached to the back (player) side of the "pot". It's purpose is to reflect the sound coming of the underside of the skin to the front making for a louder and brighter banjo. Open-back banjos lack the resonator so they are typically a little quieter and less twangy. Many old-time players will put a piece of cloth or a sponge in the pot to get an even more "plunky" sound.

Here's a link to the banjo I bought:
Clawhammer banjo

Here's a link to the same banjo in bluegrass trim (i.e. with resonator):
Bluegrass banjo

Other than that, there's not much difference between the two kinds of banjos. All other things being equal, an open-back will be slightly less expensive due to the lack of the resonator. Either kind of banjo will play either kind of music just fine. IMHO, you probably want an old-time banjo for the back porch or around the campfire.

It just occurred to me that there's a striking parallel between old-time vs bluegrass and box-pleat vs tanks. Old-time, like box-pleats, has a longer history and was nearly forgotten when the bolder, flashier bluegrass came on the scene. Like box-pleats, old-time has been undergoing quite a revival in the last few years.

-- Jeff

**RowdyRed** · 26th November 07, 01:39 PM

Hey! I resemble those banjo remarks!

Jeff is right on the money in needing to know what type of banjo to get. I thought I was being savvy in purchasing a GoldTone tenor banjo (seen more in Irish traditional music groups) from Banjo.com. (excellent service by Banjo.com, btw)

Silly me, thought it would be easier with just 4 strings. I didn't take into account no one hereabouts teaches 4 string tenor banjo!

But if whomever you are buying the banjo for already knows a thing or two about fretted instruments, it shouldn't be too far of a leap, whatever style you purchase.

**auld argonian** · 26th November 07, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by RowdyRed

Silly me, thought it would be easier with just 4 strings. I didn't take into account no one hereabouts teaches 4 string tenor banjo!

Same tuning and fingering as the mandolin only physically bigger and one string per note. The toughest part is playing the tremolo what with all that rapid picking...I have a friend who's not all that good at that and it does make you sort of grimace when you hear it done badly. I had a tenor banjo once a LONG time ago when they were decidedly un-hip...story of my life.

Best

AA