So my Uncle gave me these decades ago before he passed. From what I remember he either got them right after World War II or sometime during the war. I’m not sure. He he was navy in the South Pacific. I think he had become infatuated with the Hawaiian guitar, and maybe at some point had tried to play it.
So I’m a pretty decent guitar player. can play fingerstyle. Have even played some national slide, but just never use the finger picks very much. I just like the natural feel of my fingers. Lately, I’ve had a bluegrass Jones. I’ve been working on some bluegrass guitar runs and decided I wanted to jack around with a banjo. I had gotten my son a deering good time for him, years ago, when he was trying to get folksy. He’s a guitar player as well So I called him and asked him if I could come by, pick up that deer in, cause I wanted to play some banjo, learn some rolls. I pulled out those old nationals and I love them. I don’t have much to compare them to, and I don’t know how long it takes to wear out pics like this. I assume there are replicas being made today. Maybe I should look into some of those. Anyway, thanks for listening to the long story. Any suggestions on similar picks while I learn these roles?

Sorry if this is against the rules, but has anyone taken up a course from Banjoskills? He’s doing a modern song , learn by ear course I’m interested in but I’m not sure . Any help appreciated

I’ve got this old 12 string banjo thing don’t talk about what it actually is lmao.

Basically, the old wooden nut was cut terribly so i have to replace it, however I am struggling so much with the plastic nut after about 1 week of sanding it’s at the right width (incredibly thin) but isn’t flush with the bottom as it’s curved for some reason.

I just need any advice on how to not lose my fucking mind - because at this point i’m just thinking about taking my dremel to a block of oak and skipping all the sanding.

Thanks!

hey yalls, I have been playing clawhammer for a couple years now. I currently play a WL250. For my high school bands senior night, my underclassmen, knowing I play banjo, got me a some of my favorite candies and a banjo strap. This finally gives me the excuse to buy another banjo lol. But idk if I should save up for a real nice open back, or a resonator. Specifically, either a pisgah or eunuch, or a gold tone OB2 or OB12. So, ive put it down to style. Should I really master claw hammer first, or pick up bluegrass?

edit for spelling

Hello everyone!
This banjo originally belonged to my dad, and after 21 years since his passing, I finally have it in my hands. ❤️ I don’t know much about it other than that I believe it was made in Japan.
I’m finally going to start taking banjo lessons, and I’m really excited to learn how to play an instrument that belonged to my dad.
I’d love to learn more about this banjo, including its age, maker, history, or anything else you might be able to tell me. I’d also appreciate any tips, tricks, or advice for someone just starting out!
Thanks in advance for any help!

Hi! I went to a garage sale looking to buy a guitar and I left with a banjo! I’ve never played before but I really loved the tone and feel on it, the action is really comfortable and it’s in really great condition structurally and cosmetically to my knowledge. I just bought this at a garage sale and I’m wondering if I paid a reasonable price, it sounds nice but I’m completely new to banjo and this is unmarked. Bought it for $100. Felt worth it to me! I can’t seem to find a label or number anywhere on the outside at least. The only info I have is that the owner bought it from a music shop in the 70s in West Virginia, and it’s mostly been sitting in its case since then. Thanks!

Hello if anyone could help me with a query I have regards buying a banjo for the first time it would be greatly appreciated.

I’m stuck between three banjos for Irish trad if people want to help me decide the first is a deering good time two 800 the second Gold Tone IT-19 Irish Tenor 680 and the third a Clareen bridge 450.

Id appreciate any advice on what would be most suited to playing in Irish trad sessions, thanks.

I'm trying to learn how to set up my Gold Tone CC-Carlin 12 banjo, and I'd appreciate some feedback.

I think the neck might be slightly misaligned. On the first-string side, the edge of the neck seems to extend a little past the pot/rim, and I can feel the edge with my finger. On the fifth-string side, I can't feel a similar edge. I'm not sure whether this is normal or whether the neck needs adjusting.

I've also checked the bridge position. The distance from the 12th fret to the bridge seems to be the same as the distance from the nut to the 12th fret. However, I'm not sure whether the bridge should be perpendicular to the neck (parallel to the frets) or slightly angled one way or the other for proper intonation.

I'd also appreciate a general check of the setup. I'm not sure whether the tailpiece, bridge placement, and everything else are set up correctly.

I've attached several photos from different angles. I'd like to learn how to check and adjust the setup myself, so any advice on what looks right, what might need adjusting, and how to check it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Ive played guitar for nearly 2 decades, and ive decided to transition to the banjo for a while. Im loving it so far. Trying to learn clawhammer style. Anyone have any opinions on this model? It sounds great. I guess im just curious how the Gretch 1883 is regarded in the banjo community. Thanks!

