where did you get that hat!

[mark]

Well the title's not entirely right but ..

As Banjo's aren't that common here in the UK and shopping for them can be difficult at best I thought it might be a good idea if we shared our purchasing history (this could be of help for others wanting to buy / learn the banjo)

So ... Where did you get your banjo and what is it?

For my own part, my first banjo was a Vintage VOB12 open back which retail new for about £125, I picked one up second hand (but v-good condition) from ebay, I paid around £50 inc p&p.

This banjo was passed on to a friend (who I now have under-wing) I have subsequently purchased a Grafton Clipper Open-Back by Andy Perkins. It's a much better machine and I shouldn't need to upgrade for a long time (although I would consider changing the tonering to a white ladye sometime), I love it just the way it is, it's all maple construction with a rosewood fretboard, has a renosaince (sp?) head, no knot tail piece, brass tonering, vintage style tuners and a very unfussy finish.

[andrew]

Bought my Gold Tone WL250+ from Andy as well - £700. I love it, but will always be looking for the next purchase. I paid extra to get the inlay as it was a 40th treat (and it was my wife's credit card)!

[Danny]

Yeah I remeber you banjo Mark (you we're sitting just to my right in Horsemonden) It looked very nice.

Mine to came from Andy Perkins (although I'll probably use www.eaglemusicshop.com next time, not that impressed with Andy to be honest) It's A Rally / Ozark thingamy (His cheapest model) It cost me £20 less than standard (about £100) 'cos it had a different name on the headstock (he now sells both at the same price)

It was originally equipped with a resonator (which currently graces my bedroom floor) Making it now an openback model. As an openback it sells for £85

Once I tightend the head up it was pretty good. The cheap guitar style tuners were unforgivable tho. I managed to replace them with some Gold Tone planeteries (sp?) that I was given (again Andy Perkins did the job)

I've tried a couple of 'designer' bridges and quite liked both.

[mark]

admin said:

Yeah I remeber you banjo Mark (you we're sitting just to my right in Horsemonden) It looked very nice.

Yup, that's right Danny, although I played it like a lemon that day (I had a nightmare morning / journey and arrived at the workshop [late] with a thumping headache - well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!).

What bridges have you tried Danny and what differences did you experience?

[Danny]

The two bridges I've tried are -

Scorpion (by Silvio Feretti, an Italian surgeon, and a very nice and personable guy)
which are available from www.banjobits.com (mines the sunken maple, and it superb)

And

Kats Eyz Pegged Bridge, from www.kateyzbb.com (The fella who makes 'em attaches the ebony with several 'pegs' instead of a solid line of glue to allow for more wood-wood contact. Whether it's voodoo or not, it seems to work, cos it sounds damned good.

They both made my banjo sound 'smoother' or 'mellower' (in a good sense both times) Apart from that you'll have to judge for yourself I'm afraid. They're about £20 a go, and well worth it in my opinion

[stevievee]

bought my GoldTone CB100 (Openback) from Andy too...he's only up the road from me (well about 25 miles)
Fantastic instrument, very well built and with a lovely soft sound. Patrick gave me some lighter guage strings at the workshop and have since put them on with amazing results. The sound is much nicer and i get a real good plunky banjo sound now...just like the real thing hahahahhaa

[mark]

stevievee said:

bought my GoldTone CB100 (Openback) from Andy too

I really like the looks of the CB100 and had the Grafton Clipper not been considerably cheaper I would probably have bought one.

[bondolah]

Got my Grafton from Andybanjo. A great guy to chat to!

[mark]

bondolah said:

Got my Grafton from Andybanjo. A great guy to chat to!

I take it you have a popular? did you go for the 1 or the 2?
Maybe you went for the Clipper like me?
How do you like it?

[bondolah]

I just went for the original Grafton. Didn't fancy the cast pot of v.2. That's probably just my belief, based on no experience whatsoever (so prepared to be smited), that a metal pot would sound less mellow. Feel free to set me straight on that.

I like it - it's a no nonsense starter banjo. And like I've always said: a starter instrument that stays in tune is a Godsend.

I don't think I've seen the clipper...I'll pootle over to Andybanjo's site for a gander.

I've promised myself that once I've 'got it' I'll go for something better, but even then, I'll be looking for a workhorse of a banjo - nothing flashy!

[Fingers n thumbs]

Fender FB54 - was on holliday in Canada when i saw this on sale in a guitar shop for about £90. It's ok - i have played worse. It's the cast aluminum pot style that gets bad press. It's better than no Banjo and i'll play it till i get more proficient.

Wife said she'd leave me if i got another instrument - got a few guitars too.

I'm gonna miss her ;D ;D ;D

Rogf

[Danny]

lol

That's the spirit Rog

[felix]

I bought my first banjo around 40 years ago for £50 complete with resonator, made in Japan but no makers name. Played like a dog until iI adjusted it. Got my GoldTone open back with planetary tuners from Andy Perkins and it has a great sound especially after I fitted light gauge strings. Bridge is still too high for my liking so I'll maybe sand of 1/16th of an inch.

[Danny]

playing around with different bridges can be fun, but it might be better to adjust your coordinating rods felix. www.frets.com has LOADS of stuff about this kind of thing, including a 'manual' that you should have got with your banjo but didn't. (And guitar and so on.....)

[mark]

adjusting rods (co-ords and truss) comes with a HEALTH WARNING, stay clear if you aint sure.