Comment by thereallyniceman on October 1, 2009 at 17:30

Thanks to Rob for posting the Old 78's performing Temptation Rag. Here is one of my favourites,
Russian Rag, played by them

I just love Ragtime Banjo !!!

Comment by Lucas Gonze on October 1, 2009 at 20:19

Love this tune.

The combo eastern european and rootsy americana sound is great.

Comment by Trapdoor2 on October 2, 2009 at 1:10

I think it is the combination of scale length and head size that gives the Stewart being played here its characteristic "growl". Historically I think Stewart was the only one actually produced with the 16" head (I could be wrong), many others were made by various manufacturers but usually smaller head sizes (14" and even down to 12"). I think Fairbanks Cellos were 12-3/4" and Gibson CBs were 14"...but by the 'teens, scale lengths had reduced to 25" (from 29)...and by the end of WWI, they were rarely made at all. I got to mess about with a very rare Bacon & Day CB some years ago. Huge and unwieldly, it had 6 tuners but the strings were in courses for the two trebles (no chanterelle) Very odd.

Wayne Lamson made two 16" Stewart replica pots (fully spun over and everything) back about 5 or 6 yrs ago. He created a strange "Semi Stewart" reproduction out of one pot...and I tried to talk him out of the other (to no avail). I say "semi-Stewart" because it was just a scaled up Special Thoroughbred. The original Stewart CBs had a square, slotted headstock with classical guitar tuners (seen in the video).

Comment by John Bullard on May 17, 2014 at 18:52

I don't know if anyone is still looking at this thread? I think that is a great performance! Does anyone know where I can get the music for this arrangement or even an arrangement for banjo and piano?

Thanks!

Comment by Steve Harrison on May 17, 2014 at 20:16

Have a look at this web site

http://imslp.org/wiki/Russian_Rag_(Cobb,_George_L.)

I could put it on my to do list as a future project unless anyone else has a banjo arrangement.....Steve.

Comment by Jody Stecher on May 17, 2014 at 20:42

Why not ask Carole Anne Rose at the Old 78s website? At the bottom of the home pages is an "email us" link. 

http://www.theold78s.com

Comment by John Bullard on May 17, 2014 at 21:05

thank you both for your comments and help! I will check both of these out. Steve I have run across several of your arrangements on the site and I must say they are great! Thanks Steve and Jody...

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