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5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted
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Subject: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: GUEST,Jane of 'ull Date: 27 Jan 08 - 12:14 AM Has anyone got a banjo they don't want? I am looking for a 5 string banjo, I used to play years ago and want to take it up again. I play the more gentle 'frailing' method rather than breakneck speed bluegrass, so I understand I need an 'old time' mountain style banjo not the type with a big resonator? |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: Banjovey Date: 27 Jan 08 - 02:45 AM If you can make it to the old time music festival at Gainsborough (there is a thread for this elsewhere) you will certainly find some for sale there. Look for Dave Stacey's stall. |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: GUEST Date: 27 Jan 08 - 06:19 AM Yeah thanks for that Banjovey, could you give me an idea what price these banjos start from? |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: Banjovey Date: 27 Jan 08 - 06:45 AM Dave makes really nice hand built banjos and they are not cheap. One of his recent adverts had models priced from £1,000 to around £1,400. For something less pricey you could try the web site Good hunting |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: Leadfingers Date: 27 Jan 08 - 07:00 AM Asking how much an instrument can cost is like asking how long is a piece of string ! But the same rule applies as for ANY instrument - Work out your budget and buy as good a used banjo for that money rather than a new one - You'll have fewer problems and more banjo for your money . |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: Leadfingers Date: 27 Jan 08 - 07:03 AM And its easy to join Mudcat , then we could send information directly to you re dealers etc !! |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: GUEST,Jane of 'ull Date: 27 Jan 08 - 08:03 AM Thanks for the info. Does Dave Stacey have a website? |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: BanjoRay Date: 27 Jan 08 - 08:15 AM Banjos vary enormously in sound and playability, so it's very difficult to recommend a model that'll play and sound well without trying the individual banjo in question. BUT there is one banjo that is well made, dependable, well set up, easy to play and not horrendously expensive. That is the Deering Goodtime, which is available from Eagle Music in Huddersfield. Eagle music are the main dealers of Deering banjos in the UK and unlike most music shops are staffed by people who know a thing or two about banjos. They're charging £215 for a Goodtime at the moment which is an excellent price for a well made solid maple banjo. It is also very light (about 4 pounds). To keep the price down it has a very plain appearance, but it sounds great. I've got no connection with Eagle Music apart from being a very satisfied customer. Hope this helps - good luck with your quest. Ray |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: deadfrett Date: 27 Jan 08 - 08:16 AM Jane- EBay has had Saga Banjo Kits listed as Buy Now for under $200. They are easy to put together and sound good . - Dave |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: BanjoRay Date: 27 Jan 08 - 09:16 AM If you've never played a banjo, DON'T buy a banjo kit. You've no idea what you'll end up with. Ray |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: BanjoRay Date: 27 Jan 08 - 10:19 AM Guest Jane of 'Ull, if you come to the Gainsborough Old Time festival (here's the thread about it), you'll find a lot of banjo players with many different banjos - nearly all open backed with no resonator. They'll all be far too willing to show you what they sound and play like, and tell you where you could get one and how much it would cost. If you like Old Time Banjo, you'll love this festival! Dave Stacey doesn't have a website, but if you joined Mudcat you could send me a PM, then I could let you have his phone number. Ray |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: Charley Noble Date: 27 Jan 08 - 10:53 AM Jane of 'Ull- If you're interested in acquiring one of the classic old-time banjos. you should consider the S. S. Stewart models built in the late 19th century. You can learn more about them from a classic Stewart website known as "Mugwumps": click here for website I also have one of these fine banjos for sale; it's a Special Thoroughbred Model 2 in excellent condition. If you or anyone else is interested, you may find my e-mail address on my website: click here for website These banjos, or any comparable old-time banjo, run about $1500. