BANJO DREAM :What banjo would you like to buy?

[BARNAGRASS]

Horrible question... I know ´cause for years i dreamed for a professional banjo.
Now i have my own music store here and, at last, I could buy a nice old banjo... to be a music store owner is not synonimous to be "rich" and be able to buy expensive instruments... it is my way of life, not a hobby
I found a really nice ODE banjo C model, more or less 75 or 76 and I refurbished at my workshop... uuhhhhhhhhh it sounds great, I changed Remo fiberskin banjo head for a thinny white frosted one, as well as a nice maple-ebony Grover 5/8" bridge, and WOW sound become bright and crispy and volume increase.
I had a mastertone Gibson 1973 ten years ago but I sold it because I needed CASH at that time but ODE covered all my expectations about a great and nice bluegrass banjo...
I visited OME web page ( heirs of old Baldwin Ode banjos) but, godesssssssssssss, 5000 bucks for a banjo it is too much for me, looks great and nice but...
here few pics of my banjo pet before refurbishment




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[BanjoKid]

Thats a nice banjo
My wish is to get a Huber Lexington banjo, but they are expensive!!
Go to www.huberbanjos.com they have good pics.
Michael Andrews
Keep Picking!!

[BARNAGRASS]

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM... wonderful ones, I like that short neck type and they looks incredible... I liked specially that one VRB4



at last I changed banjo head for remo thin medium crown and... uuuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh
ODE banjo rocks...
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[Bob_Cherry]

I've owned a few banjos and by far the best one I've owned (and still have) is my Rich & Taylor 'Terry Baucom' model walnut banjo. It Cracks! The Harley Davidson of Banjos! But, it's very heavy.

I've been searching for woods, parts and such and I will be making my own banjo for my next one. I like the walnut sound so it will definitely be another walnut banjo. The resonator will be from a solid single piece of stock that I'll turn on the lathe. The same with the other wood pieces. I want to build the instrument from wood that comes from the same tree - body, neck, resonator, etc. I know what I want the look to be and I'm still sorting out the details for the head, tone-ring, and metal parts.

It will be a lengthy project but once it's completed, I'll probably be picking the last banjo I'll ever acquire.
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Bob CherryCybergrass

[BARNAGRASS]

ALL WOOD PIECES FROM SAME TREE????????
I never hear about that, it looks interesting but dinamics in string tension vs. neck, acoustics of rim and resonator will not give you an easy work. You know that woods have a lot of imperfections and several pieces are refused from same tree. You will need a Sequoia maybe!!!!!!!!!
What will you use for fretboard? Ebony? Rosewood? Ironwood? African blackwood? Inlay work?


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[Bob_Cherry]

Thanks for the comments!

I've been talking with a wood 'buyer' for a company who thinks he can get me what I need. The resonator being the largest piece that will be needed. He told me it may have to be burl but he is on the lookout for a large block of walnut. The neck, of course, won't be the big problem.

The fretboard will have custom marquetry designs and I'll probably use either ebony, rosewood or ironwood. I'll inlay it with other woods (I have about 60 different veneers laying around) and I'll do marquetry on the back of the resonator and around the wood ring. I've been sketching some patterns that I like to see what works for me. I don't know if I'll be using mother-of-pearl or not. I'm still undecided there but I think that using only natural woods would be more unique and yet still let me be creative.

I enjoyed your banjo diagram! Great illustration showing the various hardware and how they fit together.

When I get the walnut, I'll head on down to the work shop and start roughing out the basics. My patterns are from my R&T so I'm sure the sizes won't be too far off.
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Bob CherryCybergrass

[BigRedWarEagle]

Thanks, Barnagrass! That VRB-4 that you saw on the Huber site is actually my banjo. The sound is absolutely unbelievable...I couldn't be happier with it! The workmanship of all the Hubers I've seen is outstanding. You can't go wrong with Steve's banjos.

The picture of the resonator isn't all that clear on the site, so I've posted a close-up picture of it sitting in our livingroom. I love the purfling job he did on it.

On a side note, I am jealous of you! I hope one day to be able to own a music shop - that must be a wonderful way to make a living

John



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[BARNAGRASS]

At last my banjo has been refurbished!!!!!!!!! and sounds great


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http://www.myspace.com/barnagrass

[The_Beast]

Howdy folks,

Just thought I'd drop in and say hi.

I've currently got a late '80s Gibson E.S. Golden Deluxe, which I thoroughly enjoy (someday I hope to play well enough to justify the expense). I also just picked up a Gold Tone Long Neck Maple Mountain to fool around with.

Lately I've developed a terrible desire for one of Scott Vestal's Stealth Banjos. My income tax refund should be coming in any day now.....
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Many years have passed,
but still I wonder why,
the worst of men must fight,
and the best of men must die.
- W. Guthrie.

[thunder]

If I have lot of money, I would like to buy a Gibson.

[BARNAGRASS]

[mikerowesr]

I got my dream banjo last December. Stelling Red Fox.