"Many thanks Byron! It sounds more powerful and brilliant in person. I do find the louder the instrument, the harder to record... I'm using the Clifford Essex zither banjo set with a gut 3rd."
Classic-Banjo
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The last Vibrante Royal ever made? 23 Replies
Started by Steven Watson in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Steven Watson 14 hours ago.
The Irish Grenadier march rewrite
Started by Austin in Classic Banjo 15 hours ago.
Mocking Bird Rag..1912..Charles Theodore Straight.
Started by Steve Harrison in Classic Banjo on Monday.
Ragtime Jingles...1916..Al.J.Markgraf
Started by Steve Harrison in Classic Banjo Sep 18.
Dance on the flat boat-Uncle Remus March..1884..M.Louis
Started by Steve Harrison in Classic Banjo Sep 16.
30 More Pieces Scanned 2 Replies
Started by Joel Hooks in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Joel Hooks Sep 14.
What is this ornament? 6 Replies
Started by Ethan Schwartz in Classic Banjo. Last reply by TONY BRYAN Sep 12.
Here Is One For The Boat People 2 Replies
Started by Joel Hooks in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Joel Hooks Sep 10.
Scott Joplin's mother 1 Reply
Started by bud bennett in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Joel Hooks Sep 9.
The Darkies' Drill (1902)....Agnes Melville 3 Replies
Started by Steve Harrison in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Joel Hooks Sep 6.
Yankee Doodle Boy (1904)..George Michael Cohan.
Started by Steve Harrison in Classic Banjo Sep 5.
7 STRING ZITHER BANJO IDENTIFICATION. 2 Replies
Started by IAN SALTER in Classic Banjo. Last reply by IAN SALTER Sep 5.
Ham Bones..1912..Homer Denney
Started by Steve Harrison in Classic Banjo Sep 4.
Jaunty/Festive Classic banjo music 4 Replies
Started by Byron Thomas in Classic Banjo. Last reply by Byron Thomas Sep 2.
Some Walter Jacobs Publications Scanned
Started by Joel Hooks in Classic Banjo Aug 31.
Blog Posts
Help please
My Nan used to play the banjo ( many many moons ago ) she was known as “Ena and her banjo”.
Unfortunately her banjo has fallen into disrepair over the years . However her musical genius (apparently a blooming brilliant singer too)has skipped the last 3 generations .We are looking for a recommendation for someone/company to do a sympathetic repair as a surprise for our mums 80th birthday next year .We live in Leicestershire (England) can any one advise us please
Many…
ContinuePosted by Deborah Powers on February 7, 2025 at 14:00 — 3 Comments
"SOMEWHERE IN DIXIE" Banjo 2
Hello, I wrote a Banjo 2 accompaniment for Somewere in Dixie, as there was none. Is it possible to put it in the music library?
Posted by Alexandre Derycke on October 20, 2024 at 20:06 — 2 Comments
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Latest Activity
The Irish Grenadier march rewrite
I rewrote most of this march because the original had potential, but was incredibly dull.See More
"That was amazing! Thanks for sharing! I'm loving the sound of the Vibrante. I'm sure it sounds better in person. Are you using the Clifford Essex zither banjo set with nylon 3rd and 4th strings?"
"Just recorded Scheaff's Handel arrangement (possibly not by Handel!) on the Vibrante Royal, with a little semi-improvised prelude...
https://youtu.be/NRmynDgtvjk?is=r_-OS_j9zmNH4VWm"
"RE Marc= well, there you go!
I have all types, including the Starrett Vernier (and some good reading glasses). I usually carry, in my bib coveralls, a pair of Starrett pocket calipers, which are no longer made, and read in both metric and SAE,…"
"I would think that all professional and semi-professional zither-banjo and "regular banjo" players who lived and performed within 90 miles of London in 1939 would have known each other. "
"Allow me some pedantism as an old machine-shop denizen:
"Vernier" is the type of readout on the calipers. They are "Calipers" and there are 4 common types of readout: Vernier (the oldest), Dial (has a dial with a needle),…"
"Very cool story and connection, It will be fantastic for you to give it voice again.
Regarding connection to Cammeyer? My guess, Watson bought that stuff from Cammeyer at Cammeyer's "studio" (store)."
"Doing some digging (with the help of Ian Salter of this parish), I'm pretty sure this banjo originally belonged to a Mr Watson. The letter from Musselbrook found in the case, addressed to Mr Watson, mentions Musselbrook, Watson and Leonard…"
"My day job is operating a small textile mill that operates braiding and knitting machines (think braided cord/rope and shoe lace-- but that is not what we make and I don't want to put everyone to sleep explaining).
Anyway, for measuring round…"
"No problem! There were so many strings..."
"I misinterpreted. You had mentioned two wire 2nds. I wrongly assumed the strings in the package photo were those. Obviously I can't count. Not even to 2 :-)"
"I think there's been some light confusion? I don't think I said they were 2nd strings, and if so I mistyped."
"A .022 inch wound string would be used for the bass course on a steel-strung 5-string banjo. It's just below medium gauge. Some go heavier, some go lighter. "
"My digital micrometer is precise all the way down to teensy increments like 0.0001 mm. I used the old "analog" micrometers for decades but they reacted to cold temperature. I had to warm them up before they would give an accurate…"
"Right, I'll look for one. Assumed they would be expensive but apparently not. That's interesting about the bridge height. I'll try and look into it."
"Just double checked, they are definitely wound strings! .022 inches would make sense for a wound string, no? Though it is rather light. The scale length is 27 1/2 on mine."
"Is "the pack with the wound strings" a typo for the pack with the *unwound* strings? It looks like plain steel wire to me.
#22 steel wire is .028 inches so that can't be what is meant.
022 inches in plain wire is far too heavy…"
"Best way to measure strings is with Vernier Calipers. In the US local hardware stores have these, but I think it is a necessary item for a person to own and be able to use.
Those bridges are the common Zither Banjo pattern. I am…"
"Looking again now, the pack with the wound strings seems to say 'gauge 22'? "
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