I understand that the bridge is an insanely important aspect to this, but I can never get the right position up, down, left, right or never fixed itself, and a compensated bridge is out of the budget

Hello everyone,

Last week, after years of considering on whether to get a banjo, and getting nudges of encouragement from some of you, I bought a Gold Tone AC-1 as my first banjo. I plan on getting a method book and looking at some YT lessons to get started on the learning process, but for the time being, I've had a lot of fun just messing around.

One thing I've read a lot about on both this sub and on Banjo Hangout is the concept of "gear acquisition syndrome," which I'd already been aware of thanks to the electric bass community. What intrigues me about it in the banjo community, however, is how much this mindset is embraced. And I must admit that the idea of owning multiple banjos for different sounds, styles, etc. sounds really cool. But of course, for me, a beginner who hasn't had any form of training on the banjo, getting a second one at this point would be just plain stupid. However, I also have the following long-term reasons for not owning a second banjo:

1. I live in an apartment with only so much space for storing instruments, some of which is taken by my two saxes (which I don't get to practice much because most of the saxophone-friendly time in my apartment is taken up by other commitments) and an electric bass (I use a headphone amp for that)

2. I spend a little over half my monthly pay on rent, and because of some recent money setbacks, I was afraid I was gonna have to sell my beloved new banjo. Thankfully, I managed to find a workaround.

But for those of you who own only one banjo and know it'll stay that way, what are your reasons?

hey y'all,

kinda new to banjo, coming from a guitar and bass background, so please pardon any ignorance on my part.

i got a recording king rko-3s dirty 30s 5 string open back banjo a few months back, and i've been enjoying it, but i'm looking to add an armrest rather than buy another banjo that already has one, so i can play comfortably without long sleeves (and spend maybe 100 bucks rather than several times that on a second banjo with an armsrest already installed from the factory).

i've looked at the banjolit ones on elderly instruments' website, but they all seem to be for 16, 18, or 24 bracket banjos, and this one has 12. will these not fit, and if so can anyone recommend another that will?

p.s. if anyone can recommend a compatible strap so i can stand while playing i'd be grateful as well. peace!

"Fans of traditional “old-time” music, American folklore, and folksong will be familiar with the life and work of Stephen Wade. Some will have seen—or at least heard about—his one-man play Banjo Dancing, which ran at the Arena Stage in Washington DC from 1981 to 1991. Then-president Jimmy Carter invited Wade to perform a lawn concert at the White House on Labor Day 1979, which was attended by 1,500 people. I am fortunate enough to have seen Banjo Dancing when Wade performed it off-Broadway in New York City. T.E. Kalem’s review in a 1979 issue of Time concluded with these words: “A wondrous artist, this Stephen Wade, who spills the heart’s blood of passion and truth in the tradition of Charles Aznavour, Nana Mouskouri, Django Reinhardt and Woody Guthrie. He may have surfaced in Chicago, but his potential fame defies augury.”

Wade is now widely thought to be the finest living non-bluegrass picker of the five-string banjo. But unlike other folk artists, he has travelled the country for years, seeking and recording any surviving old-time players he can find. His lifetime’s work has been to keep their music alive, playing the songs and retelling stories he has learned along the way. His first book, The Beautiful Music All Around Us, was published to rave reviews. The late Wall Street Journal drama critic Terry Teachout called that book a “masterpiece of humane scholarship.” The Chicago Tribune’s reviewer described the stories it contained as “compelling, moving and revelatory.”

With his new book, Wade has outdone his earlier effort. Our Common Life is part-history, part-autobiography, and it finds the author broadening his search for authentic homemade American music. He takes us on a trip through the United States, introducing us to the musicians he encounters and jams with. These include the original star of the Grand Ole Opry, five-string banjoist Uncle Dave Macon, whose showy persona made him an audience favourite. Pickers like Clarence Ashley who played with the down-picking “frailing” style, are discussed along with Dock Boggs (who used a three-finger up-picking style) and the first five-string-banjo bluegrass star, Earl Scruggs. Other musicians are guitar players, like the famous country and folk guitarist Doc Watson, whose annual festival still attracts thousands of attendees. Also featured are Chicago and Deep South blues guitarists and singers like Muddy Waters, Bukka White, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and Josh White, whose polished voice made him a star in the 1940s and ’50s."

A very loose and improvised rendition on these two great tunes, featuring my dog who doesn't understand why I'm sitting on his chair.

I know it's played in clawhammer but I am horrible at playing by ear. Any guidance is appreciated.

Im not the best setter upper of banjos, but ive set bridges before and cannot for the life of me to get this banjo intonated. Sounds like trash up the neck.

Usually set the bridge position with G and D string using harmonics at the 12th fret. Ive set bridges with bluegrass banjos, got them to sound really good, but maybe im missing something with the openback?

This is my first openback so I didnt know what to expect and probably didnt play it enough in the store. Is there a chance I got a lemon and the fret spacing is off?