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Post by riemannfan on Feb 10, 2011 12:46:31 GMT
Hi I have just registered. I'm an intermediate ukulele player who has become addicted to the sound of clawhammer. I'm learning the technique on ukulele but my medium term aim is to get myself a banjo specifically for clawhammer. I have in mind a Deering Goodtime for somewhere between £400 and £500. However, I have been in touch with a dealer who has been less than flattering, in an oblique way, about the Goodtime. He has suggested a Grafton Clipper with a "Whyte laydie" style tone ring (whatever that is?). Any comments would be gratefully appreciated. By the way, are there any clawhammer banjo clubs / groups that meet in the London area? Regards Philip  |
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Post by Danny on Feb 10, 2011 17:50:41 GMT
Hi Philip, welcome aboard I dunno what dealer you've spoken to, I've always found www.andybanjo.com www.eaglemusic.com to be very good. The Grafton is undoubtedly a good banjo, but it sounds like it mitt be a bit OTT for a beginner, having said that if you stick with it you won't have to upgrade any where near as soon. The tone ring is a piece of metal (well a bit more complex than that) that runs around the rim, just under the head, it alters the way the banjo sounds depending on the design) The Whyte Laydie is an old very popular amongst claw hammer type players (That's what I've got on my banjo) Having said that I'm sure a Goodtime will be just fine, but you may wanna upgrade it sooner rather than latter if you really take to it (and it sounds like you will, you're certainly determined enough by the sound of it) If you wanna see a Whyte Laydie naked (so to speak) look here www.stewmac.com/shop/Hardware,_parts/Banjo:_Tone_rings/Whyte_Laydie_Tone_Ring.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=9745 As for banjo clubs (or folk music clubs in general) in London, no such luck, I want one too, we might have to form one together mate ;D Anyway, welcome to UK Folkies (You're my 250th member, so hurrah for that) Danny P.S. I can email you some public domain clawhammer banjo books as PDF's if you like, just let me know |
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reels
New Member
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Post by reels on Feb 10, 2011 18:30:30 GMT
£400-500 will get you a really nice instrument from the right place which possibly you will probably never want rid of (one good banjo is the start of a collection I reckon...  ) . Danny mentions Andy Perkins, I've had a couple of instruments from him and he sets them up beautifully. Very friendly and he'll happily chat to you about what you're after. He even played a couple over the phone! The other way to approach it I guess is to try and get any old banjo as long as it's for a dirt cheap price £0-50. Bash the hell out of until you feel happier with knowing the sort of sound you want. You'll still be learning to play and you can have a bash at tweaking it without fear of damaging an expensive instrument. |
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Post by riemannfan on Feb 10, 2011 19:08:14 GMT
Dear Chaps
Thanks for both of you excellent pieces of advice. If I'm honest, I hanker after a Goodtime, not least because Iwant to have an American built instrument (all my ukes are America............ nothing political you understand. I also love the look of the maple in the Goodtime, and most reviews I have come across have been very positive in terms of it being an excellent first banjo.
Philip
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Post by scanbran on Feb 11, 2011 9:07:14 GMT
Dear Chaps Thanks for both of you excellent pieces of advice. If I'm honest, I hanker after a Goodtime, not least because Iwant to have an American built instrument (all my ukes are America............ nothing political you understand. I also love the look of the maple in the Goodtime, and most reviews I have come across have been very positive in terms of it being an excellent first banjo. Philip Hi Philip, Your budget should allow you to have a very decent choice of banjos, but unfortunately in the UK, the range isn't as wide as our American friends enjoy. If you fancy a Goodtime, I would heartily recommend it. I've just bought one - a Goodtime Special openback - it's one of the new Goodtimes with three-ply violin-grade maple rim, bowtie inlays, fiddle headstock and new 2010 tone ring. Mine was also a custom model by Eagle Music, in that it had planetary tuners, renaissance head, no knot tailpiece and medium gauge strings fitted. In fact, I've reviewed in on this site, here: ukfolkies.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=instrumentreviews&action=display&thread=607I have no interest other than I intended to buy a basic Goodtime as a knock-about, take anywhere banjo to save risking my Cedar Mountain banjo in clubs etc. Then I heard a Goodtime Special at my local folk club and was impressed. I have to say that I now prefer the sound (and feel) of the Goodtime. I've played a lot of excellent instruments, aside from the Cedar Mountain, including two Chuck Lees, a Wildwood, a Bob Flesher, Bart Reiter, Huber, Deering Calico, Sierra, Clifford Essex and a genuine 1920's Vega, and I can say that the Goodtime does NOT feel like a beginners banjo next to all these. It feels like a real banjo, solidly-made, with a superb, bright, but meaty tone, and the neck is a joy to play. It's worth noting that the sound difference between the basic Goodtime and Goodtime Special is significant. If your budget allows, I would recommend going for the Special (with the steel tone ring) rather than the basic (no tone ring). Anyway, just thought I'd mention it ;D |
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Post by banjorob on Feb 11, 2011 11:55:05 GMT
Hi Phillip,
Take note of what scanbran , and others have said, the Goodtime Special is the one to go for. The person you spoke to doesn't sell Goodtime banjos and obviously wants to sell you what he does stock.
When/if you get to the point where you feel the need to upgrade, you'll find the Goodtime has a far better resale value than the alternative, because they are popular.
As for the whyte Laydie, the authentic Whyte Laydie banjo was made by Vega way back early in the 20th century. Modern copies do not sound the same. I didn't like the sound of mine so I sold it. My next banjo will be a 1920's Vega Tuba phone, which I know is going to cost me an arm and leg, but I have a perfectly usable banjo to play while I get the money together.
Having said all that I could offer to sell you that one.......
All the best, I hope you choose right.
Rob
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Post by Danny on Feb 12, 2011 19:00:54 GMT
Great advice one and all, thanks for contributing folks
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Post by iiyacuzeyelu on Oct 17, 2019 11:30:56 GMT
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) . Danny mentions Andy Perkins, I've had a couple of instruments from him and he sets them up beautifully. Very friendly and he'll happily chat to you about what you're after. He even played a couple over the phone!