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: GUEST,DonMeixner Date: 27 Jan 08 - 11:07 AM And I'll put in a plug for Elderly Instruments. Go to their site (Just Google Elderly) and check out the banjos. I am particularly fond of the Bart Reiter machines. But there are several, including the Good Time that are under $1000.00. Not sure what that is in pounds or Euros. Listen to Leadfingers regards the price. Buying used may be the wise move. A higher quality banjo with some wear on it may be equal in price to a brand new less expensive model just out of the box. The short answer is buy the best you can afford. And my strongest advice is take a banjo player along to help you chose what you do buy. Don |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: Charley Noble Date: 27 Jan 08 - 11:17 AM I do endorse the Bart Reiter banjos. They are among the best of the new ones. I've not been favorably impreseed with the entry model Good Time or Saga banjos. Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: BanjoRay Date: 27 Jan 08 - 12:12 PM I agree with Charley Noble about Bart Reiter banjos - I have one of his Tubaphones. I don't agree however about his opinion of Goodtime banjos. Two of my banjo students have them and I've played maybe a dozen other examples. They are all made to a very tight specification, and they are all very similar to each other. They don't look brilliant but they sound very good indeed - much better than most banjos in the same price range. I wouldn't buy one if I had £1000 to spend, but I wouldn't buy anything else if I only had £215. If you import a banjo from the States, beware that you'll have to pay an import duty on it, usually around 20%, and substantial postage. One the other hand you get nearly 2 dollars for your pound at the moment (I suspect this is very temporary). It would of course be very difficult to take it back to the shop if you're not happy with it. I agree that Saga banjos are rubbish, as are any of the far East banjos you usually see in non-specialist UK music shops. Ray |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: GUEST,DonMeixner Date: 27 Jan 08 - 12:34 PM I have to disagree to a small extent with Ray. There are some Far East banjos that are excellent when balancing quality and cost. Gold Tone and the old Gold Star banjos come to mind. And I have played some great Saga Banjos. But the Sagas were kits and built by people who knew what they were doing. Remember that SOME doesn't mean ALL. You have to play first what ever you buy so buy wisely. The dollar versus Pound is an important thought. Anyone importing PacRim instruments has already paid the duty on the instruments so you won't see the cost. It is hidden in the purchase price you pay. The price of a Bart Reiter Standard is $960.00 at Elderly. Shipping would be about considerable. Your duty on top of that would take this banjo to $1200.00 would be my guess. I like Bart but before I'd spend that money overseas I'd buy locally. Don |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: nickp Date: 27 Jan 08 - 12:35 PM Yes, come to Gainsborough if you can. Dave S. may have expensive banjos for sale but there may well be other cheaper ones being sold by him and private individuals... banjo players are always looking for an excuse to sell one to 'trade up'. And there'll be plenty of people to advise (and often contradict!). Nick |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: GUEST,Jane of 'ull Date: 27 Jan 08 - 01:11 PM Not sure if I can make it to Gainsborough but thanks for that info anyway. Do you know if there's any shops nearer to me to look for one - I live in East Riding of Yorkshire, UK. I know there is a music shop in Pocklington quite nearby, the owner is a banjo player and specialist I think. |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: DonMeixner Date: 27 Jan 08 - 01:27 PM Pocklington Music has a website. |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: Wolfhound person Date: 27 Jan 08 - 01:37 PM I've got a long-neck Vega lying around that isn't being used. If that's the sort of thing you're after, PM me for more details. I'm in Northumberland. Paws |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: dick greenhaus Date: 27 Jan 08 - 02:14 PM Try contacting Bill Sables--he generlly has a nice selection of used instruments, and he's honest. |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: nickp Date: 27 Jan 08 - 02:19 PM And he's supposed to live in Yorkshire too - not that I'm implying that Yorkshire folk aren't honest, purely the geographical link. But I don't know 'where' in Yorkshire. Nick |
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Subject: RE: 5 String Old Time Banjo Wanted From: banjoman Date: 28 Jan 08 - 06:33 AM I have several banjos of the sort you are looking for, most of them I have made up from parts which I have found or bought from various sources. Not sure how much you have to spend, but I have a deering goodtime which I made up from parts taken from a broken banjo and may be prepared to discuss a deal (much less than you can buy one in a music shop) let me have a phone number or email me at banjoman9@hotmail.com Pete |
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